Do you have advice for them to consider? Did they provide ideas you might want to consider? Focus on the service, logistics and distribution functions of the organization.

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JJ Dawson posted Nov 30, 2022 11:23 PM

Hello fellow group members,

The North Face supply chain is built around the importance of not only sustainability but also traceability. For example, a Denali fleece jacket travels through 23 factories in seven different countries and three states in the U.S.. Its Thread comes from Honduras;brass eyelets from Colombia; polyester yarn from North Carolina; nylon yarn, zipper pulls, and cord from China; and polyester fabric and nylon shell fabric from Taiwan (Gintzler, 2022). All these materials are flown to El Salvador, where Brooklyn Manufacturing's 117 machine operators turn them into the iconic fleece jackets (Gintzler, 2022). This is due to a traceability map that is on their sustainability website. The North Face parent company VF Corp has spent the last year tracing in every detail of the supply chain to not only The North Face but to other brands that it owns. This impacts the supply chain as plants that decline to speak on their traceability are put on their map as a tool for the customer to know that they are paying attention to environmental issues and ethical aspects involved in making products.

VF corp which owns the north faceis keeping their supply chain running smoothly and efficiently by innovation which is keyto staying ahead by implementing technology to adapt to customer behaviors (Four Ways VF Continues to Innovate the Supply Chain, 2022). Their supply chain is easier to manage as goods are kept in their region of origin. At VF they ship significantly important fewer than their competition. By doing this it alleviates the majority of shipping logistics stress to get their products to consumers faster while also decreasing their carbon footprint (Four Ways VF Continues to Innovate the Supply Chain, 2022). They have also introduced warehouse robots to fulfillment centers to increase efficiency which also helps when there is an increase in product demand (Four Ways VF Continues to Innovate the Supply Chain, 2022). VF Corp has been innovating their supply chain in order to avoid any strains and working to provide the more seamless customer journey.

The North Face can optimize their global operation in a few ways. One way is to expand on their traceability of their products. If they ex it into more of their products and built in a ratings system for their suppliers, it will help lower their risk. If suppliers become non-compliant, they will get dropped and put onto their list of non-compliant companies for all the customers to see. VF Corp can also promote it as well for all of their companies they have under their brand. Another thing that they can do is put their competitors sourcing on their website as well so that customers can see if they are being ethical where they get their products. By doing this it will draw more customers who are into traceability and sustainability over to their brand.

References

Four Ways VF Continues to Innovate the Supply Chain. (2022). VF Corporation.https://www.vfc.com/news/featured-story/103021/four-ways-vf-continues-to-innovate-the-supply-chain

Gintzler, A. (2022, May 12). See Exactly Where Your North Face Fleece Comes From. Outside Online. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-news/vf-corp-north-face-gear-source/