Navigating Complex Supply Chains

The textile documents traceability management has several unique characteristics that differentiate it from other sectors.

This industry is characterized by its highly complex and fragmented supply chains, which span multiple tiers, encompassing suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Such complexity poses significant challenges in tracing and managing the flow of materials and products throughout the supply chain. Consequently, the textile documents traceability along the supply chain are required to be exceptionally responsive and adaptable, capable of navigating the industry’s vastness and dynamism, and keeping pace with its swiftly evolving trends.

Fragmented and Multi-Level Supply Chain

Numerous small-scale suppliers, manufacturers, and traders complicate the entire process, and this fragmentation can lead to challenges in coordinating and managing the various stakeholders in the supply chain.

Textile supply chains are highly globalized, with raw materials such as yarn coming from different countries, then fabric being produced in another country, and the manufacturing of goods or styles taking place in various low-cost locations, with finished products being distributed worldwide. It often includes multiple levels of suppliers, with some providing raw materials like yarn, fabric, cords, buttons, etc., and intermediate products like prints, embroideries, other decorations, etc., for finished goods or collections.

Managing this multi-level supply chain requires effective communication, transparency, and collaboration among all stakeholders. Effective collaboration and coordination are essential for this complexity and interdependence of stakeholders in the textile supply chain.

Quality Control and Textile Documents Traceability

The textile industry has been the subject of increasing attention for its environmental and social impact, partly due to inadequate supply chain management. There is a growing demand for more sustainable and ethical practices along the entire supply chain, starting from challenges related to the traceability of raw materials.

However, many companies still use a traditional and manual approach in the process of collecting material documents, for example, through phone calls and emails for communication and information gathering, and the use of Excel sheets for organizing and storing data. Although this method may seem simple, it involves operational limitations, time losses, and inefficiencies in the process.

Fashion brands require materials documents and certificates from their suppliers for several reasons:

1-Quality and Compliance: Certificates ensure that materials meet certain quality standards ensuring that materials comply with health and safety regulations. In many markets, some laws and regulations require specific certifications for materials. Compliance with these norms is essential for market access and to avoid legal sanctions.

2-Supply Chain Transparency: Certificates provide traceability and transparency in the supply chain. This helps brands monitor where their materials come from and how they are produced, increasing consumer trust. Consumers are increasingly informed and demanding regarding the origin of the products they purchase. Having certifications can be a key factor in attracting conscious customers.

3-Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility: With growing environmental awareness, fashion brands want to ensure that their materials are produced sustainably.

The Achille Pinto Case 

Achille Pinto Spa is an internationally renowned fabric producer with roots in Italy, trading its materials with Tr1 and for the world’s most important brands. A distinctive aspect is the commitment to keeping production predominantly in Italy, ensuring high-quality standards, and respecting moral and ethical principles.

Achille Pinto turned to us with a very specific and significant request: to implement a collaborative traceability platform for the structured and digitized collection of data and specific documents based on composition, material type (fabric, yarn, or raw material), and any certifications.

The requested solution had to be scalable, and capable of efficiently managing a growing volume of data and operations, adapting to continuously evolving needs. It also had to ensure that all involved parties could have evidence at any time of which data and documents were required, what had already been shared, and what was missing. Want to know how our platform helped our client?

Read the case study here : CLICK HERE