Project Proposal Summary Name: Gunawardana C. A. Balasuriya B. L. T. N. Gunasekara D. P. S. C. Herath H. M. B. E. Submission Supervisor: Mrs. Thushari Wanniaracchi 1.

Title Development of a Strategic Plan for Apparel Manufacturing Plant 2. Key words Market Research, SWOT Analysis, Strategic Formulation, Marketing Strategies, Operational Strategies, Forecasting. 3. Problem definition Lack of resources to get an idea about Sri Lankan apparel market environment to establish a garment factory to entrepreneur, who willing to start an Apparel Manufacturing Plant. 4. Aims & Objectives To undertake a marketing research to understand marketing environment. Explore the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. Develop marketing and operational strategies for the establishment. 5. Significance of the Project Identifying the opportunities and threats in establishing an Apparel Manufacturing Plant and providing strategic plan. 6. Project Plan/ Research method Applied Research. 7. Brief products/ solution description A Strategic Plan for Apparel Manufacturing Plant with Market Research, SWOT Analysis, Marketing and Operational Strategies, and Recommendations. 8. Deliverables Reg. No: 061063F 061007N 061021C 061023J Date: 23-11-2009

Report of Strategic Plan and Power Point Presentation. 9. Expected level of completion Cover the market research, SWOT Analysis and giving recommendations. 10. Resources Required Transport, Software and Drawing Tools Supervisors name & signature 1. Introduction Considering the current Sri Lankan Apparel Sector it can be seen that the garment manufacturers mainly target international markets through international buyers. In Sri Lanka mainly product development is done according to the buyers sketch and specifications. Also there is a lack of local competitors to challenge foreign suppliers who export products to Sri Lankan market as India, Thailand, and Bangladesh, China etc. Also there is an unemployment problem in Sri Lanka. As Textile & Apparel Engineers we should have the ability to join to the apparel sector by being job creators rather than being job seekers. The final recommendations in the plan should be prepared considering factors that are affected for establishing a garment factory. In other words the plan should give an overall idea including Market Environment, SWOT Analysis and Operational Strategies. The contents in the report will be helpful to someone to get a proper idea who enters to the apparel sector as an entrepreneur.

2. Background There is a lack of resources to get an idea about establishing a garment factory to someone, who willing to start a new garment factory. Therefore our effort is to give a proper idea about the Sri Lankan Apparel Market Environment and further giving other recommendations to establish a garment factory. We have an enough overall knowledge about the garment sector because we were in the industry for six months in our internship programme and we have the ability to apply the theoretical knowledge practically which has gained throughout the course in Marketing, Engineering and Management areas.

3. Goals and Objectives o To undertake a market research to understand marketing environment. o Explore the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. o Develop marketing and operational strategies for new establishment.

A clear understand could be get about current demands for several products in Sri Lankan market by doing a market research in a proper manner. Under the market research, External (Environmental) Factor Analysis and Internal Factor Analysis are covered. Under the External factors Opportunities and Threats are identified and from Internal factors Strengths and Weaknesses are identified. Finally recommendations should be identified considering factors that are affected for establishing a garment factory.

4. Project Design

a. Architecture and Environment Methodology An analysis of marketing opportunities should be covered such as scanning the environment, Macro and Micro, Consumer Markets etc. Then the marketing strategies such as segmenting the market, targeting, positioning and designing 4Ps should be developed. To cover those things a market research should be done. In the market research the clothing demand is also understood, considering several factors as gender, age, perception, and social class etc. According to the market research results whether a new brand is introduced, or take suborders from other companies, or go for both options is chosen. Then a SWOT analysis is undertaken by considering External factors and Internal factors. Under External factors Opportunities and Treats are identified and Strengths and Weaknesses are identified under internal factors. Under operational strategies development of manufacturing process, selection of machineries, layout designing etc. will be covered.

Process Flow Chart

Figure 1 - Process flow chart of the project Software and Tools Microsoft Project Plan is used. Auto CAD, and SAP 2000 are used to design the layout. Microsoft Office is used to prepare the project plan and the presentation.

a. Implementation issues and Challenges The most difficult challenge in our project is the prepared project plan should be satisfied by the entrepreneurs and they should get the idea that the plan can be implemented without any doubt. First we have the challenge of doing the market research properly and select the product type. As we are a young team with Textile and Clothing Engineering skills, we should prepare the project to be different with traditional plans. The project should be completed within a limited period considering all the areas that are affected to establish the factory. Finally our recommendations should be in the acceptance level of the entrepreneurs.

This project is covered all the areas that are followed throughout the degree course compared to the other projects. This is a great opportunity for us to use our theoretical knowledge in Marketing, Operational, and Management areas and apply practically in order to prepare the project plan properly. This makes the project to be unique compared to other projects.

a. Deliverables The final product of this project will be a strategic plan that covers areas as Market research, SWOT analysis, marketing and operational strategies to establish clothing manufacturing plant. The final project plan is submitted to the department in a report form. The results of the market research which is done exploring the market will be included in to the report. The recommendations such as factory layout, machinery equipments, manufacturing process etc. will also be included in the project plan report. The project plan will give a complete solution in both, knowledge based and technically based to establish a new garment factory. Since the important theories are used to cover certain things as market research, designing layouts, production and planning etc. the report will help to give a knowledge based idea. Other than that operational and machinery area will cover the technically based aspects.

a. Time Line (In page 06)

a. Estimated Budget

No. 01. 02. 03. 04.

Item

Drawing Tools Software CD Stationeries Travelling Travelling Travelling Market Research visits Industrial visits Others 05. Miscellanies

Amount 2500 2000 5000 6000 2000 7500 5000

Sub Total 2500 2000 5000

15500 5000

Total

Total 30000

5. Conclusion The project plan will give a complete solution to an entrepreneur about entering to Sri Lankan Apparel Sector in a proper manner. Basically it will cover Market Research, SWOT Analysis, Management and Operational Strategies. As Engineering Undergraduates this is a great opportunity for us to enhance our knowledge by applying theories to the certain areas and to graduate with a complete practical knowledge. Also we think that this is one of the best areas

that we should focus as undergraduates, because engineers should be the job creators to give a solution to the unemployment problem.

6. Reference Trevor L. Young, Planning Projects Ales Miller, Gregory C Dess, Strategic Management Khail T, Management of Technology John. M. Bryson, Strategic Planning Scott M. Shafer, Operations Management