Using Neural Network Method to Solve Marker Making “Calculation of Fabric Lays Quantities” Efficiency for Optimum Result in the Apparel Industry MAHMUT KAYAR*, YELDA OZEL** * Textile Education, Marmara University, Technical Education Faculty Goztepe Campus 34722 Istanbul TURKEY ** Electrical Education, Marmara University, Technical Education Faculty Goztepe Campus 34722 Istanbul TURKEY mkayar@marmara.edu.tr , ykaratepe@marmara.edu.tr Abstract: - Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) method aims to obtain the highest productivity for “calculation of fabric lays quantities” process in cutting department of apparel industry. The calculations of fabric lays quantities (FLQC) provide us with the exact length of the marker making. Fitting the marker making with spreading table and at the same time the possibility of spreading more than one marker making on the same table, shows the importance of estimating the length of the marker making (MM). A system was created by applying the ANN methods to marker making length data used in the industry. Using different possible calculations of fabric lays quantities findings, marker making lengths are approximated resulting in that the most optimum “calculations of fabric lays quantities” have been decided. Key-Words: - Apparel Industry, calculating of fabric lays quantities, marker making length , Artificial Neural Network, back propagation algorithm. 1 Introduction In today's increasingly global and competitive clothing marketplace, it is imperative that apparel companies find new techniques for the apparel production, especially cutting and sewing processes. Cutting is a very important process in production line such as sewing process. Decision making tools are important in the sense that they reduce the time needed for decision making and speed up and increase the productivity of the work. Decision making can be defined as; the study of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values and preferences of the decision maker [1]. While examining the period until the stage of fabric cutting, choosing the most optimum “calculation of fabric lays quantities” is very important because preparing the marker making, fabric spreading and fabric cutting is done according to the calculation of fabric lays quantities. In this process estimating the length of each possible marker making helps in clarifying the following: 1. The concordance of the marker making with the spreading table. 2. Spreading more than one fabric on the same spreading table. As a result the time loss in preparing the marker making disappears, and a more productive use of the spreading table is insured. In addition, while the cutting process is being carried out on one side, on the other side the spreading process continues. As a result, the loss of time the by operator is removed. In respond to variations in style, quantities, and quick responses, apparel manufacturers are beginning to experiment with new manufacturing concepts and taking advantage of different systems as ANN for speed and productivity for decision making. Recently, ANN method has been successfully developed and applied to solving complex situation in some different areas. This paper applies ANN system to estimate FLQC model to solve the time delay problem in the fabric-spreading and cutting operation. Fig. 1 is a schematic of the experimental system as below. Co-generation power plant Data Processing Energy values Trai ning Testing Apparel Industry Marker making lenght data Fig. 1 Flow chart of experimental system 8th WSEAS International Conference on SIMULATION, MODELLING and OPTIMIZATION (SMO '08) Santander, Cantabria, Spain, September 23-25, 2008 ISSN: 1790-2769 219 ISBN: 978-960-474-007-9