World-class apparel-sourcing enterprises and the restructuring of existing global supply chains

Global competition in the apparel trade has led to the emergence of a tier of production organisers based in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other Asian countries. These organisers are playing an active role, by using global resources, in managing the flow of physical goods and co-ordinating production for Western importers. They have been the leaders in supplying garments to world markets in past decades. However, as pointed out in this paper, their robustness has been constrained by the industrial structure and culture. Although they have had years of experience in managing supply, their exposure to handling demand has been limited. In an era focusing on meeting customer's needs, whether or not their strengths can sustain their leadership is in question. This paper therefore proposes a model of world-class sourcing enterprises for the purpose of promoting sourcing centres to develop skills in supply-chain management.