Factors Influencing Supply Chain Responsiveness in the Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka

The main purpose of this paper is to present the findings of research carried out to identify the factors influencing the supply chain responsiveness in the apparel sector of Sri Lanka. Even though supply chain responsiveness is a contemporary issue hardly any research has been done in Sri Lanka on this topic. Supply chain responsiveness is very relevant to the apparel industry, which is accountable for more than half of the industrial exports of Sri Lanka. Firstly, factors influencing the supply chain responsiveness were identified through the literature review, and later a questionnaire survey was conducted among 33 large apparel companies in Sri Lanka. The findings revealed that the supply chain responsiveness is highly correlated to Organizational Factors, Mutual Understanding, Flow of Information and Relationship and Decision Making. However, there is a correlation only when these factors are taken together but not individually except Mutual Understanding. The findings will be useful for managers and policy makers in the apparel industry to improve the responsiveness in their organizations and the industry.