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Newsletter:
July 2004 Building
Competitive Advantage in the Textile and Apparel Industry Prepared by : Mr. Liaw Fenn Yenn, Head of TAR College, Johor Branch Campus Some
recent commentaries commented that Malaysia Textile and Apparel Industry has
been slowly losing its competitive advantage from competitors such as China,
Vietnam. Some said that Malaysia Textile and Apparel Industry is at a
crossroads after the Asian financial crisis and Quota abolishment in 2005.
Malaysia ‘s textile and apparel companies will have to fight for the
survival and growth as Malaysia will no longer be allowed to enjoy the
advantages under the quota systems. How
would higher learning institution like Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) be
able to play an important role necessary for making positive contribution in
this industry? TAR College understands the needs of textiles and apparel
industry and its future development. After a thorough analysis of the
industry facing the problem of failing to attract the desired of young
generation with skills and knowledge needed by the industry to deal complex
textile products and manufacturing techniques, a Certificate/Diploma in
Apparel Manufacturing course has been created for SPM students. In
the management literature, there has been a lot of theory present the how
firms develop human resources and skills necessary for gaining competitive
advantage. The management literature suggests that reinvestment on the human
resources is needed to sustain a causally ambiguous competitive advantage.
As such, it is critical for higher learning institution such as TAR College
to provide proper education and training for our younger generation to join
the industry with the knowledge and skills required to deal with the
challenges of Quota abolishment in the year 2005.
There
are two important roles to be played by TAR College for by making its
efforts in the development effective technical personnel for the Malaysia
Textile and Apparel Industry. . Firstly, TAR College plays the role of
“helper”. As a helper, TAR College has been constantly maintained good
relations by collaborative projects and research. In fact, TAR College has
already opened the door by creating regular dialogues with MKMA (Malaysia
Knitting Manufacturers Association). Some collaborative could encourage
pooling industry resources to create closer partnership with MKMA members in
search of better support and understanding to attract younger generation to
join the workforce required by the industry. As
a Catalyst, TAR College has provided relevant courses to train and educate
the right people to key positions needed in the industry by modifying the
curriculum that include modern and relevant concepts. Some of these concepts
are also being introduced into the secondary school curriculum. Another role
of our College as catalyst would be commit to improve the knowledge base of
our lecturing staff. This could be done through exchange programs with local
firms and vendors. It also promote alliances between academia and individual
firms in the industry either through joint research or direct investments
that offer scholarships for the students who enrolled in the courses offered
by the College. By
establishing the collaborative relationship, TAR College can thus help to
create more young blood to join the skilled-based industry to have a
workforce, which can contribute to the success of the industry. It is
important to have the support of the textiles and apparel industry in
Malaysia to facilitate the development of shared vision, which is essential
to the survival of organization. TAR
College is committed to providing the education and resources that our
Malaysia Textile and Apparel industry needed for growth and survival in long
run as the Chinese proverb goes, “ If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow
grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years
of prosperity, grow people.” |
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