Harris Teeter 2004 Annual Report Download - page 14

Code are prohibitions against child labor, harassment and discrimination in hiring; and
compliance with all applicable environmental, health and safety laws. American & Efird’s
policies and standards will be followed if local environmental, health and safety laws and
regulations are not in existence or are less stringent. In addition, American & Efird is a
worldwide leader in environmental protection. Our Thermal Oxidizer is so efficient that the
Environmental Protection Agency uses it as a baseline technology.
Global Consistency means providing the same quality of product, service and support
regardless of where the thread is produced. Color consistency is one of the driving forces in
our business and in the globalization of the apparel industry. It is no longer enough to keep
the color of thread consistent from lot to lot in a single dye house. It has to be consistent
among all the facilities that produce our thread. A retailer may purchase garments from a
variety of suppliers in a variety of countries, and our quality has to be the same wherever the
garments are made.
Global Consistency also involves service. American & Efird built its reputation on its ability
to provide the right products at the right time. That means managing both the
manufacturing and logistical aspects of our business.
Communications is what ties it all together for American & Efird. Our array of facilities
around the world is a competitive advantage, and communication among these facilities is of
paramount importance. One of the main tools we have for managing our communications is
Anesyst®, a web-based business-to-business tool that ties us together with our customers.
With Anesyst®, our customers can fill out an electronic order form with the ship-to location,
the style number of the product they are sewing, and the number of units being produced.
Anesyst®also has the ability to recommend the amount of thread needed, and is now
available in four languages
— English, Chinese, French, and Spanish.
The combination of our global reach and our use of technology has positioned American &
Efird to be a key player in the textile and apparel business in the 21st century, just as it was
in the 20th century. Our ability to adapt to changing situations has been the key to our
success in the past, and will continue to bring us success in the coming years.
Ruddick Corporation & Subsidiaries Annual Report ’04
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