Tex.SPIN and MODA-ML paving the way towards e-Business in the textile/clothing distributed chain

22/04/23 Tex.SPIN & MODA-ML1

Tex.SPIN and MODA-ML

paving the way towards e-Business in the textile/clothing distributed chain

The EU apparel business goes high-tech EC DG Enterprise and Euratex

Bruxelles, 15th October 2002


Summary

• The problem: status of art for interoperability

• The IST project MODA-ML

• The CEN/ISSS project and Workshop TEX.SPIN

• Conclusions


WHAT, HOW, WHY

The WHAT• Creation of a common language for the telematic communication in the

Textile/Clothing supply chain• Quick development of series of documents (Templates) to fit specific data

transactions out of the same semantic building blocks (the background is EDIFACT/EDITEX)

The HOW• Exchange of XML documents through the Internet • Release of SW tools with very low entry threshold deployable in most B2B

scenarios• Promoting standardisation activities together with CEN/ISSS

The WHY• Improve flexibility and services in a highly fragmented and etherogeneous industry

supply chain


The problem:

Interoperability for the T/C supply chain


The problem: Textile/Clothing supply chain

Logistics

Distribution networks

Point of sale

Clothing

Check rolls

Fabrics

SubContractors

Accessories

RawMat..

Yarns

SubContractors

1 - competitiveness depends upon performance of the whole supply chain

2 - T/C supply chain is very long and etherogeneus (relevance of SMEs)

3 – flexibility and timeliness are decisive: responsivity of the chain

4 – flow of data hampered by the the inter-company interfaces


Advantages of the Co-operation along the supply chain

• Fabric and Clothing Manufacturers– Collection Advance Notice to improve their planning (to know early when an article is dropped out in the

collections of the customers) and early information on foreseen volumes– Technical information (map of defects, for example, ready for their nexting systems)– Integrated monitoring of the activities of the subcontractors

• Retailers and Manufacturers– A view of the Order Status Report (to foresee the real date of dispatching and improve planning)– Sell-out data flow back along the supply chain

• Data exchanged in electronic format are error free, without manual handling, ready for automatic processing

Then

• Reduction of costs and errors per transaction

• Better services to the customers

• More information available for planning


How to exchange these data?The interoperability issue

• Paper, fax, phone

• Satellites of my ERP inside my partners

• Join many marketplaces

• A data interface for each of my partner

• Buy conversion services of a clearing house

ORUse a common language between independent systems

In fact• Each firm cannot establish and maintain a different interface toward each partner• Risk of exclusion for medium and small firms

Trade


The role of a vertical framework:service to co-operation processes

Agreement on the sequence of exchange(the business process)

Single firm Group of firmsMODA-ML, eTEX-ML, TEX.SPIN

Creation and use of data

1 - Definition of a set of types of XML documents and related dictionary of terms

2 - Definition of a transport protocol and development of demo software3- Creation of awareness and consensus

Mark-up(semantic level)

Data representation(format)

Document structure(syntax)

Transport


The macro-objectives

• WEB enabled intercompany data flow

• Common set of XML documents

• Common exchange protocol • Active participation of SMEs

(the fax as metaphore of simplicity)

• Suggestion of new practices in business process: - electronic maps of defects, status of orders (downstream) - sell out data (upstream) - pre-selection of articles (upstream)


Enabling technologies

• EDIFACT/EDITEX– A common language but not for SMES

• XML and Internet (flexible, low cost, structured)– A new syntax and semantic, with 2 possibile approaches“

A) 'do it by yourself' B) Frameworks:

ebXML, cXML, ... (horizontal), Rosetta.Net, TexSPIN, MODA-ML... (vertical)


XML, why?• Powerful Meta-Language aimed to manage structured digital documents in open

environment, focusing the semantic of data:

– former formats (DB, EDI, ...): |502-116|150,25|15|2002-07-30|……

– XML: <article>502-116</article> <price>150,25</price><discount>15</discount><deliveryDate>2002-07-30</deliveryDate>

• Simple to learn and read (by humans)

• Easily expandable to new data or new structure

• Supported with standard Languages (XSL, XPath, ..) and Software (Interpreters and Libraries) to manipulate documents (validation, security, parsing, read and write of files, interfaces with relational DBs, etc.).

