The Quick Response Management System: Structure and Components for the Apparel Industry

Pressures from low-cost, global sources change the competitive position of industries in high cost arenas. For these high cost companies in the textile, apparel, and other consumer products industries, the time-based strategy of Quick Response (QR) has been proposed as a manufacturing management system to create a new advantage. This system has been discussed by trade associations, consultants, and individual companies, but a need exists for comprehensive and generic study. This paper examines the definition and organization of the QR management system as implemented by a variety of apparel manufacturers. Three hypotheses were tested using results from a mailed survey to apparel company plant managers. Indications are that QR is more than an inventory system or a rapid delivery system. Strong support was found for the proposal that QR can be defined by a set of five component technologies. The results verify the definition of this management system and can aid manufacturers in many industries in the selec...