The use of computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) programs in the ready wear and apparel industry during the post-pandemic period: A case study on the industry's expectations from new graduates

With the pandemic in Turkey, many small businesses in the ready-made clothing and apparel sectors began to widely use computer-aided design and production (CAD/CAM) software. In today's conditions, under the influence of digitalization, the professional skills expected by the sector have changed and renewed. In the post-pandemic period, the sector needs to renew itself and take precautions against the possibility of encountering a pandemic-like process again. In this context, it is important for departments/programs providing education in the fields of textile and fashion design to update their education strategies, keep up with the new normal and era, and train designers and modelers who can provide qualified and qualified workforce within the scope of university-industry cooperation, taking into account the expectations of the sector. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine which CAD/CAM programs are currently used in the ready-made clothing and apparel industry in Turkey during the pandemic period, how and for what purpose they are used, to determine the industry's expectations from newly graduated designers in the field, to determine the textile and clothing industry at the undergraduate level in the pandemic and post-pandemic period. To identify the problems encountered in the teaching of CAD/CAM focused courses given in institutions providing fashion design education and to shed light on the creation of training modules for the current expectations of the sector.