Footwear Sector Research Articles

A Structural Equation Model For Adopting Additive Manufacturing in the Footwear Firms Supply Chains

Goal: The objective of this research is to present a theoretical framework and explore how additive manufacturing (AM) techniques affect supply chain complexity (SCC) in the footwear sector. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study developed theoretical framework that includes AM best practices and SCC through extensive literature review. Using 1-5 likert scale surveys, data were gathered from 205 professionals working in 29 Ethiopian footwear industries in the period October 20 to December 23, 2023. The collected questionnaires were tested for reliability and validity, measurement and structural model fit test were checked using confirmatory factor analysis. Structural Equation Modeling using AMOS v23 was used to evaluate the proposed correlations. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis test result revealeld that measurement and structural equation model fit test fulfill the model fit test requirements, i.e. χ2/df < 5, CFI, GFI and TLI > 0.9, RMR and RMSEA < 0.08. The findigs of the study confirmed that additive manufacturing best practices (time, inventory, operation, and resource, energy and waste related factors) have positive effects on static and dynamic supply chain complexity. Practical implications: This study helps the firm to focus on adoptation of AM for improving supply chain complexity. Furthermore, this study extended earlier research in the domains of SCM by building a theoretical framework that connects AM best practices with supply chain complexity factors. Originality/value: This work bridges the scientific knowledge gap by combining supply chain complexity and AM best practices. Among others, it can contribute to the existing literature by illustrating the benefits of adopting AM technology particularly in footwear sector.

Analysis of the barriers to implement sustainable manufacturing practices in footwear sector of Bangladesh using graph theory and matrix approach

The footwear industry is booming with the increasing demand for leather-based products and manufacturers from the Asia region are leading the market. In the meantime, the negative impact on the environment of footwear goods and manufacturing processes of footwear-based products concerns the buyers and consumers as the global environmental situation is worsening day by day. For this reason, footwear industries are bound to use environmentally friendly production techniques to cope with the conditions as well as demands of the buyers otherwise the manufacturer can face the drop of order which can be affected financially. The Bangladeshi footwear industry is most unlikely to adopt sustainable manufacturing and thus lagging in the competitive market containing manufacturers from other Asian countries. The reason behind not implementing sustainable manufacturing practices should be explored to ensure this practice. In the study, Graph Theory and Matrix Approach (GTMA) was utilized along with the best and worst matrix using the weighted values as the diagonal and off-diagonal elements which was found from the two surveys after consultation with experts from the Bangladeshi footwear industry to gather responsible barriers for both large-scale and small-medium sized enterprises. Ranking based on impact was developed for two scales and an index value was found from the calculations of the matrix formed by permanent functional value found for each of the barriers and their best-worst values also which was another determinant of this study for expressing the fitness level for this certain adaptation. Similarity coefficient was another factor to be determined for the decision making required for the first objective of this research.

THE ECONOMIC AND TOURISM DIMENSION OF THE LEATHER AND FOOTWEAR SECTOR IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, DJELFA AS A MODEL

The leather sector is one of the most profitable agricultural industries globally and has multiple social, economic and tourism dimensions, as it is linked to the transmission of leather industry traditions through generations in a vari ety of ways and multiple uses. This paper aims to trace the development of the leather and footwear sector and the transformations that this sector went through during the period from 1974 to 2021. We rely on studying quantitative analysis using various statistical programs such as PCA, SPSS, Excel and EViews and analyzing and deducing their numbers and curves. The results concluded that during the first 25 years of the period studied, which coincided with the adoption of the socialist economy, t he leather and footwear sector accounted for 52.1% of the total economic sectors. In the next 23 years of the study period, after Algeria's transition to a market economy, this percentage rose to 57.9%. These findings reflect the pivotal role played by th e leather and footwear sector in the Algerian economy since the beginning of the study, and highlight how the transition to a market economy contributes to the growth of this sector, reflecting its ability to adapt to economic changes and take advantage of the opportunities offered by economic openness.

The adoption of digital skills influences decision making in organizations, case of a footwear company

This research is a case study for a company in the Leather Footwear sector in the city of León, Gto. The objective was to discover in workers the digital skills they possess and relate them to decision-making in the organization. The methodology used was a questionnaire applied to managers and personnel who work in the quality area. According to the results found, the majority, but not all workers, have developed their digital capabilities; However, the results showed that there is still a percentage of the worker population that does not manage, do not know and does not identify relevant information in the digital area. The most interesting contributions is that there is an area of opportunity in training workers to improve their digital skills. Decision making is affected by the proposed variables, and it is worth improving this indicator.

