VITAL ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY
In both the apparel and footwear industries, technological innovations have facilitated global expansion and closer coordination between retailers and manufacturers, while also cutting costs. For example, improvements in manufacturing processes—such as efficiencies in cut-and-sew operations in the apparel industry—are helping to reduce manual labor costs. (Kumar, 2006)
Rapid improvements in computer technology have helped to shorten the new product development phase from years to practically months, especially in the fashion/style/high-performance areas. In the athletic footwear industry, for example, computer-aided design (CAD) systems enable a manufacturer to reduce the design-to-production cycle to only a few months, so footwear companies can provide the marketplace with a steady flow of new products.
Apparel makers that link with retailers through quick-response programs and other electronic technologies go a long way toward making themselves indispensable to their customers. The goal of quick response is to keep inventories lean and avoid overstocking, while ensuring that retailers have the merchandise customers want to buy, when they want to buy it. By assuming responsibility for stocking stores, apparel companies help to carry inventory costs, historically one of retailers’ highest costs.
技术中的重要作用
在服装和鞋类行业，技术创新，促进了零售商和制造商之间的全球扩张和密切的协调，同时削减成本。例如，在制造过程中的改进如效率的切割和缝合的操作在服装行业有助于降低人工成本。库马尔2006。
在计算机技术迅速的改善有助于缩短新产品开发阶段从年实际月，尤其是在时尚/风格/高效区。在运动鞋行业，例如，计算机辅助设计（CAD）系统使厂商减少设计生产周期只有几个月，所以鞋业公司可以为市场新产品源源不断。
服装生产商和零售商通过快速反应程序和其他电子技术链接，往做自己的客户不可或缺的一段很长的路。快速响应的目标是保持精简库存和避免积压，同时确保零售商的商品的客户想购买，当他们想买它。通过假设放养商店的责任，帮助实现服装企业的库存成本，历史上的一个零售商的成本最高的。
