Behind the Client Projects

Apparel 1st Annual Excellence in Sourcing Study
Conducted in partnership with KSA, this Apparel Magazine study examines a variety of core benchmarks and statistics related to global sourcing practices. These include methods of buying, sourcing locales, sourcing lead times, volumes, fill rates and inventory turns, vendor performance measurement, purchasing methods, transportation, supply chain visibility and technology and more.

Maximizing Time-to-Value: Getting the Most Out of Product Lifecycle Management in Retail, Footwear, and Apparel
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is being touted as the cure-all for inefficient product development. And yet, achieving measurable benefits is anything but automatic. Success with PLM requires careful planning across your organization. Co-authored by PTC and KSA, this white paper explains the fundamentals of PLM and provides valuable insights into planning, deploying and sustaining it, including a five-step approach and best-practice examples.

The Building Blocks of Peak Performance
This article, which appeared in the July/August 2006 issue of Supply Chain Management Review (www.scmr.com), outlines leading practices in merchandise planning, sourcing, logistics, and store operations, and provides examples of companies that are using them to drive significant business benefits. Kurt Salmon Associates is finding that world-class supply chains integrate these functions to create supply chain excellence.

CAFTA-DR Overview: The Agreement in Summary
For those who have been sourcing in the region for years and those just starting their exploration, it can be very challenging to navigate the maze of trade rules in Central America and the Caribbean. But making the effort to take advantage of trade agreements and preference programs can really pay off, and understanding the latest deal, CAFTA-DR, can lead to major savings. This article, originally published in Apparel Magazine’s eNewsletter, serves as a CAFTA-DR primer and an update on the agreement, including background, key facts about the pact, and sourcing advice.

Field Management Effectiveness: Creating a Network That Drives Consistent Store Execution and Improved Results
A highly effective field management organization is critical to driving consistent customer expectations, store execution, and positive results. However, as retail chains have grown in size and complexity, the field management organization has changed very little. Providing new structure and tools to this organization will dramatically improve the effectiveness of these important resources. This KSA Solutions focuses on five key steps to developing a highly effective field management network. From design to performance management, these steps define improvements to field management that will enhance overall retail effectiveness. Field Management Effectiveness is part of KSA's Customer-Optimized Retail Execution (CORE) Services, an exciting new approach that can help you reach new levels of retail execution in the customer's eyes.

Bringing the New Global Landscape into Focus: Streamline Your Home Textile Supply Chain for Success
Tremendous change has taken place in U.S. soft goods trade since the release of quotas under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement in January. To succeed in this changing marketplace, companies must identify and respond quickly to consumer needs through a complicated array of global product development, design, sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment functions. This Perspective — which focuses on the home textiles market — reviews what has happened, outlines what is shaping changes, and forecasts where the market is headed and what is required for success.

Global Sourcing and Procurement Benchmarking Survey
Buying products today requires new skills and practices to remain competitive. A global strategy links suppliers with an efficient supply network to rapidly respond to customer trends. The Kurt Salmon Associates/TradeCard Global Sourcing and Procurement Benchmarking Survey assesses areas such as lead time performance and vendor and financial management. Participating companies will receive a report outlining their opportunities and benchmarking how they measure up to their peers.

Full Speed: KSA’s Product Development “Speed to Market” Methodology
Today’s competitive retail environment requires leaders to be fast, flexible, and focused. Improving speed to market is the ultimate competitive weapon, and leaders are realizing double the profits and 50% higher turns than their traditional competitors. KSA’s Full Speed approach helps companies realize improved sales, margin, and costs by enabling them to bring better product to market faster. We apply best practices, benchmarks, and insights into different retail business process models to define process, organization, and technology opportunities for our clients.