Supply chain models in garment industry

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the study concerning supply chain models which was conducted by the author in Polish garment industry enterprises. The goal of the paper was to identify the types of supply chain models in this sector. The research methods were interviews and direct observations of manufacturing and logistics processes in clothing companies. Four types of supply chains models were characterized on the examples of supply chains of various companies. The criteria taken into consideration when characterizing the models included but were not limited to: the supply chain leader, the manufactured products (mass or individualized), the material flow strategy (push, pull), and the geographical location of the supply chain nodes. The factors differentiating these models were related to competitiveness – first of all, the price, the quality of products and services, the time of delivery, the accessibility of products, the extent of the product range.