Stage 1: University-Industry Cooperation and Infrastructure Studies

As mentioned before, it is very important to ensure university-industry cooperation during the specialization process of our university in the fields of leather, textile, and ceramics. The main reason for this importance comes from the complementary characteristics of universities and industry. While universities are institutions that provide the necessary knowledge, the industry is a field where knowledge turns into practice. For this reason; Our university provides this cooperation with the protocols signed with companies in the relevant sectors. In particular, the fact that Uşak University is one of the universities deemed worthy of specialization in our country has also provided a significant increase in the cooperation requests coming to our university on a regional basis. In this context, these collaborations were reinforced by organizing many seminars, events, and conferences.

The budgets to be given within the scope of the specialization program are of great importance in order for our university to accelerate, produce and expand its studies for the sectors that are specialized within the scope of university-industry cooperation.

In parallel with the enrichment of existing resources and the provision of university-industry initiatives, the processes specified for "Increasing Regional Competitiveness and Identifying Sectoral Needs" will be evaluated on a unit basis in stage 2.

Stage 2: Increasing Regional Competitiveness and Identifying Sectoral Needs.

Leather Industry Specialization Process

In this section, the titles “Qualified Personnel Training”, “Expansion-Focused Diversified Leather Production” and “Branding Leather Industry” will be discussed respectively.

a) Training of Qualified Personnel: The explanations as to why this dimension is included in the processes are given below in the articles.

1. The continuation of the problems experienced in the productivity and human resources in the employee-employer relations in the region, the decrease in the interest in educational institutions and the number of students in the sector, the increase in the shortage of qualified and unskilled labor in the industry,

2. Curriculum incompatibility with educational institutions in the leather and leather products industry, weak practical training, and limited infrastructure opportunities in productivity and human resources

3. The low quality of raw leather in the enterprises in the region, the production and cutting are not done consciously, the leather processing techniques are not sufficient, the quality chemicals are not used, the leather machinery park is not modernized and the factory organization forms are not in accordance with the standards.

4. Not using advanced technologies in the enterprises in the region, insufficient entrepreneurial power, insufficient production and employment, inability to adapt to cyclical changes, not saving on costs; The increase in economic and social problems, especially in times of crisis, and the need for qualified managers in the management of all these processes.

In line with the above-mentioned needs, in order to contribute to the sector employees and those who may be candidates to work in the sector, especially the studies carried out throughout the country regarding the inclusion of women in employment, the quality of the participants will be increased with the training that will be determined by showing that they are predominantly female. Marketing, effective management, and branding training will be given to managers to try to prevent brand and market problems.

b) Expansion-Oriented Diversified Leather Production: Explanations on why this dimension is included in the processes are given below in items.

1. Competition has increased in parallel with the rapid economic, political, and technological developments in the region, and it has been determined that there is a need for product diversification policies in line with changing demands and needs.

2. High production costs of enterprises and decrease in competitiveness in production, Foreign dependency on raw materials and high raw material prices, New investment incentives and utilization restrictions for the leather sector, High environmental prevention costs, and limited support, Unfair competition created by practices in the import and domestic market, Existing physical and natural clusters are not adequately supported, Exports realized within the scope of the special invoice is not included in the official export figures,

3. In order to ensure the competitiveness of the leather enterprises in the region at the national level, the need for the production of diversified products focused on expansion in line with the changing needs and demands of the customers is not identified and the deficiencies are not eliminated.

4. Failure to follow the developments with innovation studies in the region and not to put these products on the market because there is no infrastructure to produce innovative products.

Thanks to the Design Center to be established within our university, it is aimed to increase the product diversity of the sector with the prototype products to be obtained by conducting studies that will guide the design of innovative leather products.

c) Formation of Branding Leather Industry (Need for Branding): Explanations on why this dimension is included in the processes are given below in the articles.

1. The fact that businesses have not yet created the necessary infrastructure for the brand

2. Businesses do not have units or personnel dealing with the brand, do not have the necessary knowledge about branding, do not give enough importance to the concept of brand value, do not allocate sufficient financial resources for branding, not entering the institutionalization process, perceiving the brand as being of high quality, not giving the necessary importance to education, production Over-focusing on the process is one of the reasons why businesses fall behind in the process of creating a brand.

3. Extremely competitive environment in the market, bureaucratic procedures during trademark registration, the abundance of branded products in the sector, and costs are among the reasons for the difficulties faced by businesses in creating a brand.

Firms will be supported by the marketing unit to be established at our university in order to carry out studies on a national rather than local basis in the marketing of a diversified new product range.

