Supply Chain Efficiency

Internet and related technology bring apparel manufacturer closure to actual consumer, with a need to cater individual choice in short time. This coupled with the variable demand of consumer makes it mandatory for organization to handle single item in short quantity in place of multiple items each in large quantity. This shift also increased the importance and the complexity of reverse logistics to efficiently handle customer-return.

Supply chain efficiency is about minimizing inventory, while responsiveness is about increased customer service. In a volatile market driven by flickering consumers moods, these two dimensions of supply chain management are often irreconcilable. Conflict between efficient supply chain and responsive supply chain has driven the evolution of supply chain configuration to better addresses both inventory and serviceability issue. By choosing right kind of supply chain with respect to market demand, infrastructure etc., apparel organization can address both issues effectively and maximize the value offering.

The way apparel organization embraces superior serviceability in shaping its appropriate supply chain configuration, will determine value of future business. Supply chain management deals with not only supply from manufacturers, but also demand from consumers filtered through various agencies. More than efficiently manage the supply chain, apparel organizations need to effectively manage the entire supply chain keeping both optimization of inventory level and fast responsiveness to market demand in mind.

Reference:

1) Daspal, Debasis. Supply Chain Management- An Integrated Solution to Apparel Industry, Journal of Apparel Association, July-August, 2003.

2) Daspal, Debasis. Integrated Supply Chain Management, Asian Apparel Journal, July 2003.

3) Lambert, Douglas M., Martha C. Cooper and Janus D. Pagh, Supply Chain Management: Implementation Issues and Research Opportunities, The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 9, No. 2 (1998), pp.1-14.

4) David Rigby, David Rigby Associates; APPAREL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT: NEW PROBLEMS, NEW SOLUTIONS, A paper presented to the International Conference of the Society of Dyers and Colourists at Buxton, Derbyshire, UK on 1 October 1992.

5) Daspal, Debasis. , Supply chain management- to cater growing needs of market, The Indian Apparel Journal, July 2003.

6) Supply Chain Management in Theory and Practice: A Passing Fad or a Fundamental Change, Charu Chandra & Sameer Kumar;

http://home.sandiego.edu/~cds/SCS/Supply%20chain%20management%20in%20theory%20and%20practice.pdf

7) Daspal, Debasis. Importance of production planning in supply chain, The Indian Apparel Journal, October, pp.74-87, 1998.

8) Daspal, Debasis. Judicious product mix vital for mills, The Indian Apparel Journal, October, pp.66-69, 1997.

9) Aberdeen, Aberdeen Group. Advanced Planning Engine Technologies: Can Capital Generating Technology Change the Face of Manufacturing?, February 1996. (White Paper).

10) Wood, Freddie. Succeeding in apparels in the nineties, Apparel World, September, pp.102-112, 1993.

About the Author:

The author is senior supply chain professional with experience in leading multinationals like Arvind, Raymond and KDS group. He is currently with KDS Group, Bangladesh as vice president, supply chain & operation for its accessory business.

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