Reduces maintenance and upgrade costs


Example of XML and XSL<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl"

href="taor02B.xsl"?>

<fabricOrder tipOrd="chiuso"> <header>

<msgnumber>AB001</ msgnumber ><msgdata>20010726</msgdata><reference>

<order>AA047</ order > <nsRif>fax-12-7-2001</nsRif></reference><suppliet> <id>IT12345678901</id> <ragsoc>Textiles Rossi</ragsoc> <street>via verdi 13</ street > <town>Tessutopoli</ town > <country>IT</ country > <zip>11111</zip></supplier>

…


Scenarios of data exchange

2

1) Bilateral exchange of XML docs (through a message transport protocol)

2) Third party services interface small partners (for example retailers)

Company Inf. Syst,

Third party services

Messages with XML docs Company Inf. Syst,

1

TradeTradeTrade

WEB interaction

XML Any other company

XML

XMLXML

ebXML Transport interface

Only a Browser

Off-Line

office

XML


Existing approaches or

initiatives

• No common standard• An ad-hoc interface for each of my partners (expensive)

• EDITEX (implementation of EDIFACT)• not fitting the WEB infrastructure, 'inherently' not flexible, costly tools, • not human readable messages• A huge legacy of analysis (process modelling and semantics)

• Web Services (no formal specifications -yet-)• not aiming at a common semantic framework; no tools for process modelling;• overlapping the transportation specifications of ebXML; technology oriented;• not fitting sectorial m:n relationships;

• ebXML (XML based, but still incomplete)• ebXML provide a general framework to build sets of documents; • business process oriented; still incomplete

• other proprietary frameworks (cXML, Rosetta Net, etc etc)

• MODA-ML (XML based, T/C sector)• XML based, focused on Textile-Clothing ring of the chain; ebXML compliant transport;• MODA-ML is a sectorial set aiming to become ebXML compliant (when defined)

• eTex-ML (XML based, T/C sector)• similar to MODA-ML, but focused on Clothing-Retailer ring of the chain; no transport;

•Tex-Spin (CEN/ISSS, XML/EDI, T/C sector)•Results of MODA-MLand eTex-ML to build a common pre-normative platform

Trade


The MODA-ML ProjectMiddleware tOols and Documents to enhAnce the textile/clothing supply

chain through xML

Upstream of the Supply Chainwww.moda-ml.org

Cluster of projectswww-eutist-ami.orgIST, action line 2.5,

take up actions

www.moda-ml.org


The project

• Corneliani• Loro Piana• Piacenza• Successori Reda• Vitale Barberis Canonico

• Domina • ENEA• Politecnico di Milano• Progema Gruppo SOI• IFTH (France)

- Funded in the IST frameworkTake-Up Actions, IST programme, Action Line IV.2.5 “Computing, communications and networks take-up measures”Clustered in EUTIST-AMI (Middleware and Agents technology), www.eutist-ami.org

- Industrial Partners

Kick-off: July 2001Intermediate results: Nov-2001 and June-2002End: April 2003

- Scheduling

- Technological Partners


Focus and Commitment

• Focus on the relationships between fabric supplier and clothing manufacturer

• Industrial District of Biella, Italy (specialised in worsted wool)

• Strong relationship with the Italian industry trading organisation (Sistema Moda Italia) and focus group of industries

• Involvement of technology suppliers (software houses)


The objectives of MODA-ML

1 - Modellisation of collaborative processes

2 - A set of types of XML documents described with XML Schema, User Guides, Dictionary of terms (and than Document Factory Tools and Methods)

3 - A Software based on the transport specifications of ebXML to send, receive, monitor and validate the data exchange

