New product development by a textile and apparel manufacturer: a case study from Taiwan

Textile and apparel manufacturers face severe competition in an increasingly globalized economy and a decline in the industry as the nation becomes economically mature. Therefore, understanding how a textile and apparel manufacturer maintains its competitive advantages in the global industry has become crucial. New product development (NPD) has been adopted by numerous businesses as a factor in their competitiveness. Most NPD studies in the textile and apparel sectors have been conducted in Europe and, or, the USA. This paper presents an in-depth case study of a selected Taiwanese textile and apparel manufacturer located in Asia Pacific, a highly competitive region, and examines how its NPD has been developed to maintain its competitive advantage. A twofold NPD is shown as the key to achieve various competitive advantages: flexibility, relationship building, and strategic repositioning of its services to key customers.     

Textile and clothing exports of developed & developing countries: An analysis under the restrictive trade regime

Global textile and clothing (T&C) export restraints had been enforced for nearly 50 years under the Short-Term Arrangement, Long-Term Arrangement, and the Multi-fibre Arrangement. With the formation of the World Trade Organization in 1995, a 10-year quota phasing out transitional period governed by the Agreement on Textile and Clothing was agreed with quota abolition by the end of 2004. This paper analyses the T&C exports from developed and developing countries under the Multi-fibre Arrangement and Agreement on Textile and Clothing from 1990 to 2004 and reveals that there existed a gradual shift of increasing T&C exports by developing countries. The scenarios for the 20 leading global T&C exporters, which assumed 80%–90% of the global export value, were analysed separately by time-series regression modelling during the prescribed period. Results showed that developed countries were seriously affected in the past 15 years and some developing countries would likely become potential global leaders in T&C exports with the abolishment of quotas.     

三元要搭“冰淇淋”这班车

<正> 5月份,正是SARS病菌肆虐的时候,而三元全新产品冰淇淋也在此时出现在了超市的冰柜里。我们不仅感叹三元居然没有受到SARS的影响,更加诧异三元为何突然对冰淇淋市场产生了兴趣? 不过,联想到去年三元食品有限公司的易主行动,我们就不难看出,三元投身冰淇淋市场原来是早有“预谋”。     

Exposure estimate for FD&C colour additives for the US population

Dietary exposures to the seven food, drug, and cosmetic (FD&C) colour additives that are approved for general use in food in the United States were estimated for the US population (aged 2 years and older), children (aged 2–5 years) and teenage boys (aged 13–18 years) based on analytical levels of the FD&C colour additives in foods. Approximately 600 foods were chosen for analysis, based on a survey of product labels, for the levels of FD&C colour additives. Dietary exposure was estimated using both 2-day food consumption data from the combined 2007–10 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and 10–14-day food consumption data from the 2007–10 NPD Group, Inc. National Eating Trends – Nutrient Intake Database (NPD NET-NID). Dietary exposure was estimated at the mean and 90th percentile using three different exposure scenarios: low exposure, average exposure and high exposure, to account for the range in the amount of each FD&C colour additive for a given food. For all populations and all exposure scenarios, the highest cumulative eaters-only exposures in food were determined for FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5 and FD&C Yellow No. 6. In addition, the eaters-only exposure was estimated for individual food categories in order to determine which food categories contributed the most to the exposure for each FD&C colour additive. Breakfast Cereal, Juice Drinks, Soft Drinks, and Frozen Dairy Desserts/Sherbet (also referred to as Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, Sherbet (including Bars, Sticks, Sandwiches)) were the major contributing food categories to exposure for multiple FD&C colour additives for all three populations.     

EEC Inter- laboratory Tests on Methods of Analysis of Fibre Mixtures EEC Working Party on Textile Names and Labelling - Analysis

Abstract

With today's global competitive marketplace, new textile product development requires a design, marketing, materials and technology interface. An opportunity existed to examine the new textile product development processes being used by global textile companies with a variety of textile product end-uses: apparel, home textiles, transportation, industrial, nonwovens, carpets, and medical textiles. The Crawford and DiBenedetto model (2003) was used as the conceptual framework for the study and data was collected using secondary and primary data sources. A total of 24 global companies, based in the United States, comprised the sample for this study. Each company's new textile product development processes, practices, and new products were examined, with identification of key new product development concepts being utilized. Results indicated that companies were utilizing new product development (NPD) processes as a competitive tool, but are using a combination of NPD strategies to develop and launch products in the global marketplace.     

Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: an opportunity or a threat to the EU textile and apparel industry?

This study quantitatively evaluated how tariff elimination and reduction of non-tariff barriers under the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) could affect the textile and apparel (T&A) industry in the European Union (EU). Based on the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model, the study finds that: first, T-TIP’s trade creation effect will expand the EU-U.S. intra-industry trade for textiles. Meanwhile, T-TIP will significantly expand EU’s apparel exports to the United States. Second, trade T-TIP’s trade diversion effect will affect T&A exports from non-member suppliers to the T-TIP region negatively, including Asia’s T&A exports to the U.S. and EU and Turkey’s T&A exports to the EU. Third, T-TIP will affect the intra-region T&A trade in the EU region negatively but in a limited way. Findings of this study augment our understanding of the T&A-specific sectoral impact of T-TIP and provide valuable inputs supporting the T-TIP negotiation.     

The antecedents of successful buyer–supplier relationships in strategic networks of the Hong Kong clothing industry

Abstract

There has long been a research interest in dyadic business relationships. However, the antecedents of strategic networks have not yet been fully understood, especially within contexts that are indiscernible and capricious with respect to competitive and cooperative interaction. Building on the previous strategic network studies, this paper focuses on the antecedents of collaborations between the Asian manufacturers and their suppliers within a strategic network. In-depth interviews were conducted, and qualitative data were collected from senior executives at five well-known Hong Kong clothing companies. Based on these interviews, we developed a conceptual framework that included eight antecedents that are applicable to successful networks for the Hong Kong clothing industry. Finally, implications for managerial practice emphasize how to develop a successful strategic network, along with its antecedents.     

‘Business model and performance in the Spanish wine industry’

Using a business model as a means of analysis of competitive advantage is a new concept that includes classic elements, such as resources and strategy, adding the creation of value for customers and the appropriation of a part of it by the company. This paper studies the relation between the business model and performance in the Spanish wine industry. For this study, a survey was conducted of all the wineries in Spain; 339 responses were obtained, 14% of the total sample universe. In line with the recent literature, a business model is shaped as a consequence of the definition of the business strategy. To analyse the different business models, the core strategy and their interaction with the decisions of the company in the value chain have been analysed. The study empirically points out four successful business models in the Spanish wine industry, and notes the set of decisions in the value chain that each business model uses. The results and conclusions presented should provide a way for the managers of Spanish wineries to evaluate the congruence between their core strategies and their decisions in the value chain in order to achieve a better business performance. In addition, this can benefit wine sector firms in aligning their resources and decisions and in achieving greater efficiency. The study provides a global analysis that has not been made in the wine sector before and its conclusions allow one to know which core strategies are related to a better performance and which are not.     

Does Japan’s accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership mean an opportunity or a threat to the US textile industry? A quantitative evaluation

This study provides a quantitative evaluation on the potential impact of the implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the economic interests in the US textile industry, particularly with regard to Japan’s accession to the agreement. By adopting the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) computable general equilibrium model based on the GTAP8 database, results of the study show that: first, trade creation effect of the TPP would result in an increase of the US textile exports to other TPP members; however, with Japan’s accession to the TPP, the potential expansion of the US textile exports would be substantially offset. Second, the TPP would negatively affect the US textile exports to the North American Free Trade Agreement and CAFTA regions, particularly in the case when Japan becomes a TPP member. Third, the TPP would expand the two-way intra-industry trade between the United States and Japan for textiles. Fourth, the TPP would cause an expansion of the trade deficit as well as a decline of domestic production in the US textile industry, particularly in the case when Japan becomes a TPP member. Findings of this study augment our understanding of the Textile and apparel (T&A)-specific sectoral impact of the TPP and provide valuable inputs supporting the T&A sectoral negotiation under the TPP.     