Textile Industry Specialization Process

In the city of Uşak, which is one of the important centers of the textile, leather, and ceramic sectors in Turkey, three-quarters of the industry consists of textile companies. The majority of textile companies are companies that carry out recycling and yarn production from textile wastes. When we look at the sector in general, problems such as the production of value-added products, creating brand value, institutionalism and recognition are encountered. Within the scope of the Regional Development-Oriented Mission Differentiation and Specialization Program, the following steps are planned to be followed in solving the sector's problems.

Vocational Training for the Improvement of Workforce Quality:

The inability to produce high-value-added products in the city of Uşak, where recycling-oriented yarn production is carried out, is largely due to the fact that the sector does not have the necessary infrastructure and qualified workforce. In the meetings held with the industrialists, it was seen that they were willing to diversify their existing production structures and switch to technical yarn production, fabric production, and ready-made clothing production, and they stated that their biggest shortcoming was the qualified labor force they would provide from the region. They stated that they would provide job guarantees and contribute to the training programs if labor force training is provided to be employed in the processes they will invest in with the protocols to be made. In this way, it will lead to the production of differentiated textile products that will go beyond conventional yarn production and provide added value to the region. Within the scope of the Regional Mission-Oriented Differentiation and Specialization program, it is planned to provide on-the-job training in the fields needed by the sector with the pilot production facilities existing and to be developed within the body of Uşak University. In addition, it is aimed to provide training on corporate structurings such as business management, organization, and process planning in order to contribute to the companies in the sector gaining an institutional structure. In cooperation with the relevant institutions in the region, vocational training will be given to the potential workforce that is currently working and not working in order to provide the qualified workforce needed by the sector. In this regard, the knowledge of the university will be transferred to practice in the sector.

Transition to Modern Technical Production:

One of the shortcomings identified in the Uşak textile sector is the use of old system machines during yarn production in textile companies. With these machines, it is not possible to produce value-added and high-quality products. In recent years, in the global competition that has increased with the development of technology, companies in the textile sector need to turn to products with high added value in order to continue their existence. For this, companies in the sector need to give importance to R&D studies and allocate resources. Within the scope of the Regional Development-Oriented Mission Differentiation and Specialization Program, it is planned to improve the yarn quality by transitioning to modern technical production and to produce high-value-added products by providing yarns with functional properties that will add added value (flammability, antimicrobial, waterproofing, etc.) together with the project proposals within the scope of the program. In addition, Uşak University has undertaken the mission of guiding the sector in the production of technical fabrics from yarns produced with scientific and practical studies to be revealed within the program, and in the production of ready-made clothing that has gained value with design. Within the scope of the program, with the Technology Development and Design Center to be established within the university, the quality parameters of the textile products produced in the sector will be tested and reported under international conditions. Although the Uşak textile industry recycles 85% of the textile waste in Turkey on its own, it sells the recycling products it produces with very low-profit margins. At this point, studies are planned within the scope of the program for these products to gain the commercial value they deserve, taking into account the importance they have in terms of the ecological and national economy. Recycling products produced within the scope of the program will be examined by physical and chemical tests at the Recycling Unit of the Uşak University Technology Development and Design Center, and the recycling certificate will be given by determining the quality parameters and the rate of recycling raw materials it contains. Thus, ecologically oriented products in the global market will increase their market share with international certification. The added value problem, which is one of the important deficits of the city of Uşak in the textile sector, will be tried to be eliminated by the fact that the existing products are certified and gain market value, and the products produced by the sector are passed to the advanced process stages and passed to the fabric and clothing form.

Differentiated/Specialized Textile Industry

Other problems encountered in the textile sector in the city of Uşak are brand value creation, differentiation, and recognition. The brand has an important place in the market for both the producer and the consumer. It is planned to take steps towards branding with products with added value and improved quality obtained through the projects proposed within the scope of the program. Thus, the branded product will have a high market share, high sales rates, and profit. At the same time, the brand will add added value to the product and an equivalent product will be able to be sold more profitably for more value. Along with branding, it will provide the companies in the sector with advantages such as bargaining power, prestige, stable sales, resilience to crises, and qualified personnel.

Considering the Uşak industry, it is seen that the majority of them concentrate on yarn and blankets as the final product. From this point of view, it has been determined that the product variety in the Uşak textile industry is quite low. Within the scope of the Regional Mission-Oriented Differentiation and Specialization Program, it is planned to increase the product variety. In this regard, different products will be tested and proposed to the industry with the pilot production facilities envisaged to be established at the university within the scope of the program. The cooperation between the university and the industry, it is aimed to develop product diversity in the textile sector in Uşak.

