Browsing by Author "Jones, Michelle R."

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    Identifying the Small Apparel Manufacturer: A Typology of Manufacturing Strategies
    Jones, Michelle R. (Virginia Tech, 1999-04-16)
    The purpose of this study was to develop a typology of small apparel manufacturers (SAMs), firms classified between SIC 2310 to 2389 and less than 50 employees. The objectives were to (a) determine if distinct manufacturing strategies existed among SAMs, (b) develop a profile of these groups using environmental factors known to affect the apparel industry and small businesses (i.e., customer service, operations, barriers, assistance, customer size, customer location, competitor size, competitor location), (c) develop a profile of SAMs based on demographics (i.e., SIC, end-use for products, manufacturing process, type of firm, fashion position, employee size, manufacturing strategy, marketing strategy, annual gross revenue), and (d) determine the existence of a relationship between SAMs use of market strategies and manufacturing strategies. Data were collected from 146 SAMs, which represented 15 states with the highest number of SAMs. Factor analysis was used to identify manufacturing strategy factors (i.e., flexibility, environmental consciousness, product attributes, lot sizes), which were used to cluster respondents; and environmental factors (i.e., customer service, education/industry awareness, flexibility, timing, unit costs, production resources, technology/automation, consistency in sales, investment capital, import reductions). Four clusters of manufacturing strategies emerged and were profiled according to environmental factors and demographic variables (i.e., products, product classification, manufacturing processes, type of firm, type of fashion, manufacturing strategies, marketing strategies, firm's employee size, annual gross revenues). Significant differences occurred among the four manufacturing strategy groups and environmental factors. Significant differences occurred among the four manufacturing strategy groups and demographic variables. No relationship existed between manufacturing strategy groups and their marketing strategy.
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    An Investigation of Fit, Style, and Accessibility of Ready-To-Wear Clothing for Tall Women
    Jones, Michelle R. (Virginia Tech, 1996-12-16)
    Tall women's satisfaction with Tall clothing was examined in regard to fit, style, and accessibility. In addition, anthropometric measurements (stature, neck to waist, waist to ankle, shoulder to wrist) of tall women were compared with reported fit problems with Tall clothing, with the measurements from commercial standard PS 42-70, and with two racial groups. Data were gathered from 75 women who were at least 5 feet 8 inches and between 18 and 54 years old. The subjects were satisfied with the overall fit of Tall clothing, but were dissatisfied with the style, and reported buying Misses' size for most clothing. The subjects rated style as more important than fit and were more satisfied with the overall style of Misses' clothing than with the style of Tall clothing. The subjects appeared to buy Misses' clothing despite their dissatisfaction with fit, in order to have the desired styles. The reported fit problems with Tall clothing were too short hiplines in skirts and too short hemlines in button-up blouses. When compared with the measurements for Tall in PS 42-70, the subjects' measurements were significantly larger. Comparisons of measurements between Black subjects and White subjects revealed no significant differences. Style appeared to be a major influence in tall women's dissatisfaction with and the purchase of Tall clothing. Therefore, manufacturers need to consider aesthetic qualities when developing garments for this market and should revise sizing systems to accommodate the fit needs of Tall women.