实施PLM,提升纺织企业竞争优势

阐述产品生命周期管理(PLM)能优化企业的运营流程,提高效率,提升企业的核心竞争能力,并保持核心竞争优势的持久性。分析了我国纺织企业实施PLM所产生的竞争优势与商业价值,指出纺织企业实施PLM过程中应注意的问题。     

Some aspects of dynamic headspace analysis of volatile components in honey

Purge and Trap (P&T) has been evaluated as a fractionation technique for the GC–MS analysis of the most volatile compounds in honey. The volatile fraction of twenty-two commercial honeys of eight different botanical sources (eucalyptus, thyme, citrus, rosemary, heather, lavender, multiflower and honeydew) was characterized by P&T–GC–MS. Hundred volatile compounds were characterized, 18 of them being determined for the first time in honey. Compounds detected included volatiles derived from the floral nectar or honeydew source such as terpenes, furan derivatives from honey processing and storage and other compounds whose origin could be related to microbial or environmental contamination. This method has also been validated with regard to data reproducibility; with relative data (percentage of total volatile composition) showing a better precision over quantitative results calculated using an internal standard. Application of multivariate statistical analysis to P&T–GC–MS data has shown to be very promising to classify samples according to their botanical origin.     

基于资源基础论视角的烟台市葡萄酒产业竞争力分析

烟台市是我国重要的葡萄酒产区之一，拥有优越的自然条件与深厚的产业基础。该文通过企业资源基础论（RBV）视角，将产区资源分为基础资源、战略资源、高阶资源三类，从价格竞争力、质量竞争力、营销竞争力、组织竞争力、风险控制竞争力五方面对烟台市葡萄酒产业竞争力分析，认为烟台市葡萄酒产业竞争力在自然条件、科研实力、营销渠道等方面拥有优势，在生产成本、产业融合、品牌建设等方面存在劣势。该文建议搭建产业集聚平台、完善社会化服务体系、增加科研投入等，推动烟台市葡萄酒产业健康可持续发展。     

中国烟草"走出去"的实践和几点建议

在经济全球化加速发展的今天,一个产业只有放在全球范围内来审视,才能判断其是否真正具有国际竞争力;一个企业只有在全球范围内有效整合资源,才能成为世界级企业。对于中国烟草来说,“走出去”开展跨国经营,充分利用“两个市场、两种资源”,积极培育新的经济增长点,这是其提高竞争实力,拓展发展空间,谋求长远发展的一项具有重大意义的战略性选择。本文通过回顾中国烟草“走出去”的实践,总结其中的基本经验,对中国烟草制定和宴施“走出去”战略进行了初步思考和探讨。     

规模白酒企业做强的集约化管理分析

阐述并提出了＂强＂的概念模型,指出集约化管理是规模白酒企业做强的主要方法,并以泸州老窖为例,分析了行业和业务模式创新对于白酒企业做强的战略作用,讨论了做强的路径。     

Understanding consumers’ cognitive structures with regard to high pressure processing: A means-end chain application to the chilled ready meals category

Although new process technologies can potentially offer superior competitive advantages in the marketplace, they can also represent a high-risk effort for those manufacturers that ignore consumers’ needs and value systems during the new product development (NPD) process. The overall aim of the study was to gain insights into consumers’ cognitions with regard to high pressure processed chilled ready meals. In-depth one-to-one laddering interviews based on means-end chain theory were conducted in-home with 40 purchasers of chilled ready meals. The research showed that consumers were generally receptive towards the concept of high pressure processed chilled ready meals. However, perceived food safety risks related to low awareness levels of the technology, coupled with misconceptions regarding the influence of high pressure processing (HPP) on elements of eating quality represented significant barriers to consumer acceptance. Hierarchical value maps (HVM) revealed important insights into the motivational cognitive structures of specific consumer segments with important implications for the technical development and strategic marketing of high pressure processed foods.     

