Further indicators of technological development are provided in Table 10 which shows
the responses of 250 firms to a survey carried out in 1999 concerning the application of
two new technologies, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided stitching
(CAS). The responses suggest that the use of CAD, which is related to the design of the
product, is far more widespread than the more production related technology, CAS. The
data also suggest important differences across countries in the application of these
technologies.
Table 10: The Use and Impact of Computer-Aided Technologies in the Footwear
Industry (Percentage of Respondents)
|
France_______ |
Germany |
Italy__________ |
UK_____ |
Portugal | ||||||
|
CAD* |
CAS** |
CAD |
CAS |
CAD |
CAS |
CAD |
CAS |
CAD |
CAS | |
|
In use |
67 |
73 |
85 |
46 |
23 |
10 |
41 |
64 |
9 |
4 |
|
Negative impact on employment |
20 |
33 |
38 |
38 |
12 |
20 |
9 |
55 |
9 |
13 |
|
Requires new abilities |
67 |
40 |
85 |
31 |
40 |
30 |
59 |
45 |
48 |
43 |
|
Positive Impact on quality |
60 |
80 |
85 |
69 |
29 |
28 |
50 |
77 |
43 |
43 |
Source: DG V-EU data ‘Social Study on the European Footwear Industry’ (questionnaire)
* Computer-aided design ** Computer-aided stitching
In general, CAD and CAS are applied more widely in France, Germany and the UK
than in Italy and Portugal. In Germany, 85 per cent of respondents report that they are
applying computer-aided design techniques whilst 46 per cent of respondents are using
computer-aided stitching. In the UK, nearly two-thirds of respondents confirm that they
are using computer-aided stitching. In Italy and Portugal these technologies appear to be
much less widely applied, perhaps reflecting the nature of the sector in these locations; a
large number of small firms and the preponderance of fashion-oriented leather-uppered
footwear. Only 10 per cent of respondents in Italy and 4 per cent of respondents in
Portugal report that they are using computer-aided stitching techniques.
The questionnaire also asked respondents if the application of these technologies had
had a negative impact upon employment. About 40 per cent of German firms, just over
half of UK firms and one third of French firms responded that the use of CAS had
reduced employment. Responses in France and the UK suggest that the use CAS has a
more significant negative impact upon employment than application of CAD; only 9 per
cent of UK respondents reported that CAD reduced employment levels. For Germany
the same proportion of firms report a negative impact of CAD on employment as
reported a negative employment impact of applying CAS.
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