With the program, it is planned to contribute to the specialization of the sector with the consultancy, training, and application activities to be carried out with the academic knowledge of the university in subjects such as management organization, brand management, and corporate functioning, which the sector needs.

Strengthening industry and university information exchange and cooperation, branding, and production of high-value-added products will increase the market share and competitiveness of the textile sector of the city of Uşak. At the same time, it is aimed to activate the existing potential of the city of Uşak and to stand out as a well-known textile city in Turkey and in the world.

Ceramic Industry Specialization Process

In this section, the titles “Design and Ceramics Education (Innovation)”, “Innovative Oriented Design Production” and “Recycling Oriented Innovative Industry” will be examined respectively.

Design and Ceramics Education (Innovation)

Today, scientific, technological, and economic developments in every field affect all sectors, and this naturally concerns the ceramics industry. The ceramic industry, which is one of the sectors with the highest added value in our country, has an important place in terms of the national economy and employment. Under the ever-increasing competition conditions in the ceramic industry, in order for our country's ceramic industry to grow regularly, it needs to develop rapidly by making breakthroughs in branding, new product development and design-oriented production, and high product quality. In the panels and examinations carried out within the framework of university-industry cooperation at Uşak University, it has been determined that one of the weaknesses of the coating sector is that they cannot create original product surface designs due to technological inadequacies and lack of qualified personnel and that they are foreign-dependent due to the absence of floor and wall tile design centers in the country. First of all, the quality of the workforce is proportional to the development of design and ceramics education. For this reason, it is aimed to ensure innovation and continuity by working on innovation in cooperation with the factories in our city. In addition, to meet the need for qualified personnel, vocational and design training required by the sector will be offered to individuals in cooperation with the sector, and individuals with the qualifications required by the developing technology will be trained within these training. Since there is a dependency on abroad in the field of design in our country, the foreign dependency of the country will decrease, productivity will increase and competitive advantage will be achieved with the design education given.

The following steps will be applied in Design and Ceramic Trainings:

1. Workforce Program Training for the Ceramic Industry

1.1. Ceramic Production Program Training

1.2.Ceramic Material Characterization Methods Trainings

2. Qualified Designer Training Program for Service to the Ceramic Industry

2.1. Qualified Designer Training Programs for the Ceramic Coating Materials Industry

2.2.Industrial Product Design Training

Innovative Oriented Design Production

In order for the Turkish ceramics industry to increase its market share in the conditions of increasing competition in the world, it needs to develop rapidly by making breakthroughs in branding, new product development and design-oriented production, and high product quality. As stated in the results of the 10th Development Plan Ceramics Working Group report of the Ministry of Development of the Republic of Turkey, the sine qua non of being a brand design. Uşak University has academicians and researchers who have sufficient knowledge, knowledge, and experience in the field of design and fine arts. Innovative-oriented design production is aimed with the support of the staff of our university and the companies in our region. By establishing a Design Center at Uşak University, the research-development, innovation, and education capacity of our institution will be increased, and thus, it will reach the level where unique surface designs in floor and wall tiles can be developed with the high-standard model prototype design and production required by the Turkish ceramic coating industry at the Uşak University Design Center. In addition, the scope of the Regional Mission-Oriented Differentiation and Specialization Program, it is aimed to increase interdisciplinary scientific activities and to create and patent original and innovative product designs. Our goal is to develop high-value-added products, to research and develop advanced technical ceramics and composites, to increase product diversity through joint projects with the Uşak ceramic coating industry, and to realize production activities.

Formation of Recycling Oriented Innovative Industry

Today, the amount of waste material resulting from industrial activities and people's consumption habits is increasing rapidly. The recycling of inorganic ceramic material wastes from materials that have completed their life during their production or at the end of their use is of great importance due to the damage they cause to the environment and the reduction of natural resources. Currently, most ceramic wastes cannot be recycled and the storage of these wastes also creates economic problems. Depending on the various production processes (processes) of ceramics, plants producing ceramic products cause emissions to air, water, and soil (as waste). In addition, noise and unpleasant odors can be emitted from these facilities. The type and amount of air pollution, waste, and wastewater are subject to different parameters. These parameters, for example; raw materials used auxiliary agents, fuels, and production methods. Within the scope of the program, research will be carried out in the following areas within the scope of Uşak University-Industry cooperation.