Developing an analytic network process model for identifying critical factors to achieve apparel safety

Apparel safety is a key determinant of competitiveness in today’s dynamic and turbulent business environment. Apparel risks may cause catastrophic damages to wearer and result in substantial costs in terms of lost production and emergency recall operations. Identification of user safety indicators associated with apparel design and production is a very complex and critical task. The aim of this paper was to propose an analytic network process (ANP) model that serves to identify critical indicators for achieving apparel safety. This was the first time that this method was used in such a context. First, we constructed a reference framework of the indicators that contribute to achieving apparel safety based on a systematic analysis of the related references. Then, we developed an ANP model that provides a systematic approach to explore and analyze influential relationships between safety indicators and computes a weight to each indicator representing its relative importance. A comparison was conducted between ANP and analytic hierarchy process which shows the differences between the two methods. Finally, managerial implications were presented for apparel firms. The model also provides an efficient evaluating mechanism for safety indicators of apparels in industry.     

文化全球化语境下我国文化产业的转型升级

随着科学技术的高速发展,市场经济体制的普遍建立,全球化作为当代社会发展的必然历史趋势,与时俱进地不断渗透到人类的政治、经济、社会、文化诸领域,世界经济与文化"一体化"趋势日益明显。文化作为资源,开始进入市场,成为社会生产力中的一个重要组成部分。文化产业也以其巨大的经济和社会效益,成为世界各国争抢国际市场、提升国家竞争力、构建文化体系的重要战略高地。在我国大力发展文化产业的今天,从文化产业转型升级的角度出发,借鉴发达国家产业发展的成功启示,文化全球化语境下我国文化产业的路径选择,已成为我国文化产业必须面对和解决的重大理论课题和实践问题。     

粮食物流市场体系一体化运行模式研究

研究了粮食物流市场体系一体化运行模式。以一体化物流服务理论为基础,创造粮食生产企业、粮食物流企业、粮食加工企业、粮食及其加工品销售企业的供应链,以及同业、异业企业间的整体竞争优势。通过粮食物流各功能的有机结合实现粮食物流自身一体化;通过粮食物流上下游企业之间、同业及异业企业之间以及第三方物流企业之间的战略联盟实现粮食微观物流一体化;通过构筑粮食物流通道以及粮食物流园区、粮食物流中心、粮食仓库等粮食物流据点实现粮食宏观物流一体化,最终实现粮食物流市场体系的一体化运行。     

Visualization of temporal differences between dominant perceptions in temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) and temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA) perceptions using dominance-highlighted TCATA (dTCATA) curves

The temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) method measures dynamic changes of panelists’ attention to the sensory attributes of products. The temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA) method measures all sensory attributes perceived at each moment of an evaluation. However, unlike in TDS, significant levels cannot be calculated in TCATA. This study proposes the use of dominance-highlighted TCATA (dTCATA) curves, which are highlighted TCATA curves that show significant time periods for the TDS data of different panels. Twelve R&D panelists evaluated five commercial corn soups using the TCATA method. Then, 125 consumer panelists evaluated the same products using the TDS method. The dTCATA curves showed TCATA curves for all attributes for each product evaluated by the R&D panel highlighted with the dominance rates identified by the consumer panel in the TDS evaluation. For example, for product 1, some attributes (sweet, viscosity) showed relatively high citation proportions in the TCATA evaluations of the R&D panel and significant dominance rates in the TDS evaluations of the consumer panel. In contrast, consommé flavor showed relatively low citation proportions in TCATA but significant dominance rates in TDS. By merging TDS and TCATA data, we could compare consumers’ dominant sensations with the evaluations of R&D panelists. This comparison could provide useful insights to product developers. In some cases, we observed attributes with significant dominance rates that were under-identified by the R&D panel in TCATA. This could suggest that most of the R&D panel may not have perceived these attributes; therefore, during product development, these attributes should be carefully considered.     

浅谈客户关系管理在盐业企业中的应用

在目前充满竞争的市场上,如何抓住客户、留住客户,维持客户的忠诚度,保持市场竞争力,是今天所有企业都关心的问题。本文从客户关系管理的基本理论入手。分析盐业企业的管理现状,进一步论述了客户关系管理如何在盐业企业中实施应用。