4 - Participate the creation of a European Standard

5 – Activate focus groups of industries and technology suppliers (software houses)


Results 1: process modellisation

Fabric choice

FABRIC SUPPLIER CLOTHING MANUFACTURER

Textile Technical sheet

(production) Advance Notice

Advance Notice

Textile Catalogue


Textile Purchase order

Order response

Order change

Order status report

Fabric purchase


(ready to) Despatch advice

Despatch request

Despatch advice

Defects map

Fabric dispatch

September 2002


Results 2: XML documents

Textile Catalogue The (price) list of products offered for sale TextileClothingFabric Technical Sheet

The technical characteristics and properties of the fabric article TextileClothing

Textile Advance Notice

The anticipation of articles included in the Clothing Manufacturer's collection and of foreseen volumes of production that clothing manufacturers will request (no details on colours and variants)

TextileClothing

Textile purchase order*

The order placed by the Clothing Manufacturer TextileClothing

Textile Order response*

The response provided by the Fabric Supplier TextileClothing

Textile Order change* The order change initiated by the Clothing Manufacturer TextileClothingTextile Order status report*

The status of the fabric order reported by the Supplier TextileClothing

Textile Dispatch request*

The request/scheduling of the dispatch of parcels made by the Clothing Manufacturer

TextileClothing

Textile Dispatch advice*

The anticipation of the dispatch of the parcels by the Supplier TextileClothing

Textile Quality Report The report of the defaults and other non-conformities of the goods, as provided by the Supplier or by an independent Quality Controller

TextileClothing

Invoice Invoice for the supplied material TextileClothing

• Complete with XSL, User guides, XML Schema(*) already available (otherwise planned for November 2002)


Results 3: Demonstrative SW

• Demonstrator (of the simplicity) of the Messaging System (MSH): is a front - end to send/receive ebXML compliant messages

• uses SMTP and SOAP, plus ebXML functions• Tracking of sending and reception, error handling• Validation, display with XSL• Enabled for criptography and digital signature (XML signature)

• Minimal requirements (visual basic and database ODBC)

• Reception/Sending of XML documents (polling of a directory), could be the front-end for

the CompanyInformation Systems


Resume: documents, tools, methodology

• SCHEMAs: Define the document types (grouped in a Namespace) - validation rules (structure, cardinality, etc.)- automatic validation- optional or repeated parts management

• XSLs: Define the layout with a browser - fully customisable (MODA-ML offers examples)- Could support tag translation towards other formats (not of the content)

• Implementation Guides: Describe the semantic of the document - use cases of the document type (process/activity scenario)- description and use of each element

• Dictionary: supports the creation of Schemas and Guides

Methodology (e.g. fast creation of variants)


Future• Documents Fabric Supplier-Clothing Manufacturer

– Already available version 2002-1 (six documents)– All the documents in version 2002-2, November 2002– First version Tex.SPIN compliant, Version 2003-1

• Improve security of the transport modules

• Final version of transport software, December 2002

• Results are for free use (www.moda-ml.org)


Tex.SPIN Projectand Tex.SPIN CEN / Workshop

TEXTILE SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATED NETWORK

Building a European platform for interoperability

www.cenorm.be/issshttp://www.uninfo.polito.it/WS_TEX-SPIN/default.htm


The project and the Workshop- Funded by the EC through CEN/ISSS

(European Committee for Standardisation/Information Society Standardization System)

ATC (GR)EURATEX (B)

- Partners: IFTH (F)NYC (F)ENEA (I)

Kick off: March 2002Intermediate results: March 2003End: July 2003

- Scheduling:

PROJECT TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES (technical outcomes)

CEN /ISSS WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES (T/C pre-normative platform)

- Organisation:


Background 1Need of convergence at European level

– eEurope and other initiatives aim to create a single eMarket for European eBusiness; fostering ebXML

– New concept of Interoperability as consensus on common Business Processes and Semantic frameworks instead of adoption common general documents (EDI): a 'Lego' set of bricks to build documents at sectorial level

– Tex-Spin as a reference at European level to start a path of convergence for the whole T/C sector and for the cross-sectorial exchanges


Background 2

• TC Sectorial initiatives: eTeXML, MODA-ML• Horizontal frameworks: ebXML, EAN-UCC, ...

