BARRIERS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR APPAREL MANUFACTURERS

Information technologies can supply a manufacturer with important data relative to customer needs and raw materials. These technologies can help a manufacturer respond quickly to market demands; however, many technologies require organizational changes and capital investments. Barriers are hypothesized as constraints to implementation and usage of information technologies. A stratified random sample of apparel manufacturers was drawn from three US states. Plant managers were surveyed with a mailed questionnaire and telephone follow-up. Factor analysis was used to reduce the list of technologies and barriers. Plant managers perceived high costs and uncertainty of product demand to be barriers. A regression model with technologies and barriers was found to be significant. Firm size was an important variable in predicting usage of information technologies. This information is important to researchers, consultants, and government agencies who wish to assist manufacturers to implement new technologies.