Apparel company selects PTC product lifecycle management apps to beef up global development
Needham, MA — January 10, 2006 — Sport apparel company Fila has standardized on a Web-based Enterprise solution from PTC for enterprise product lifecycle management as part of an initiative to reduce time-to-market and costs while improving product quality and information exchange.
One of the most significant challenges in the global product development process is managing and controlling access to product data and imagery throughout the supply chain. PTC said that its Retail, Footwear and Apparel solution will help Fila improve global product development by optimizing its supply chain in order to develop and deliver new products in an increasingly competitive business environment.
This is especially important when a company collaborates on designs internally, as well as with suppliers from around the world. Fila will implement PTC's solution for its U.S., Italian, Hong Kong and Guangdong operations in both the footwear and apparel categories. The company's initial focus will be line planning, materials, technical packs, calendar and workflow management.
"Consolidation throughout the footwear and apparel supply chains has created an environment of more choice for the consumer and more competition among fewer manufacturers," said Kristin Kohler, vice president of global product/general manager at Fila. "As the industry matures, consumer expectations increase in terms of brand and product, as well as the creation of a clear point of difference in the marketplace."
Kohler said that Fila's goal in re-positioning the brand in this environment is to align various processes in the organization to successfully deliver against this challenge. "The PTC Retail, Footwear and Apparel solution will help us achieve our goals by providing more transparency and collaboration to the product development process, a higher level of product analysis and a better focus on delivering the right Fila product to the consumer," Kohler said.
"Traditional PDM offerings have not adequately addressed the collaborative nature of the retail, footwear and apparel industry," said Matthew Austin, marketing program director for consumer products at PTC. "The PTC Retail, Footwear and Apparel solution addresses the unique requirements of the industry to manage product development across a complex global value chain and is fast emerging as an authentic source of competitive advantage."
Additional Articles of Interest
— For more information on mid-market companies using product lifecycle management solutions to gain competitive advantage, see "Stuck in the Middle" in the April/May 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— Supply chain executives can drive profitability ahead if they closely align their supply chain strategies to five universal business plan challenges. Read more in "Collaborate to Innovate," in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— Consumers spent nearly $28 billion on the "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving 2005, up 21.9 percent over 2004's results. Great news for retailers, but a potential nightmare for supply chain executives trying to get the right product on the right shelf at the right time. The lesson: Now is the time to plan for the next peak shipping season. Read more in the "Seasons' Peakings," the Executive Memo column in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Needham, MA — January 10, 2006 — Sport apparel company Fila has standardized on a Web-based Enterprise solution from PTC for enterprise product lifecycle management as part of an initiative to reduce time-to-market and costs while improving product quality and information exchange.
One of the most significant challenges in the global product development process is managing and controlling access to product data and imagery throughout the supply chain. PTC said that its Retail, Footwear and Apparel solution will help Fila improve global product development by optimizing its supply chain in order to develop and deliver new products in an increasingly competitive business environment.
This is especially important when a company collaborates on designs internally, as well as with suppliers from around the world. Fila will implement PTC's solution for its U.S., Italian, Hong Kong and Guangdong operations in both the footwear and apparel categories. The company's initial focus will be line planning, materials, technical packs, calendar and workflow management.
"Consolidation throughout the footwear and apparel supply chains has created an environment of more choice for the consumer and more competition among fewer manufacturers," said Kristin Kohler, vice president of global product/general manager at Fila. "As the industry matures, consumer expectations increase in terms of brand and product, as well as the creation of a clear point of difference in the marketplace."
Kohler said that Fila's goal in re-positioning the brand in this environment is to align various processes in the organization to successfully deliver against this challenge. "The PTC Retail, Footwear and Apparel solution will help us achieve our goals by providing more transparency and collaboration to the product development process, a higher level of product analysis and a better focus on delivering the right Fila product to the consumer," Kohler said.
"Traditional PDM offerings have not adequately addressed the collaborative nature of the retail, footwear and apparel industry," said Matthew Austin, marketing program director for consumer products at PTC. "The PTC Retail, Footwear and Apparel solution addresses the unique requirements of the industry to manage product development across a complex global value chain and is fast emerging as an authentic source of competitive advantage."
Additional Articles of Interest
— For more information on mid-market companies using product lifecycle management solutions to gain competitive advantage, see "Stuck in the Middle" in the April/May 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— Supply chain executives can drive profitability ahead if they closely align their supply chain strategies to five universal business plan challenges. Read more in "Collaborate to Innovate," in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— Consumers spent nearly $28 billion on the "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving 2005, up 21.9 percent over 2004's results. Great news for retailers, but a potential nightmare for supply chain executives trying to get the right product on the right shelf at the right time. The lesson: Now is the time to plan for the next peak shipping season. Read more in the "Seasons' Peakings," the Executive Memo column in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
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