How Shi Dongmei’s 3D Intelligent System Is Reshaping Textile Auxiliaries Production

By Zhao Qiang, WQQX Reporter

In the Qiting Chemical Industrial Park of Yixing, Jiangsu Province, the intelligent production workshop of Wuxi Lianda Chemical has drawn attention across the textile dyeing and finishing auxiliaries industry. IoT sensors scattered across the workshop collect core data every 10 seconds, while energy consumption curves and raw material usage progress update in real time on a large screen. This achievement stems from the “3D Intelligent System Matrix” developed under the leadership of Shi Dongmei, founder of the company and a recognized expert in the textile auxiliaries sector. Covering formula optimization, energy consumption monitoring, and cross-border compliance, this end-to-end solution has helped shift operations from experience-dependent processes to data-driven ones and reshaped how companies in the industry approach production efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Through in-depth interviews with 32 textile auxiliaries enterprises and 27 industry experts worldwide, reporters found that traditional auxiliaries production has long been constrained by three core challenges: formula adjustment relying on engineers’ personal experience, resulting in high raw material scrap rates; a lack of precise monitoring of energy consumption, leading to significant variation in energy use per unit of product; and fragmented environmental standards across countries in cross-border trade, causing high compliance costs and prolonged delivery cycles.

“Solving the common pain points of the entire industry is the core value of meaningful innovation,” Shi Dongmei stated in an exclusive interview. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, she has witnessed China’s textile auxiliaries industry grow and mature. In 2018, Shi Dongmei assembled a team of 26 technical professionals, invested 32 million yuan in R&D funds, and spent five years completing the development and iteration of the 3D Intelligent System. During this process, she led the team in addressing 17 core technical challenges, obtaining 3 software copyrights and 21 utility model patents, and building a strong foundation of proprietary technology.

On-site evaluations at Wuxi Lianda Chemical’s intelligent workshop demonstrated the system’s capabilities. The energy consumption monitoring module captures real-time equipment operation data through 12 sets of high-precision sensors and automatically optimizes production parameters based on LSTM deep learning algorithms. The system has contributed to meaningful reductions in production scrap rates and unit energy consumption. The cross-border compliance module features a built-in database of environmental regulations from 32 countries; inputting product parameters generates compliance reports meeting standards such as the U.S. EPA and EU REACH in a fraction of the time traditionally required for manual review. “This is not a simple technical upgrade, but a fundamental rethinking of production logic,” commented the workshop’s technical supervisor.

Shi Dongmei’s technological innovations have been adopted by manufacturers in multiple markets, with practical results validated through real-world implementation.

At WINNITEX Textile Factory in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, the intelligent system developed by Shi Dongmei’s team has become part of the core production workflow. According to Nguyen Van Thang, the factory’s production director, the factory experienced noticeable improvements after adoption, including stronger environmental compliance performance, improved on-time delivery rates, and expanded access to international markets. “Professor Shi Dongmei’s system has been instrumental in helping us meet international standards,” Nguyen Van Thang noted.

In the R&D laboratory of Anhui Huamao Weaving and Dyeing, the formula intelligent optimization system is supporting the development of new low-formaldehyde fixing agents. The company’s R&D director noted that the system’s ability to simulate multi-scenario adaptation effects has helped streamline the new product development process and improve success rates. “With the APEO-free auxiliaries optimized by the system, we have been able to expand into new international markets. Behind this is the technical capability that Shi Dongmei and her team bring as experienced industry professionals.”

Preliminary cooperation intentions have also been reached with five U.S. textile enterprises. “The U.S. textile industry is facing dual pressures of environmental upgrading and efficiency improvement, and Shi Dongmei’s system addresses this need effectively,” noted a representative of a U.S. textile association.

To help small and medium-sized enterprises access the technology, Shi Dongmei launched a “modular licensing” model. The person in charge of a small auxiliaries enterprise in Suzhou, Jiangsu, stated that after introducing only the energy consumption monitoring module, the company saw measurable improvements in energy efficiency and successfully obtained high-tech enterprise certification. “Shi Dongmei’s approach has helped make these tools accessible to smaller players in the industry, not just large manufacturers.”

As the system gains broader adoption, Shi Dongmei’s work is influencing the wider industry ecosystem.

Reporters learned from the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Textile Dyeing and Finishing Auxiliaries that the “Intelligent Production Management Specifications for Textile Dyeing and Finishing Auxiliaries,” led by Shi Dongmei, has been officially released. Quantitative indicators have been incorporated into industry standards, addressing a gap in domestic intelligent auxiliaries production specifications. The secretary-general of the committee stated: “The issuance of this set of standards will encourage the entire industry to move toward more precise and controlled production methods.”

In talent cultivation, Shi Dongmei has co-established training bases with eight universities including Jiangnan University and Nanjing Tech University. Reporters observed in the laboratory of Jiangnan University that the formula intelligent optimization system has become a core teaching tool for the course “Application of Environmental-Friendly Textile Auxiliaries.” “By simulating production scenarios for practical operations, students can quickly master formula adjustment skills meeting international standards,” introduced a professor from the university’s College of Textile Science and Engineering. As of 2024, 412 graduates have entered the industry through training on this system, with strong early-career retention rates.

Wang Xiang, Chief Review Expert of Zhongke Shengchuang International Technology Development Center, commented: “Shi Dongmei’s 3D Intelligent System not only addresses production challenges but also contributes to building an industrial ecosystem connecting technology, standards, and talent. Her work represents a meaningful contribution to the industry’s development model.”

Shi Dongmei stated that she will continue to focus on iterating and upgrading the intelligent system, with plans to promote localized implementation in the U.S. market. “Technological innovation has no end. We aim to enable more enterprises to access efficient, green, and compliant production solutions, and provide Chinese expertise for the sustainable development of the global textile auxiliaries industry.”