1. Minimization of emissions to air and water from the manufacture of ceramic products.

2. Process losses arising from the manufacture of ceramic products, different types of sludge waste, broken tiles, solid residues (dust, ash), and packaging wastes are included in the production and recycling.

3. Minimizing the CO2 emissions arising from the manufacture of ceramic products and minimizing the emissions to the environment by making the most of the energy sources used.

Stage 3: Outcomes of the Specialization Program

The outputs of the specialization program are evaluated by each unit and as a result, common output targets can be achieved. The program outputs envisaged to be achieved within the scope of the Regional Mission-Oriented Differentiation and Specialization program are as follows:

Increasing competitiveness and exports

Employment creation

Branding and regional revenue growth

Institutionalization of businesses

Ecology-focused sustainability

After the presentation of these general outputs, the program outputs of each unit will be mentioned and these outputs will be conceptualized. In this context, firstly, previews of leather and then textile and ceramics will be presented.

Leather Area Program Outcomes

Within the scope of specialization in the leather sector, it is primarily foreseen to obtain the following outputs:

Developing qualified human resources and protecting craftsmanship;

Branding and regional revenue growth;

Enabling product standards and quality controls in imports, establishing new standards and controls for human and consumer health in imports, making product introduction information mandatory, and expanding consumer awareness through diversified leather production.

Within the scope of the program, different products will be tested and presented to the industry with the pilot prototype production facilities envisaged to be established at Uşak University. It is planned to increase the regional competitiveness and export power by increasing the product variety with university-industry cooperation.

In this direction, the steps to be taken on the way to specialization in the leather sector are listed below.

In order to eliminate the problems in productivity and human resources in the region, studies are planned to increase the qualified workforce in the industry. By working with existing vocational education institutions, opportunities should be offered to attract students and trainers again, and it is planned to implement cooperation programs with public and local governments and industry for the development training of academicians. In addition, it is aimed to expand regional higher education opportunities, especially in leather design and pattern. With the establishment of occupational standards in the sector and industry, it is aimed to develop the curricula of vocational schools and higher education institutions focusing on the needs of the industry and strengthening the infrastructure of schools with industry support. It is aimed to adapt the qualified workforce to cyclical changes by using advanced technologies.

Within the scope of this program held in Uşak Region, diversified leather production focused on Expansion was included in the processes; Policies should be developed to produce diversified products in line with the changing demands and needs in the region. It is necessary to try to reduce the high production costs, propose a solution to the high RUSF application, adequately support the existing physical and natural clusters, and address new investment incentives. Rehabilitation of existing natural clusters outside the OIZ, by giving them the status of OIZ, supporting them in infrastructure, investment, and production stages, reducing the labor public burden of companies operating in natural and physical clusters, conducting ecology-oriented studies for efficient use of energy, Developing accessory sub-industry, production, quality, design In order to increase its capacity and carry out innovative studies, necessary infrastructure works should be completed and a suitable environment should be provided.

In the studies carried out within the scope of the Regional Mission-Oriented Differentiation and Specialization program, one of the essential issues to be addressed in the leather sector is; It is to meet the needs of the Branded Leather Industry. It is necessary to create the necessary infrastructure for the branding needs of the enterprises, and for this, the units and personnel interested in the brand should be created, and the awareness of the concept of brand value should be created by training the existing personnel. It is necessary to carry out studies to increase the participation of the leather industry in the Turquality and Brand Support program, improve the implementation processes of these programs, and reduce the costs encountered in brand registration and brand creation.

Textile Field Program Outcomes

Within the scope of the program, different products will be tested and presented to the industry with the pilot production facilities envisaged to be established at Uşak University. It is planned to increase the regional competitiveness and export power by increasing the product variety with university-industry cooperation.

Although the textile industry in Uşak has great potential, it cannot pass from yarn to high-value-added end products because it does not have the necessary infrastructure and workforce. With the training to be given within the scope of the Regional Mission-Oriented Differentiation and Specialization program, it is aimed to create a new area where qualified personnel will be trained and yarns can become a value-added end product. With the new area in question, it is aimed to create employment.

Within the scope of the program, it is aimed to bring brand value to the products with the added value produced by the projects. It is thought that there will be an increase in regional income by gaining brand value and increasing recognition, higher market share, and higher income.

It is planned to provide training and information in fields such as management and organization, administrative structuring, and economic management with the support of expert faculty members from the relevant fields of our university in the Uşak textile sector, the majority of which consists of family businesses. It is aimed to accelerate the process with university support by providing consultancy to companies on the way to institutionalization.

