Leather cutting waste minimization Techniques in Ethiopian footwear industry: case study ELICO -Universal Leather Products Industry

Abstract This research paper mainly focused on the leather-cutting issues and waste minimization in footwear industry in Ethiopia. The footwear industry is developing every year. The quality is an important parameter for middle scale footwear sectors and lot of inline problems focused in this research process. The objectives of this study were to analyze leather waste scrapes in Ethiopia footwear industry, identifying and implementing advanced leather cutting techniques. The paper selected for an exploratory study, including in-depth raw data collocation for two months in the company by using a spread sheet, automated machine vision for Leather Defect Inspection machine and checklist and one expert group discussion with employees representing cutting departments and the research conduct the top management to analyze the current system those implanted in the company to reduce leather cutting waste. The data were complemented by documentary analysis, to compare and contrast after implementation of advanced cutting system in the company. The paper provides how much waste of leather scrap is producing cutting operations, and by what method they eliminating waste and controlling the waste in current time. The paper includes implications for the implementation-advanced techniques/method in cutting a section to reduce leather waste scrape through by giving training for operators. This paper fulfils an identified need to study how much Leather cutting waste generated and by what method and Techniques minimizing the waste in Ethiopian footwear industry: case study ELICO -Universal Leather Products. The analytical findings show that the application of Jigsaw Puzzle cutting method, tools, and techniques has been expanded beyond traditional cutting concepts and has improved Leather Shortage (Extra Norms) eliminated and Leather Saving Norms was increased and leather waste scrapes was reducing from 212.89 m2 to 151.09 m2 of leather.