Back to school with USTER QUALITY UNIVERSITY

Event & Conferences

Back to school with USTER QUALITY UNIVERSITY

High-level forum on industry’s future challenges is widely appreciated by spinners

Leading spinners are invited to go ‘back to school’ in a unique concept to promote high-level independent analysis of the problems facing by the industry now or face in the years to come. USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITY offers a platform for discussion on the complexities involved in the profitable production of quality yarns.

When top spinning mill owners and directors come together with USTER^® - the leading manufacturer of quality testing and monitoring systems, expectations are bound to be high. And the three-day USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITY event always live up to that prospect, with a carefully-planned discussions designed to share expert’s knowledge on the major issues faced by the yarn producers.

USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITY as its name implies determined to deliver valuable practical information to assist participants in their future business operations since the inaugural event in China in May 2009. The typical event format involves about 25 invited guests – owners and top managements from the host country’s foremost spinning mills. They are joined by selected specialists from major downstream customers, as well as USTER experts – a unique alliance of knowledge focused on the textile industry’s challenges. Key topics are covered in detail through presentations, workshops and discussions. Participants gain valuable knowledge based on real experiences: for example, a 600,000-spindle mill which saves US$ 20,000 in a year simply by reducing its average level of yarn clearer cuts by one. That’s the kind of information which is sure to impress. The use of the word ‘University’ in the event title is also pertinent as the learning process will remind many participants of their own higher education studies in earlier years.

Shared knowledge brings valuable insights

Attendees at USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITY benefit individually in different ways, but one factor is always common i.e. appreciation of the amazing collective know-how within the group and the deep insights gained by sharing it. Outside the university sessions, the participants will be competitors in their business activities. Yet they are also aware that all of them face similar problems, which the mutual education and knowledge sharing process can help to solve.

“The value for our customers is that they become aware about the important issues and curious on their implications. When focussing on managing a spinning mill with quality in mind – which is not strictly about quality or only about productivity – we share best practices on how to do it sustainably and with consistency. The pragmatic approach to discuss challenges together has been proved correct as well as providing an open platform – something the participants haven’t enjoyed since their own university days,” says Thomas Nasiou, new CEO of Uster Technologies.

Inspiring the industry’s future leaders

A deliberate objective of USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITY is to attract younger participants from the top management of spinning mills, who will shape the future of the industry. This was evident at the recent event held in Goa, India, in February 2016. It was attended by 25 mostly new mill directors and promoters from all over the country. The theme ‘Roadmap to the future of the spinning industry in India’ – was designed to inspire the next generation of industry leaders, by setting out performance, quality and business recommendations. A series of workshops and presentations focused on how to work within the heritage of India’s historic textile sector and adapt to the demand of modern global competitiveness.

The USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITYconcept has been widely praised by participants and most are eager to return for future sessions. This aspect was demonstrated recently at the USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITY event arranged specifically for alumni – those who attended earlier editions. There was a high demand for participation at this event, held in Suzhou, China in March 2016. Nasiou emphasized in his opening speech that USTER always appreciates close cooperation with the spinning mills: “We will continue to listen and take every chance to learn about issues and needs in order to provide practical help and guidance to yarn producers and to create value as a company,” he said.

USTER name attracts the big names

The USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITYis now well-established in both China and India. In future, USTER would like to open this platform to more spinners and will consider requests from other markets, to provide additionalopportunities to discuss the future of their home textile industry.

“We are proud that USTER is respected as a neutral, trusted and knowledgeablepartner by the spinners, and by some of the biggest global names among the downstream customers for textiles. The fact that these groups are ready and willing to take part in USTER^® QUALITY UNIVERSITYis confirmation of its value as an independent source of vital intelligence for spinning mills and of the power of USTER in bringing this concept to fruition,” says Nasiou.