Value Chain Alignment

At its core, the Value Chain Alignment (VCA) programme focuses on forging synergies between clothing and textile suppliers and the major clothing retailers they supply. In this respect, the securing of retail involvement has been critical in establishing a forum to facilitate interventions for alignment through the value chain. In addition, participating retailers and the Durban Investment Promotions Agency (DIPA) have made a generous financial commitment to the cluster, permitting the expansion of core activities.

To date, six retailers provide support to the cluster either directly as members, or indirectly through the Cape Cluster, the KZN CTC’s sister organisation, and through annual donations for specific support interventions.

The core focus areas of the VCA programme are as follows:

• Supply chain best practice research; 
• Benchmarking report for each retailer;
• Market access promotion (Meet and Greet);
• Energy efficiency clubs;
• Supplier Database Network Development

Each of the core focus areas is unpacked below:
 

  

Supply Chain Best Practice Research 

The KZN CTC develops knowledge and understanding relating to the supply chain management best practices internationally, in order to provide a comparative analysis of local practices and then align the two. The research is used to identify the world class supply chain tools that measure and assess supplier performance within the clothing and textile value chain and other elements deployed by leading retailers that provide a competitive advantage through the value chain.  This is to ensure fair, objective evaluation and retailer support in upgrading of the local suppliers’ manufacturing capabilities. This knowledge base requires ongoing development in order to keep pace with best practice. As this knowledge base is developed, it feeds into the training and evaluations rolled out to assist retailers and manufacturers in developing the competitiveness of their supply base.
  

 

Benchmarking report for each retailer
 

Each retailer member of the KZN CTC receives an annual benchmarking report and presentation, outlining the competitiveness challenges throughout its domestic value chain. This report is based on the aggregated findings to emerge from firm-level benchmarks and the research undertaken, thereby identifying gaps and opportunities.
 


Market Access Promotion (Meet & Greet)
 

The KZN CTC also promotes market access for its members through the facilitation of "meet and greet sessions" between the sourcing executives and buyers of the major retailers and the KZN CTC members. The aim of these sessions is to enable the retailer's sourcing executives and buyers to identify new sources of manufacturing.  It also affords the clothing, textile and footwear manufacturers with the opportunity to display their merchandise, manufacturing and technical capabilities.


Energy Efficiency Clubs

In 2010, in order to enable firms to improve their energy efficiency and ensure that this does not become an increasing operational cost, firms participated in the Clusters first pilot Energy Efficiency Club (EEC). The intention in 2011 is to engage with key stakeholders with representatives’ from Eskom and eThekwini Municipality for input and support for further energy efficiency improvement opportunities in 2011 for Cluster members. Furthermore, through these key stakeholder engagements, the Cluster will ensure that the KZN CTC members firms are kept informed of the demand and supply side programmes in place, and will be guided in the use thereof.


Supplier Database Network Development

 The KZN CTC has been appointed by its Executive Committee to undertake a project to identify all accredited clothing and textile ‘scare skills’ training service providers and create a database in which the Clusters members can access on a regular basis. This data base will be updated regularly and disseminated to Cluster members.



 

Back To Top