Criteria for supplier selection in textile and apparel industry: A case study in Vietnam

Abstract

The study aims to investigate some criteria of supplier selection in the textile and apparel (T & A) sector in Vietnam. Most research on supplier selection criteria for T & A sector was mainly conducted based on the review of literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore these criteria based on a framework in which an integrated approach of qualitative and quantitative was employed. First, an in-depth interview was used to explore what supplier selection criteria T & A companies were utilized after the literature on supplier selection criteria had been reviewed. Next, a prequestionnaire was built and sent to some practitioners and experts for their revision. Then, a pilot survey of 31 T & A companies with numerous statistical tests was conducted to validate the questionnaire. Finally, an official study of 282 respondents was conducted to determine supplier selection criteria which are best suited for T & A companies through exploratory factor analysis. The findings of the study suggest that there are eight supplier selection criteria including Quality, Cost, Delivery, Service, Capability, Company's image, Relationship, and Sourcing country. Each criterion comprises certain sub-criteria to make the supplier selection criteria set more comprehensive. The findings will be a contribution to the selection process of T & A companies as they can utilize these criteria to select capable suppliers.