United States-based sportswear and equipment supplier Nike Inc. has partnered with Sri Lanka-based
MAS Active – a producer of competition sportswear and fashion leisurewear, and a subsidiary of MAS
Holdings – to create the global Apparel Innovation and Training Centre (AITC) at the MAS Institute
for Management and Technology at the MAS Fabric Park in Thulhiriya, Sri Lanka.
The new facility, to be managed and operated by Nike, will focus on skill development and
classroom training for its employees and employees of strategic manufacturing partners. The center
will offer courses such as a 12-week Core Lean Program.
To complement the Nike center, MAS Active will create Linea AITC, an apparel-manufacturing
establishment devoted to Nike. The facility, MAS’s 27th plant in Sri Lanka and its fourth plant
based at the MAS Fabric Park, will produce finished goods while functioning as a hands-on training
center for students attending Nike courses. MAS will employ more than 200 associates at Linea AITC.
“The new Apparel Innovation and Training Centre provides a standardized foundation of
training and education to create industry leadership in lean manufacturing, innovation, and
continued learning that elevates the quality and craftsmanship of the Nike product,” said Dipayan
Dasgupta, Nike Global Apparel Manufacturing director. “We appreciate the opportunity to partner
with strategic suppliers, like MAS Active, who show a deep understanding of the positive impact of
training and workforce empowerment and working towards reducing manufacturing waste, among other
qualities.”
“Our partnership with Nike has been an exciting journey for us, and we are thrilled to
support them in setting up the new facility,” said Shirendra Lawrence, managing director, MAS
Active. “We are also excited to be opening a brand new manufacturing facility which will work
closely with the Training Centre.”
October/November/December 2009