VF Corp. has begun a pilot rollout of two software solutions, one from NextLinx Corp. and the other from New Generation Computing (NGC), designed to streamline its global sourcing processes.

The implementation process was launched in mid-April after an extensive software selection process. VF pursued a best-of-breed approach in its selection of NextLinx and NGC because it could not find a single solution that offered the end-to-end functionality it needed, Ellen Martin, vice president of supply chain systems for VF, told Apparel.

VF will be using NextLinx's Trade Collaborator suite of enterprise-level global trade software to manage its import/export documentation. Among other functions, the software will be used for electronic transmission of data to U.S. Customs, automatic quota monitoring, tracking of fiber content and fabrics used in garments and complying with customs audits in a more paperless environment. Martin said VF selected NextLinx because the software provider was large and stable enough to support VF's heavy volume of customs activities, which previously have been managed manually. NextLinx is adding Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) data into its system for VF.

NGC's e-SPS Internet Sourcing & Production System will be used to give VF greater visibility into its global sourcing supply chain, which has been expanding to include more non-company-owned contracting facilities. VF purchased NGC's e-SPS product solution as a key component of VF's sourcing solution. e-SPS was primarily purchased for its "track and trace" function that will allow VF to build tracking points in its sourcing pipeline and establish projected dates associated with these tracking points, notes Martin. The projected dates can be compared against the actual date to automatically generate alerts should some action need to be taken. Better visibility into the location and status of the sourced product should lead to fewer surprises at the end of this supply chain and thus better order promising to the customer, adds Martin.

"An important consideration in the selection of e-SPS was its ability to handle the SKU level information required by VF. NGC was one of the very few software vendors who understood VF's SKU level tracking requirements and whose software already had this function available," says Martin.

Martin notes that other important features are the pack and ship functions. With the EZ-pack and EZ-ship modules, garments exiting the factory can be combined in shipments and a bar code license plate will be generated for the shipping containers. This will not only allow cartons and shipment to be tracked, but make the cartons DC-ready upon arrival into the United States.

VF's Jeanswear coalition, the largest division of the Greensboro, NC-based firm, will be the first to roll out the solutions. The pilot rollout will include five factories, and will likely run through the end of this year or into early 2004, explained Martin. As part of the implementation, the NextLinx and NGC software must be integrated with each other and with VF's SAP ERP system. "We're going to take our time and do it right," she said.

The VF Intimates coalition, the second-largest VF division, will be the next to roll out the software.

KATHLEEN DESMARTEAU is editor in chief of Apparel and may be reached at 203-312-0600; kdesmarteau@apparelmag.com.

formoreinformation

NextLinx Corp.

301-315-4700 . www.nextlinx.com

New Generation Computing

305-556-9122 . www.ngcsoftware.com