첨단산업과 패션산업의 경쟁전략적 유사성에 관한 연구 : 일본 Y사의 사례 연구

The study examines the similarities of competitive strategy between fashion industry and high-tech industry through a case study of a Japanese maker. From the study, some implications are drawn for the Korean fashion industry. It is hoped that this, will help towards establishing a suitable competitive strategy for firms in this industry. In the fashion industry, the product life cycle is so short as to prompt a new product obsolete too quickly, and the extent of product differentiation is remarkably extensive compared to any other industry. Generally speaking, firms in this industry focus more of their resources on product development and marketing rattler than on production and they attempt to maneuver the speed when they are required to enhance their competitive edge. This is enabled through being, as one might expect, information- and technology- intensive as are high-tech industries. In this sense, that of the competitive strategy of a firm in fashion industry to be similar to high-tech industry. The Japanese firm Y has transformed itself a leading firm in fashion uniform segment. The firm could achieve this status by integrating each function needed for creating customer*s value, that is, product development, production and marketing within one Quick Response System. For this purpose, Y introduced a bundle of high-tech communication systems such as SPD, SDS, ATOM, NICS and so on. In this sense it can be said that Y was aware of what sort of competitive strategy was required in the industry. Implications for Korean firms is that, first, the magnitude of understanding the industry specific factors in establishing competitive strategy in the fashion industry, are speed, flexibility and systematic integration supported by high technology which are characteristic of high-tech industries. Secondly, as can be seen in the fact that Y emphasized logistics in its technological transformation, the significance of logistics control is a key to manipulating speed and flexibility in the industry. To sum up, those who have insight into above findings will be likely to keep their competitiveness in the industry not only in the Korean market but also in global market in the near future.