Rebooting Bata: The challenges of repositioning a heritage brand

Founded as a family-owned business in 1894, Bata Corp. has grown to become a major player in the footwear sector, with a presence in more than 70 countries. In India, the company established itself as the primary producer of affordable, durable footwear, with the result that the majority of generation X and millennial consumers remember growing up with Bata shoes, having worn them in their school days and often into early adulthood. Unfortunately, childhood memories can be difficult to translate into glamour; as a result, Bata struggled to position itself as a fashionable modern brand. This case study delves deep into the nuances of repositioning a heritage brand, and explores how Bata eventually succeeded in repositioning itself as a premium contemporary brand. The paper highlights the challenges associated with balancing legacy brand associations with desired image. It also shares valuable insights regarding the evolution of India’s fashion and footwear industry, changing consumer behaviour in emerging markets, and the increasing globalisation and democratisation of fashion.

The effects of automation on employment: Case studies in Mexico's apparel and footwear sectors

The effects of automation on employment: Case studies in Mexico's apparel and footwear sectors

Current state and production characteristics of the Polish tanning industry: A case study

This article presents the results of a study on the current state and evaluation of the Polish tanning industry, focusing on its production characteristics. The research sample included 220 companies that were contacted to gather information about their operations. Some of these companies have been suspended, liquidated, or have changed their business profiles. Approximately 30 % confirmed that they are still active in leather manufacturing, indicating that the Polish tanning industry is experiencing a process of deindustrialization. Surveys conducted in 20 companies revealed that Polish tanneries operate on national, European, and global scales. Most of them are micro or small enterprises with annual revenues of up to PLN 5 million. The primary factor defining their competitiveness is the high quality of the products and services they offer. They mainly process calfskin and cowhides sourced from Poland and abroad, primarily for the footwear sector. Polish tanneries are aware of global trends, including the industry's shift towards ecological practices, the adoption of modern technologies, and the introduction of innovations. Given the current challenges facing the Polish tanning industry, it is essential to take action to improve the health of this sector of the economy.

The Role of Uig Linkages in Improving Competitive Advantage: A Case of the Clothing, Textiles, Leather, and Footwear Industry of South Africa

The South African clothing, textiles, leather, and footwear (CTLF) sector has been under competitive attack, mainly from Asian countries. The many studies undertaken so far have not focused on the role of research and development linkages among university, industry, and government (UIG), and hence, this study was undertaken. This study uses mixed methods, interviews of managers and directors from UIG actors, and a survey of CTLF firms to understand the role of UIG linkages in improving competitive advantage. The data was thematically and descriptively analysed. The findings highlight that most CTLF firms were not involved in UIG research and development linkages. As a result, CTLF firms have not utilised researchers available in the universities nor research-related industry and government funding that supports innovation and technological improvements. For the CTLF to improve its competitive advantage, its development strategies must include being engaged in UIG research and development linkages. 
 
 Received: 28 September 2023 / Accepted: 3 February 2024 / Published: 5 March 2024

Manufacturing Processes in the Footwear Industry: A Study of Mechanized Cement Lasting Process

In the footwear manufacturing system, the upper parts of the shoe and bottom parts of the shoes are attached with the help of adhesive or stitched with the help of thread. In the earlier time shoes were made from bark, twine and other natural man made materials. 5000 year ago leather has come as natural material to produce the footwear. Which is comes in the form of leather hide. Handmade shoes are very unique to wear because they conform to the anatomy of the foot. Firstly, we take the structure line of man's foot to measure the foot structure, according to which we make the shoe last, while the customer chooses the size, material and design of the shoe. After the measurement process shoe were made by hand. The manual operations for the upper parts led to a large variability in processing times, resulting in higher work-in-process inventory. Nowadays the efficient mechanized system is available, which is more powerful to produce the goods at given time period, the efficiently of the equipment and machinery is very high. In the mechanized cement lasting process the upper part of the shoes stuck with the outsole with the help of adhesive by machinery, in which construction the different types of shoe making machineries are involved. The purpose of this paper is to review the areas where the current footwear manufacturing system can significantly affect the way of footwear sector is practiced, and also we will discuss the implementation.

Quantitative insights into the integrated push and pull production problem for lean supply chain planning 4.0

Validated quantitative models for lean supply chain planning (LSCP) are still scarce in the literature, particularly because conventional push systems have not been widely integrated and tested with pull systems in sustainable and resilient environments in the Industry 4.0 context. Hence the main contribution of this paper is to develop an optimisation model that is able to contribute to the LSCP with the combination of push and pull strategies. Here we present an integrated just-in-time (JIT) production system with material requirement planning (MRP) for a SC that takes a traditional five-level structure based on a mixed-integer linear programming model (MILP) dubbed as LSCP 4.0. The model is able to simultaneously plan the production and inventory of materials and finished goods to satisfy demand from forecasts and firm orders. The selection of alternative suppliers as a proactive measure to face disruptive events is also considered. Furthermore, sustainable practices are included in the objective function for profit maximisation by considering CO2 emissions. This proposal is tested in the footwear sector. The results demonstrate that the combined use of JIT and MRP through a quantitative approach improve performance in leanness, sustainability and resilience by decreasing the bullwhip effect at different SC levels.

