FBUY3000 Sourcing and Supply

Overview:  To remain competitive fashion retailers need to ensure they not only develop

commercial product, but ensure they deliver to the right place at the right time, profitably.

To achieve this, retailers must develop an effective, sustainable supply chain for each product.

Task:  You will assume the role of a Buyer for a named fashion retailer, your task is to source a new product (e.g. A printed shirt-dress from Next) and analyse the sourcing processes required to bring the product to market in a sustainable manner.

Write a report to demonstrate your understanding of your garment’s supply chain giving evidence of your research and critical analysis which will inform your sourcing decision-making processes.

 

Part one: Product Sourcing

You should include:

• Your retailer introduction
• Your retailer’s position within the market and target customer
• Your retailer’s competitors
• Your Product – include a visual picture/ spec including details such as fabrication and selling price and volume of order.
• A SWOT analysis of 3 countries that you could source the product from (add to your appendix)
• Critical analysis of these 3 countries, with clear reasoning as to why you chose the final country to source your product, including any advantages of any relevant trade agreements.
• Costing sheet, including currency rate, duty rates and Vat
• Critical path
• Garment Care code/ washing instructions
• Packaging considerations
• Logistics
• PLM discussion – how the product will be managed from design to launch, including quality management and how the retailer will communicate with the supplier.

Part Two: Sustainable Sourcing Strategies and good practice

You should include:

• A critical analysis or your retailer’s CSR policies Vs a competitor
• Recommendations to improve sustainable sourcing strategies including improved technologies, new sustainable fabrics, new sourcing destinations and circular fashion models.
• Recommendations for improved efficiencies within sourcing product to help save cost in innovative ways.

 

Consider:

• Where is the sourcing destination of your product? What are the risks and rewards?
• Recommend an improved sourcing strategy which would optimize efficiencies across the supply chain. E.g. in terms of cost, quality management, logistics, sustainability, speed to market, reacting to sales. This could be using new technologies or systems.
• Business models or theories to support your view (e.g. Iceberg and TBL, vertical integration and quick response). Consider how can TBL be achieved?
• What are the current challenges on modern retail today and within the next 10 years, which may conflict with CSR principles and affect your retailers sourcing decisions?
• Primary research from Store Visits, Industry Visits, Interviews and Questionnaires

Research:

You MUST include material from:

One journal article

2 guest lecturer quotes

One industry yearbook

Recommended reading sources

Ethical companies such as BCI, ETI, Redress, Fashion Revolution

One business theory

Primary Research

Word count: 3500 (-/+ 10%) Remember to be concise.  Additional information can be added to appendices.

Use your words carefully and use infographics, charts and images to relay key information.

Your written content should be in a formal academic style so ensure you have up levelled your language and you check your work for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors – There is software to help you do this and of course the library are also there to help!

Harvard referencing conventions to be used throughout (reference lists and citations within the text).

Self-assessment form – This must be submitted with your report

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the assignment you will have met the following learning outcomes:

1. Work independently applying taught knowledge to a personally managed project set in a ‘commercial context’.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the sourcing and supply process of textile products across international markets.
3. Demonstrate an ability to make justifiable decisions based on commercial information.
4. Demonstrate an awareness of the scope of supply chain management within the context of the textile industry and be able to demonstrate the practical application of this knowledge.
5. Demonstrate the availability to research commercial practice and compare this with theoretical concepts.

Marking Criteria:

Grading will be in accordance with the Fashion & Textiles mark descriptors (see attached sheets) and will be based on the following:

Research – 25%

As detailed above, appropriate use of referenced primary and secondary research from a variety of academic sources such as recommended books, journals, reputable websites, industry opinion pieces and guest lecturers. Work experience may provide useful primary research discussion.

Discussion of Sourcing Procedures – 30%

Demonstrating evidence of background reading supported by your own discussion including critical analysis.

CSR critical analysis and Recommendations – 35%

Illustrating your perceptive judgement and decision-making process for the justification of your creative recommendations.