Point of sale

Clothing Fabrics

MODA-MLeTeXML

ebXML

EAN-UCCTex-SPIN

Challenges: avoid overlapping, be harmonised, be conforming,still remain flexible and easy to use and improve…


Project objectives• Main objective:

to provide a complete framework for the integration of the EU Textile-Clothing-Distribution chain

• Technical objectives:• upgrade the EDITEX framework to conform with EANCOM (EDIFACT technology)• develop and Validate XML/EDI pilot application(s) along two rings of the supply

chain• create an Inventory of Standards, accessible via WEB

• Standardisation objective:- convergence of existing initiatives: MODA-ML, eTeXML jointly towards ebXML- validation of a pre-normative platform for XML documents for the sector through the

CEN/ISSS Workshop Tex.SPIN


Results 1: upgraded EDITEX messages

• EDITEX Messages conforming to EANCOM framework (EDIFACT)

•Catalogue•Agreement, Agreement confirmation•Fabric Order, Order Confirmation•Delivery availability, acknowledgement•Invoice

• Advantage for EDITEX users to be compliant with the most diffused framework of the Distribution (EANCOM) in EDIFACT technology


Result 2: Pilot application

2

Company Inf. Syst,

Third party services

Messages with XML docs

Company Inf. Syst,

1

TradeTradeTrade

WEB interaction

XML Any other company

XML

XMLXML

ebXML Transport interface

Simple Browser

Off-Line

office

XML

PlannedDecember 2002

1) Bilateral exchange of XML docs (through a message transport protocol)

UpstreamFabric-Clothing manufacturers, MODA-ML

2) Third party WEB EDI interfaceDownstreamManufacturer-Retailer, eTeXML


Result 2/2: services on the WEB

Service 1:Guidelines on how to set-up a WEB/EDI application

Service 2:Open demonstrator simulating real WEB/EDI processes and related e-

forms

Service 3:Open simulator of MODA-ML document exchange with (link to) related

user guides, Schema and XSL

December 2002

December 2002

March 2003


Result 3: an European XML framework for T/C

From the pilot applications…• Assessment of the new XML/EDI approach (demonstration of benefits)• Suggestions to reduce the gap between existing documents of eTeXML and MODA-ML• Future requirements and guidelines for the implementation

Resulting in

• Creation of a common set of BUSINESS PROCESS MODELS• Experience a common DICTIONARY of the T/C sector• Definition of CORE COMPONENTS to build a new generation of XML documents• RULES for XML document building


Result 4: CWA of Tex.SPIN

… to the CEN/ISSS WORKSHOP • Public discussion of the results (a CWA document based on best practices)• Link with other eBusiness initiatives of CEN: eBES, FINEC (footwear), et-Cluster (made-to-

measure clothing)• A pre-normative platform to build the sectorial XML/EDI framework assuming ebXML as the

general reference• More info and registration in http://www.uninfo.polito.it/WS_TEX-SPIN/default.htm

• Draft CWA publishing: MARCH 2003• Final CWA approval: June 2003

Register via WEB as a member: a way to participate and to be informed

(*) CWA: CEN/WORKSHOP AGREEMENTIs the way to formalise a standardisation proposal in the CEN/ISSS approach


Conclusion• Interoperability along the whole T/C supply chain is able to offer benefits

in terms of costs, flexibility, new services and SMEs inclusion

• The EDI experience can be turned in a XML and Internet environment with an increase of the number of potential users

• Now XML documents are available on specific rings of the T/C chain

• Tomorrow a common platform will support the flow of information from the fiber producer to the customer

Tex.SPIN and MODA-ML paving the way towards e-Business in the textile/clothing distributed chain

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