Functional Unit definition in a circular economy perspective: implication for LCA normalisation for a footwear outsole

It is a significant challenge to address the complex issue of comparing multiple products with the same function but distinct characteristics in the circular economy framework and its implications for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the footwear sector. Our strategy involved developing a specific methodology for determining the durability characteristic of physical products, which was accomplished by combining the results of various physical tests. In particular, a set of urban soles was examined for the case study. The environmental footprints of the footwear were then normalised using this durability metric, aligning them with the number of units required to reach practical quality levels. Using this method, we achieved substantial changes in the results of the LCA analysis, particularly in the context of products whose design prioritised particular qualities like durability. As a result, this research emphasises the necessity of redefining the functional unit, particularly from the circular economy perspective, and illustrates how it may positively impact company eco-design policies.

Frugal Innovation and Sustainability in the Footwear Sector

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar como as empresas de calçados podem inovar de maneira frugal em convergência com os princípios da sustentabilidade.Tal objetivo foi realizado com base em estudos que observam a relação entre a sustentabilidade e a inovação frugal, com ênfase em estratégias de bricolagem, sob uma perspectiva de aplicabilidade na indústria calçadista, por ser um setor de alto impacto ambiental. Método: a pesquisa faz uso do design science research. Para a coleta de dados se fez uso de diário de campo, para maior aprofundamento de compreensão do ambiente calçadista, além de análise secundária de documentos na internet e entrevistas. Resultados: o estudo propôs dois artefatos, um deles um artefato de tênis frugal e sustentável e, como segundo artefato de ação, também percebeu a necessidade da atuação colaborativa e constante entre universidade e empresas na busca por soluções frugais e sustentáveis, que possam beneficiar tanto as empresas, por meio de resultados lucrativos, quanto a universidade, por meio de pesquisas longitudinais e produção de artigos. Conclusões: a indústria calçadista anseia por inovações de baixo custo (frugais) e que sejam ao mesmo tempo sustentáveis, demonstrando capacidade e interesse em atender às demandas sociais e políticas por ações sustentáveis; para isso, uma maior proximidade com a universidade se apresenta como uma colaboração que pode produzir benefícios para ambos, com efeitos colaterais de impacto positivo para iniciativas ambientais, sociedade e políticas governamentais.

Potensi Penggunaan Selulosa Kelapa Sawit Sebagai Bahan Sneakers

The solution to the problem of environmental sustainability is increasingly urgent due to the growing number of consumers which is exacerbated by the use of raw materials for the manufacture of products that are not environmentally friendly. Therefore, the demand for environmentally friendly products or bioproducts has recently become increasingly popular and has become a challenge for manufacturers to increase production and innovation, especially in the footwear sector. One of the innovations that can be used to support the bioproduct mission is the use of material fiber derived from plant waste in the form of cellulose from empty palm oil bunches which has characteristics resembling synthetic leather. The research is supported by the results of a literature study that has been carried out as well as observations in the form of experiments testing several upper materials for resistance and moisture to testing cellulose materials in the sneaker product section. The experimental results show that cellulose materials can support the application of several anatomical parts of upper sneakers with supports in the form of a combination of materials such as cowhide, synthetic materials and corduroy fabrics as supports for cellulose materials. The results of the research are expected to raise awareness among users about the use of sustainable and recyclable materials that can be applied to fashion styles that can compete with non-bioproducts.

Shared Resources and Cluster Life Cycle: A study in the footwear sector in Brazil and Italy

Clusters are considered sources of competitive advantage. Cluster is understood as a set of resources; however, it is noted that these resources vary according to their trajectory. Thus, this paper seeks to analyze the relationship between shared resources in the life cycle of the cluster. We conducted a cross-country study with two clusters in footwear industry: Brazil and Italy. We present two main contributions. First, the competitiveness of clusters is sustained by their ability to renew and change their dependent trajectory. Second, we propose five elements that positively influence cluster competitiveness. These elements also help us understand the trajectory of clusters.

Sculpting The Perfect Shoe: A Deep Dive Into AI-driven Footwear Design And Production

The footwear industry is undergoing a transformative paradigm shift with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into its core processes. This research paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the manifold applications of AI in footwear design and manufacturing. As AI continues to permeate various industries, it has proven to be a disruptive force in the world of fashion and consumer goods, particularly within the footwear sector. This study begins by offering an overview of the historical context and development of AI technologies, emphasizing their recent proliferation and adoption within the footwear industry. It explores the critical role AI plays in addressing key challenges, from designing shoes that prioritize comfort and performance to streamlining the production process and enhancing sustainability. In essence, this research paper provides a comprehensive look into the AI-driven revolution in footwear design and manufacturing, detailing how these technologies are reshaping the industry, from the design studio to the factory floor. It underscores the need for industry stakeholders to embrace and adapt to the transformative potential of AI to remain competitive and sustainable in a rapidly evolving market.