Structure – 10%

A professional coherent report structure to include an executive summary, contents page, numbered sections/ sub-sections, figures and reference lists and appendices (if required).  Images and charts will make you report individual and attractive. The report is written in an academic style with correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Late work:

It is imperative that you stick to the given deadline.  If you are unable to meet the deadline, due to e.g. illness, you may apply for an extension to the hand in date however this must be done prior to the deadline. Note that problems with information technology (loss of data, printer failure, etc.) will not be accepted as justification for an extension. It is essential you get into good and ‘safe’ habits with regard to computer work by ensuring you make regular back-ups of work and by ensuring that you do not leave printing until the last moment; note that printer queues become very large prior to assessments – inability to print work by published deadlines is not a valid reason for a coursework deadline extension.

The following penalties will be applied to late work.

• Unauthorized late work submitted up to 14 calendar days after the published deadline will be subject to a cap of 40%; this will be noted in the tutor feedback on your work.
• Unauthorized late work submitted more than 14 days after the deadline will receive a mark of 0%; this will be noted in the tutor feedback on your work.

Where hardcopy work is received on time, but the work is received after the deadline date and time via Turnitin, then the whole submission will incur a ‘late submission penalty’ as follows

• Unauthorized late work submitted via Turnitin up to midnight 1 calendar day after the published Turnitin deadline will be accepted without penalty;
• Unauthorized late work submitted via Turnitin more than 1 calendar day after the published Turnitin deadline up to 14 calendar days after the published deadline will be subject to a cap of 40% applied to the whole submission; this will be noted in the tutor feedback on your work
• Unauthorized late work submitted via Turnitin more than 14 days after the deadline will receive a mark of 0% applied to the whole submission; this will be noted in the tutor feedback on your work.

Feedback date(s)

You will receive feedback on this project Wednesday April 22nd, 2020 (week 30)   This is in accordance with University regulations which states that you will receive written feedback within 4 weeks of the hand in date (excluding Christmas and Easter vacation weeks). Please note unforeseen circumstances such as staff illness may mean that this date must change.

Formative feedback will also be given verbally throughout the module, through e.g. group and one on one tutorial sessions providing an opportunity for questions & to gain feedback on your progress.  Ensure you take advantage of these opportunities to get the most out of this module

Assignment Title –
Marking Criteria	Assessment component weighting	100-90% Grade A*	89-80% Grade A+	79-70% Grade A	69-60% Grade B	59-50% Grade C	49-40% Grade D	39-30% Grade F	29-0% Grade F
Research	25%
Discussion of Sourcing Procedures	30%
CSR and Recommendations	35%
Structure	10%

Please refer to the sheet below to understand your grade about the Fashion & textiles mark descriptors.

 

40-49%   Grade D	30-39%   Fail  Grade F	20-29%   Fail  Grade F	10-19%  Fail Grade F	0-9%    Fail  Grade F
Fulfils the assessment criteria for the module component at a Basic level A response demonstrating an understanding of basic points and principles sufficient to show that some of the learning outcomes/ assessment have been achieved at a basic level. Suitable organised concepts and /or work demonstrating a reasonable level of understanding. Covers the basic subject mater and is appropriately presented but is clearly derivative and insufficiently analytical. Demonstrate limited conceptual ability, level of evaluation and creative skills. Demonstrates adherence to the referencing conventions appropriate to the subject or/ and task. Limited technical skills.	Overall insufficient fulfilment of the assessment criteria for the module component.   A weak response, which, while addressing some elements of the task, contains significant gaps, inaccuracies or deficiencies.   Shows only weakly developed elements of understanding and/or other skills appropriate to the task.   May contain significant weaknesses in presentation.	Overall insufficient fulfilment of the assessment criteria for the module component.   A poor response, which falls short of achieving the learning outcomes.   Demonstrates little knowledge and/or other skills appropriate to the task   Little evidence of argument and/or coherent use of material	Overall insufficient fulfilment of the assessment criteria for the module component.   A very poor response demonstrating little relevant understanding. Displays only isolated or no knowledge and/or other skills appropriate to the task.   Little adherence to the task	Overall insufficient fulfilment of the assessment criteria for the module component.   Displays no knowledge and/or other skills appropriate to the task. Work is inappropriate to assessment task given