IT or bust - use of information technology in the apparel industry - Editorial

Is the sewn products industry facing a critical crossroads in information technology? I would say yes based on the software sector's growing turf over the past few years.

From Year 2000 compliance to the push toward standardized platforms, to the whirlwind of Internet development activity, we now are faced with an environment that will open a global world of opportunity for some, and leave others with a technological flat tire.

I'm not alone in my thinking. I recently had a conversation with Paul Robb, president and CEO of Duck Head Apparel Co., during which he summed up the situation very succinctly: "The leaders of the apparel industry have to be incredibly aware of the enormous magnitude and impact that electronic technology now has on our global economy. To think that it is not going to have a major influence on our industry is just being naive. And this technology is going to require that every annual business plan dedicate significant funds and resources to stay current with what's going on."

I like to use Robb as an example because he represents a company that doesn't fall into the category of big talk, but little action. The reason: Duck Head recently blazed a new technology trail in developing the DH2000 "virtual merchandising" system, a computer application that allows retailers to visualize Duck Head products from the initial design concept to sales floor merchandising.

Duck Head is far from an anomaly today - which could mean trouble for your company if none of your employees know the difference between a DOS prompt and a GUI. First, consider that reasonably priced PCs and software, along with the Internet, now provide small and large manufacturers alike with the opportunity to effectively reach equal ground in terms of internal efficiency, retailer compliance and global communications. Competitive barriers fall quickly in this environment, and the gap between those who are IT savvy and those who are turning a blind eye to the computer will expand at an exponential rate.

Just slapping a few PCs in the corner of the office won't bridge this gap. Therefore, it's imperative that - on an ongoing basis - we understand, benchmark and utilize the most effective IT developments. I'm not implying that everyone needs a Ph.D. in computer science. More important than understanding data base programming dynamics is being able to evaluate and understand the functionality of an IT application and whether it truly can be utilized to improve the bottom line.

Keeping track of all the developments to ensure the right decisions are made is where the real effort comes into play. I found this out firsthand when I agreed to co-chair the upcoming 1998 International Apparel Research Conference, "Global Enterprise 2002, Strategies for Success in the Sewn Products Industry." The organizing group, the Apparel Research Committee of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association, has spent the past 14 months researching IT developments in areas such as supply chain management, retail distribution and business communications, as well as identifying the best II benchmarks in the sewn products industry. The latter quest led us to Duck Head's Robb, who will be joined by Paul Charron, chairman and CEO of Liz Claiborne Inc., David Giometti, vice president, vendor relations, Sears, Roebuck & Co., and more than 15 other industry leaders on March 3-4 in Atlanta, GA. (See pages 12-13 for more information.)

If you're ready to travel alongside the industry's IT leaders, don't miss the opportunity to share in this meaningful research. Mark your calendar now: 'ARC Conference or Bust.'

COPYRIGHT 1998 Miller Freeman, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group