TAL

Q1.

China’s accession into the WTO and the elimination of all textiles quotes

China's agreement of WTO accession :

• Quota Liberalization
• Tariff reduction
• De-regulation of the retail and distribution sector
• Potential anti-surge mechanism and non-tariff barriers

China-US Agreement - a good general guide to the obligations China entered into with its WTO partners

Source's link

Example :  China will reduce its tariffs on textiles and apparel products from its current average tariff of 25.4% to 11.7%

At the result of China's WTO access, companies like TAL lose the advantage of being the commercial gateway to china and the sourcing hub for the Asian region due to the elimination of textile quotas as well as the deregulation of distribution sector. But meanwhile, eliminating the textile quotes and the deregulation means that the companies having production facilities in china can input raw material at lower cost and the products can have a greater access to the Chinese market as well. As a whole, it is expected that the manufacturer/trader/one-stop sourcing center like Hong Kong will strengthen further.

Migrations of manufactories

The fact:

The production sector of the apparel industry had undergone several migrations in the past few decades: from North America and Western Europe to Japan in the 1950s, from Japan to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea (collectively known as the Asian Big Three) in the 1970s, and most recently from the Big Three to other developing economies in the 1980s3. In 1983, the Asian Big Three, together with China, were responsible for two-thirds of total apparel imports in the US. In 2001, this share had dropped to 27 percent, with competition originating from other Asian countries, Central America and the Caribbean, and most notably Mexico.

Reasons behind the migrations

Some developing countries like Mexico benefited predominantly from their low labour wage and preferential tariffs in their regional trade networks (North American Free Trade Agreement), while the traditional top contender in the industry, such as the Asian Big Threes, were losing their competitiveness.

The results of fundamental changes to the competitive landscape in the industry

Different types of lead firms use different networks and source from different parts of the world.



    Retailers and marketers in developed countries tend to rely on full-package
sourcing networks, buying ready-made apparel primarily from Asia, where
manufacturers in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea historically specialized in this type of production. But as wages have risen, multilayered sourcing networks have been developed; lowwage assembly can be done in other parts of Asia, Africa or Latin America while the NIE manufacturers coordinate the full-package production process.



    Branded manufacturers, by contrast, tend to create production networks that focus on apparel assembly using imported inputs. Full-package sourcing
networks are generally global and the production networks of branded
manufacturers are predominantly regional. Manufacturers in the United States
of America use Mexico and the Caribbean Basin (due to North American Free
Trade Agreement), European Union (EU) firms look to North Africa and Eastern Europe, and Japan and the East Asian NIEs to lower-wage regions within Asia.

Apparel industry's value chain

    The apparel value chain is organized around five main parts: raw material supply, including: natural and synthetic fibres; provision of components, such as the yarns and fabrics manufactured by textile companies; production networks made up of garment factories, including their domestic and overseas subcontractors; export channels established by trade intermediaries; and marketing networks at the retail level.

How apparel industry is classified as a buyer-driven industry

    Apparel is an ideal industry for examining the dynamics of buyer-driven value chains. The relative ease of setting up clothing companies, coupled with the prevalence of developed-country protectionism in this sector, has led to an unparalleled diversity of garment exporters in the third world. Furthermore, the backward and forward linkages are extensive, and help to account for the large number of jobs associated with the industry.

    With the globalization of apparel production, competition between the leading firms in the industry has intensified as each type of lead firm has developed extensive global sourcing capabilities. While “de-verticalizing” out of production, these firms are fortifying their activities in the high value-added design and marketing segments of the apparel chain, leading to a blurring of the boundaries between them and a realignment of interests within the chain.

The examinations (apparel industry):

• Entry barriers are low for most garment factories, although they become progressively higher when moving upstream to textiles and fibres

• Brand names and stores are alternative competitive assets that firms can use to generate significant economic rents. 

• The lavish advertising budgets and promotional campaigns needed to create and sustain global brands.

• Sophisticated and costly information technology employed by mega retailers to develop “quick response” programmes that increase revenues and lower risks by getting suppliers to manage inventories.

• The emergence of “lean retailing” includung bar coding and point-of-sale scanning used to provide immediate and accurate information on product sales; electronic data interchange (EDI) used by the retailer to restock; and automated distribution centers to handle small restocking orders, rather than the traditional warehouse system used for large bulk shipments.

Q2.

What is VMI?

Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is a family of business models in which the buyer of a product (business) provides certain information to a vendor (supply chain)supplier of that product and the supplier takes full responsibility for maintaining an agreed inventory of the material, usually at the buyer's consumption location (usually a store). A third-party logistics provider can also be involved to make sure that the buyer has the required level of inventory by adjusting the demand and supply gaps.

