the role of sourcing agents in global apparel supply chains

apparel sourcing process to include design and product development as well as securing
raw materials (Kunz & Garner, 2007). Since the process has moved to pushing more and
more responsibility onto the contractor, the factories and sourcing agents have also
gained power along with the responsibility of choosing adequate and competitive
production facilities. According to Kunz and Garner (2007), full-package items force
agencies to acquire more product knowledge and higher management skills in order to be
competitive in not only supplying a factory, but also supplying peace of mind for a secure
and successful product delivery. Sourcing agents can reduce the financial risk of
manufacturers and retailers by assuming responsibility for production and delivery.
Retailers recognize the complexity of implementing a collaborative supply chain
in a global economy. According to Levy and Weitz (2009), “when sourcing globally, it’s
harder to maintain consistent quality standards than when sourcing domestically” (p.
395). Levy and Weitz (2009) go on to discuss that in order for any supply chain to work
efficiently, there must be strong relationships between the vendor and the retailer to
include trust and efficient sharing of information. One purpose of this project is to
determine how sourcing agents make the relationship between the retailer or
manufacturer and the vendor stronger. For instance, a sourcing agent can bridge cultural
barriers, which is discussed in the next section.
Cultural Differences
As noted by many academic and industry professionals, the need to address
cultural differences in apparel production is significant. The following table highlights
the differences in business practices between Eastern and Western cultures (Jung, 2009):
14