Uşak textile industry has focused on recycling textile wastes as its main focus. In this sense, it has a natural recycling cluster. Thanks to the program, the commercial value and ecological perception of this cluster will be highlighted, and the sustainability of environmentally friendly production methods will be tried to be ensured.

Ceramic Field Program Outcomes

With the support of Uşak University Ceramics Research and Application Center within the scope of the regional development-oriented mission differentiation and specialization program, Ceramic Design and Prototype Production laboratory, Engineering Ceramics and Composites Research and Characterization Laboratories, Electro-ceramics, Device Design, Simulation, Production & Characterization Laboratory, and Ceramics. Materials Heat Treatment Laboratory will be established.

With the acquisition of modern design devices, which will be compatible with the production processes of the ceramic industry in our region, to the Ceramic Design and Prototype Production laboratory, the research-development, innovation, and education capacity of our institution will be increased, and thus, the model prototype design and production at the high standards required by the region and the Turkish ceramic coating industry will be provided at the Uşak University Design Center. unique surface designs in floor and wall tiles will reach a level that can be developed. The development of the Uşak University Design Center within the scope of the project will create opportunities to increase R&D and design collaborations between the university and the industry. In this context, joint surface design and product development activities will be started by signing protocols within the framework of the "win-win" formula with the three ceramic tile production facilities in our region, which were agreed upon in the preliminary negotiations, and it is aimed to eliminate the foreign dependence of the sector on ceramic tile surface designs. In the medium term, thanks to the technology transfer to be realized within the scope of the project, it is planned that Uşak University will lead and serve the TR 33 region and the entire Turkish ceramic coating sector in design.

Today, due to the fact that price-based competition in the ceramics industry is being felt more and more day by day, manufacturers are trying to solve this problem with high automation while they are having problems with labor costs (Tenth Development Plan Ceramics Working Group Report 2015). In this respect, Uşak University and faculty members of our department will organize different pieces of training within the scope of various computer-aided design certification programs and as a result of this training, studies will be carried out to prepare qualified personnel in the fields of design and production for the Turkish ceramic tile industry, and a great contribution will be made to increase employment in our region (TR 33). With congresses, conferences, workshops, symposiums, and panels to be held at our university within the scope of university-industry cooperation, it is aimed to create a serious synergy between the parties and to increase youth employment in order to bring together enterprises operating in the ceramics industry and young designers, in order to reveal innovative and creative ideas.

Within the scope of the project, leather and textile material surface designs and prints can be made with the devices to be taken to the Ceramic Design and Prototype Production laboratory. created and patented.

With the Engineering Ceramics and Composites Research and Characterization Laboratories, Electro-ceramics, Device Design, Simulation, Production & Characterization Laboratory and Ceramic Materials Heat Treatment Laboratory planned to be established in our Uşak University Ceramics Research and Application Center, the infrastructure to carry out scientific research in the fields of traditional and advanced technology ceramics will be provided to Uşak University. . In line with the technological needs and demands of the ceramic industry, research and development activities will be carried out within the body of our Uşak University Ceramics Research and Application Center in order to improve the raw materials, semi-products or products used by the companies operating in the industry, and to enable the companies to compete in the world market. In this context, research and development activities will be started to be carried out within the scope of university-industry cooperation with three ceramic manufacturing enterprises in Uşak, primarily on the common problems of the Turkish ceramics industry. In addition, within the scope of this program, with the participation of current technologies in the production, research-development, and characterization of ceramic materials in our laboratories, it is planned to transfer the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to our students on the subjects that form the basis of ceramic science.

With the support of our institution within the scope of the program, it will be possible to research advanced technical ceramics that cannot be made within the body of Uşak University. In this way, it will be possible to develop and produce ceramic products with high added value. In addition, in the laboratory that will develop, our students will be able to observe all stages of current ceramic production, and in addition, they will gain the ability to apply the necessary material testing methods and have the ability to interpret the test results. Undergraduate and graduate students will be able to prepare their samples in the ceramic laboratories to be established, by using the laboratory infrastructure necessary for all kinds of research, development, and scientific studies in the sample preparation phase. As a result, when our graduates are employed in the industry, public or academic environment, they will be able to easily turn their undergraduate and graduate education into practice. Most importantly, more original scientific studies that may emerge as a result of scientific research and development activities to be carried out as a result of the joint work of our faculty members and students in our university and department will be able to be transformed into scientific publications and patents. As a result of the transformation of this information into advanced technologies, the socio-economic development and welfare level of our country and nation, especially our university, will be increased.