ANALYSIS OF ARTICLES

Analysis of Articles



Zhimin, C., Richard, M. and Richard, M. J. (2007). “Fashion supply chain organization and management between the UK and China.” Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management. Bradford, Vol. 11.

The aim of this paper is to analyze simplified, traditional fashion clothing supply chain models between the UK and China to identify the key issues in quality and communication management. Qualitative research utilizing key informant interviews used. A total of nine extensive interviews undertaken from three simplified supply chains. A content analysis approach used to analyze the data based on recurring themes. The focus was on the management of quality and communication including design development, sample development and approval, fabric/trims order and approval, bulk production management and shipping/warehouse management. The research suggested that for fashion supply chain organization and management between the UK and China attention should be focused on improvement of three common aspects capable of inhibiting performance: deficiencies in the design specification, language barriers, and cultural/human barriers.

Research Problem

Following the development of China as a key manufacturing source for fashion clothing worldwide, it would now appear appropriate to explore whether there are special features of supply chain organization and management between the UK and China. China became a member of the WTO in 2001 and the forthcoming removal of trade barriers meant that in future UK retailers could more easily source goods directly from manufacturers in Mainland China. However, most Chinese clothing manufacturers still usually export their products either via import/export companies in China or through Hong Kong clothing agencies. It identified those three types of fashion supply chain organizations operating between the UK and China. They called these the traditional fashion clothing supply chain model, the simplified, traditional fashion clothing supply chain model (which uses fewer offices to make the arrangements), and the streamlined fashion clothing supply chain model (where the UK retailer works directly with the Chinese manufacturer). Most Chinese clothing manufacturers use a mixture of the traditional model and the simplified model due to quotas and merchandise requirements (Zhimin, Richard and Richard, 2007). This paper attempts an analysis of the most widely used of these models, the simplified, traditional fashion clothing supply chain model, to identify the key issues in quality and communication management.

Methodology

The research described in this paper used a qualitative approach. Qualitative research is conventionally used to understand behavior and institutions by getting to know the people involved and their values, rituals, symbols, beliefs, and emotions. Sampling is important in qualitative research. Sampling decisions required not only about which people to interview or which events to observe, but also about settings and processes. Qualitative research rarely uses probability sampling, but rather some planned sampling and/or purposive sampling. As the aim, of this research was to analyze the simplified, traditional fashion clothing supply chain model (simplified supply chain) to identify the key issues in quality and communication management, purposive sampling used. Three variations of simplified supply chain between the UK and China chosen as representative of the most common fashion clothing supply chains between the UK and China. A partly structured, part-standardized, part open-ended interview developed ...