Do Women Benefit from Global Production Networks? Evidence from the Indonesian Footwear Industry

Despite the remarkable improvements in key economic and social standards, the Indonesian footwear industry still struggles to ensure decent work, particularly for women workers. In this paper, female workers are divided into production and non-production workers. Women production workers are used as a proxy for occupational segregation based on sex, called non-skilled workers, while women non-production workers are used as a proxy for women’s share of work in managerial and administrative work, called skilled workers. This paper examines the close links between decent work (DW) and global production networks (GPNs) in the Indonesian footwear industry. More specifically, this article scrutinizes fair employment treatment for local female employees within the DW framework in the country’s footwear industry with the expansion of GPNs based on Indonesian footwear firm-level panel data from 2001 to 2015. Vertical specialization is a proxy for GPNs and is the main independent variable in this paper. The results show that vertical specialization is in line with the fair treatment indicators and has a significant level for female production workers. In addition, the other independent variable, namely the wages of production workers, has a significant level, and the results are inversely proportional to the fair treatment indicator, while the wages of non-production workers show results that are inversely proportional to female production workers but positive for female non-production workers. This shows that an increase in the wages of production workers is less profitable for female production workers than for female non-production workers. Thus, the results show that the expansion of GPNs in the Indonesian footwear sector has essentially led to improved fair employment treatment, especially for women workers.

CONTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN POST MFA PERIOD

With the advent of economic reforms and phase out of Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA), it was expected that the textile industry contribution and status will improve. The present paper has analysed the contribution and status of textile industry in post MFA period. For the analysis Economic Outlook of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), database have been used. The paper found improving contribution and status of textile industry in manufacturing and industrial GDP. While as percentage of GDP it is declining. The increase in high value segment of factories in comparison to traditional textile sector has limited the contribution and status in Indian economy. The absolute decline of factories in footwear sector should be reversed.

Modelo de control de gestión financiera para mejorar la rentabilidad de las MYPES sector calzado

The general objective of this research was to determine the relationship between financial management and the profitability of MYPES in the footwear sector, whose type of study was non-experimental, with a correlational and cross-sectional design. We worked with a population of 201 MSEs, obtaining a random sample of 132; reliable and validated questionnaires were used, as well as an interview guide, processing the data through SPSS. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between the variables of interest with a significance of 5%. It was identified that 64% of the MSEs know in detail the balance sheet, 26% have an investment plan, 71% know clearly the profitability generated by their enterprise, 39% have a projected cash flow. Finally, a correlation of 0.786 (p-sig= 0.039) was found between financial management control and profitability, concluding that there is a strong positive relationship.

Model of Optimization of Production Based on the Application of Lean Tools to Increase Productivity in Footwear Manufacturing SMEs

The demand for footwear in Peru has increased significantly in recent years even though domestic production has decreased, on the other hand, it has been shown that imports have grown substantially. This shows that the domestic sector has difficulties in offering good quality products, which is directly related to low productivity and lack of innovation. In this sense, an integral Lean-SLP model is proposed based on the combination of tools such as total redesign of facilities, 5s, process standardization, work design, and Jidoka to improve the current productivity of 0.56 generated by deficient and nonstandardized processes. The model was validated through arena software where a cycle time reduction of 42.95% and a productivity increase of 22.5% were obtained. This proposal allows SMEs in the footwear sector to be more competitive in the foreign market by producing shoes of higher quality and therefore better acceptance.

Dependency on Imported Intermediates in Turkey: Two Different IO Approach

Import dependency on intermediates is an important problem in the Turkish economy. Therefore it is subject to many empirical studies. These studies mostly depend on Input Output (IO) tables. In this study, we calculated the import requirement ratio (IRR) from the 2018 IO Table for Türkiye. Also, we weighted the IRR values by the value-added percentage of the sectors (IRR-VA) and compare the results with the pure IRR values. It is seen that most of the sector rankings change significantly. According to the pure IRR calculations, the sectors that are most dependent on the imported intermediates are Coke and refined petroleum products, Electrical equipment, Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, Rubber and plastics products, Chemical and chemical products, and Machinery and equipment, nec. On the other hand, IRR-VA calculations result in Construction, Electrical equipment, Transport, storage and communications, Coke and refined petroleum products, Food products, beverages and tobacco, Textiles, textile products, leather and footwear sectors. This indicates that a careful analysis is needed when it comes how to determine the import dependency.