FASH455 Video Discussion: Could AI Simplify Apparel Companies’ Supply Chain and Trade Compliance?

Speakers:

• Katrina Duck, VP of EMEA, Inspectorio
• Richard Mason, Business Director, Pentland Brands

As you watch the video, pay attention to:

• How apparel sourcing is no longer simply about finding a supplier and negotiating price. A sourcing team increasingly has to understand where materials come from, who produced them, whether suppliers comply with requirements, whether sustainability claims can be substantiated, and whether the company can produce credible evidence when regulators or customers ask questions.
• The complexity, fragmentation, and growing importance of supply-chain data: Consider why managing information across multiple suppliers, countries, tiers, brands, and systems makes supply-chain compliance difficult. What information do apparel companies need to collect and connect to respond to regulations, verify materials, substantiate sustainability claims, and evaluate supplier risks? Also, consider how better traceability and supply-chain data might change sourcing decisions. Could a supplier with a lower price and shorter lead time still be the best choice if its compliance and traceability systems are weak? Why or why not?
• Technology and AI: The video presents technology and AI as solutions to some of the challenges in managing global apparel supply chains and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. As you watch, consider what problems these technologies can effectively address, what still requires human judgment, and what challenges or limitations the video does not discuss.