Kineticsware, a global software company and Microsoft partner focused on customers in supply chain intensive industries announces the formation of its Textile and Apparel business unit (BU), based in Lomazzo, Italy. The team includes Jon Buchan, former sales director responsible for North American sales of Blue Fox Porini, a division of Blue Fox Enterprises N.V., and John Charnovich, Vice President, Industry Solutions and former Chief Information Officer of Hanes Brands, Inc.
Kineticsware, established in 2006 with operations in North America and the United Kingdom, is led by former executives from Microsoft Dynamics and other enterprise software companies including i2 Technologies, JD Edwards, SAP, Oracle and PeopleSoft. Its new Textile and Apparel BU will carry out research and development, channel partner management, product management and technical support. The BU is expected to employ approximately 15 professionals in Italy by the end of 2007.
According to Kineticsware's CEO, Jeff Sampson, "There is a tremendous opportunity to build and deliver vertical software solutions for Textile and Apparel companies." As consumers demand an increasing assortment of unique lifestyle brands, fashions and comfort with new high performance fabrics and products in the market, the world value of exports in the Textile and Apparel industry has increased to over $476 BB, an increase of 25% over the past 5 years, according to the World Trade Organization.
For years, software companies have failed to fully address the total needs of these customers due to increasingly complex supply chains characterised by shorter lead times, a growing number of seasons in a year, and challenges relating to global trade, product quotas and tariffs by country. Additionally, cost competitiveness and globalization of supply and manufacturing capabilities in Central America and Asia has lowered the barriers to entry and driven the need for global visibility of Supply Chain operations. "The new textile and apparel BU is established to help manufacturers in these industries tackle these challenges, increase efficiency and ultimately, profitability," Sampson adds.
Kineticsware develops complete vertical solutions for the Textile and Apparel industry. They are comprised of two key components; industry extensions developed for the Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP business application platform and stand alone, industry specific applications that are integrated and complement Dynamics AX. By providing additional applications in the areas of advanced planning & scheduling, product lifecycle management, product data management, manufacturing and shop floor control and sourcing collaboration, Kineticsware will deliver the only end-to-end and extended supply chain platform for Textile and Apparel companies.
Kineticsware is a global software company and Microsoft partner with unparalleled industry expertise. The company delivers adaptable business management solutions for supply chain-intensive companies in the high technology, consumer goods and textile/apparel value chains.
