From December 2nd to 5th, the 2021 China Entrepreneurs Boao Forum, co-sponsored by the Xinhua News Agency National Brand Project Office, Xinhua Net, Xinhua News Information Center, China Economic Information Society, China Fortune Media Group, Xinhua News Agency New Media Center, Xinhua Daily Telegraph, and co-organized by Guizhou Maotai, was held in Boao, Hainan. ERKE Chairman Wu Rongzhao shared ERKE's concepts and practices in digital upgrading, new material research and development, and the pursuit of green sustainable development during a roundtable dialogue.
Wu Rongzhao stated that, in addition to continuous innovation in new materials and new technologies, ERKE has actively carried out the digital transformation and upgrade of the company in recent years. Simultaneously, by implementing some energy-saving and emission reduction technologies, ERKE aims to create new national goods with science and technology for the people and contribute to the country's "dual carbon" goals.
The footwear and apparel industry has a long industrial chain with multiple links, making digital upgrading imperative. According to Wu Rongzhao, ERKE's digitalization can be broadly divided into two phases:
In the first phase, starting from 2011, ERKE gradually embedded more modules in the SAP information system, such as the intelligent warehouse management system WMS and the manufacturing execution system MES, to integrate the entire industry chain. Over the past decade, ERKE has built its own information technology team capable of continuously incorporating new applications into the system to adapt to changes in business operations.
In the second phase, ERKE has focused on digital upgrading in recent years. Firstly, in the aspect of research and development design, ERKE has introduced digital modeling design methods to enhance the efficiency of design and development through digital and 3D simulation modeling, bringing designers' imaginative ideas to fruition. Secondly, by utilizing large amounts of sales data, ERKE has established a digital platform to communicate with consumers continuously and gain insights into consumer preferences. Thirdly, ERKE is actively building a digital middle platform to enhance decision-making efficiency and scientific decision-making. The goal is to achieve efficient operation of a flexible supply chain through collaborative coordination across the entire chain.
In terms of promoting green development through energy conservation and environmental protection, ERKE has always been at the forefront of the industry. Wu Rongzhao introduced that, even when ERKE was a small contract manufacturer, it collaborated on the development and application of environmentally friendly water-based adhesives. In recent years, ERKE has increased the development and application of recycled and biodegradable materials. This year, ERKE launched a fiber made from recycled plastic bottles, which has been well-received by young consumers.
Furthermore, ERKE has increased the application of biological materials such as coffee grounds and corn stalks. In the first half of next year, it will release a product that incorporates Platycodon grandiflorus fiber.
Regarding the transformation of production lines, Wu Rongzhao explained that ERKE continuously introduces new production automation equipment, enhances production process levels, saves energy and reduces emissions, and accelerates the application of distributed photovoltaics, further promoting the use of clean energy in manufacturing factories.
The China Entrepreneurs Boao Forum, successfully held for five consecutive sessions, has become a high-end exchange platform shared by Chinese entrepreneurs. With the theme of "Collaborative Win-Win Green Development in the Digital Era," this forum brought together over a thousand entrepreneurs to discuss and share wisdom, collaborate, and jointly plan for the new journey of high-quality development in China's economy during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.