How the use of VMI has enabled TAL to turn the sequential value chain to an integrated and synchronous value network?

Inbound logistics

With the authority to directly access customers’ POS data, TAL know more about the sales pattern and they can manage a minimal input stock level, minimize materials shipping time, increase efficiency of operations for incoming materials, etc.

Operations

TAL can place production orders once the POS data shows that there is a shortage of products in stores, without asking permission by the customers. And for orders which could be filled with existing stocks, production orders would be generated automatically and would be processed with priority.

Outbound logistics

Combining with TAL’s sophisticated pack and ship-to-store systems, VMI enable TAL to directly ship the finished products to customers’ store. This means products can arrive to stores faster than before and warehouse costing is greatly reduced.

Marketing and sales

By using VML, TAL provides a good incentive for customers to make purchase because it helps customers to avoid shortage and enhance their service level.

Service

Learning more about the sales pattern enable TAL to provide service that can better suit the customer in the future. As a whole, VMI can be regarded as an alternative for customers that can integrate value-added services among the value chain.

Q3.

Driving changes in industry structure

Minimize threat of new entrants

The IT initiatives are long-term investment with long-term effects and benefits. In TAL's case, they started poured money from about 20 years ago and get the successful result year by year gradually. That means it is not easy for new entrants to duplicate this IT advantage in a short period.

Balance the power of buyer

IT initiatives like VMI gain TAL a competitive advantage among the industry. Therefore, switching cost is relatively high because customers need to give up the benefit provided by TAL’s IT initiatives.


IT initiatives always provide better communication and cooperation among seller and customers. For example, VMI enable TAL to get POS data from customers so they can learn more about the sales pattern in the industry and gain more bargaining power to customers in the future.

Erode power of supplier

IT initiatives can provide more information to customers so they can have more choice when finding their business partners.

Creating products and service differentiation

VMI allow TAL to replenish the stock just in time


Using ASL system to launch Made to measure strategy help TAL to Provide mass customized garmet that are specified and unique for the customers.

These help TAL to create services that are different from other competitor.

Provide new business opportunities

Shifting from OEMs to OBMs (Original Brand Manufacturers) because IT initiatives can help TAL the following things :


Gain the information they need to establish a new brand that can best suit the industry


Streamline the supply chain so it can be a competitive advantage once they become an OBM


Example: VMI can turn the sequential value chain to an integrated value network.

Q4.

New technologies

SofTAL Process

A wet processing finish that can be applied to 100% cotton, and cotton-rich blend, garments ensuring a wrinkle free pristine appearance throughout the day. Added benefits of our SofTAL process treatment include minimal shrinkage and enhanced color retention even after numerous washes.

Trademark's register page

EZCOOL

With our EZCOOL treatment moisture is easily drawn away from the body to keep you cool and comfortable. The applied treatment allows the garment to dry twice as fast as a normal cotton garment with the additional benefits of being wrinkle-free.

TAL Pucker Free Seam Technology

An innovative sewing technology that utilizes adhesives along the seams to prevent pockets, cuffs, armholes and plackets from puckering. Patented in the Europe and Japan.

Trademark's register page

Emboss

A proprietary process that raises a permanent pattern or logo on 100% cotton garments. The treatment offers a softer and subtler alternative to embroidery or printing.

Dot.TAL

De-odorant Technology of TAL
An antimicrobial finish that acts as a shield against bacteria and mold growth on clothes thus preventing unpleasant odors.

Expandable Waistband

TAL’s patented expandable waistband technology imparts just the right amount of natural elasticity to provide better breathing and comfort throughout the day. Designed for maximum performance the natural elasticity lasts for the lifetime of the garment.

WOR – nano technology 

TAL use a proprietary WOR-nano technology resin system plus nano-scale chemical treatments to produce exceptional stain resistant performance. Furthermore, because the treatment is applied to finished garments even the sewing thread.

SofTAL Woo!

TAL’s washable wool is made from 100% pure wool. Our unique SofTAL Wool process enables us to provide machine wash and dryable wool garments without the headaches of shrinkage or felting. Good fabric and seam smoothness, as well as sharp pleats are retained after multiple wash cycles. No other manufacturers can offer the same product.

Innovatives

Replenishment





X-stocking




VMI




CRFR




Speed to market




FRM




Made to Measure







Reference
https://www.gtap.agecon.purdue.edu
香港貿易發展局
THE GLOBAL APPAREL VALUE CHAIN : What Prospects for Upgrading by Developing Countries