CARGOCONNECT-MAY23 - Flipbook - Page 30
COVERSTORY
APPAREL SUPPLY CHAIN
OPERATING WITH
AGILITY REQUIRES
STEPS THAT CAN
HELP STREAMLINE
SUPPLY CHAIN
MANAGEMENT
VIVEK BIST
HEAD– LOGISTICS
customer-centric
approach is
essential for
achieving leadership vision in
the apparel value chain
ecosystem
The apparel industry in India
is diverse, complex, and fragmented. With a wide gamut of
demand and a broad spectrum
of inventory, achieving leadership
vision and operating with agility
requires specific steps that can
help streamline the supply chain
management process. Some of the
most important and concrete steps
towards achieving the same are:
Standardisation: Standardising processes and procedures can
help eliminate inefficiencies and
reduce costs. By establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs)
for different stages of the supply
chain, apparel companies can
improve the quality of products,
reduce lead times, and ensure
compliance with regulations.
Agility: Agility is the ability
to respond quickly and efficiently
to changes in demand or supply.
To achieve agility, companies
need to be flexible and adaptable.
This involves building a flexible supply chain network that
can quickly adapt to changes in
demand and supply, establishing
alternative transportation routes,
and diversifying suppliers and
factories.
30 | CARGOCONNECT MAY 2023
FASHINZA
Collaboration: Collaboration
is the key to achieving agility
in the supply chain management process. It is important
to collaborate with suppliers,
manufacturers, distributors, and
retailers to establish a seamless
and transparent flow of information. This helps to improve the
accuracy of demand forecasting,
reduce lead times, and ensure the
availability of products.
Digitalisation: Digital technologies can help streamline the
supply chain management process
and provide real-time data and
insights. Apparel companies can
optimise inventory management,
reduce waste, and improve the
overall efficiency of the supply
chain.
Sustainability: Sustainable
practices are becoming increasingly important in the apparel
industry, both from an environmental and social perspective.
Adopting sustainable practices
such as the use of eco-friendly
materials, reducing waste, and
ensuring fair labour practices can
help companies build a positive
brand image and establish a
competitive edge.
In conclusion, a customercentric approach is essential for
achieving leadership vision in the
apparel value chain ecosystem.
By focussing on customer needs
and preferences, companies
can design products that meet
customer expectations, improve
customer satisfaction, and build
customer loyalty.
Companies must partner
with ethical and sustainable
suppliers, and implement
policies and standards that
align with their values and
goals
There are several hot button issues
in the textile and apparel industry
today, including sustainability,
ethical labour practices, and supply chain transparency. These
issues have become increasingly
important in recent years, driven
by consumer demand for ethical
and sustainable products and the
need for companies to operate
more efficiently and responsibly.
To structure supply chain initiatives and programmes in response
to these hot button issues, textile
and apparel companies should
consider the different elements of
their supply chain and how those
impact the environment, society,
and the economy. Here are some
key elements of a holistic strategy:
A circular economy: Companies should adopt sustainable
practices throughout their supply chain, from sourcing raw
materials to manufacturing and
distribution. This includes using
eco-friendly materials, reducing
waste, and implementing sustainable production methods.
Ethical practices: Companies
should ensure fair labour practices throughout their supply
chain, including the use of ethical
sourcing and manufacturing
practices, fair wages and benefits,
and safe working conditions for
workers. Companies must partner
with ethical and sustainable suppliers, and implement policies
and standards that align with
their values and goals.
End-to-end transparency:
Companies should promote
transparency in their supply
chain, providing visibility into the
different stages of production and
distribution. They must implement traceability systems and