This document discusses competitive advantages of internationally operating companies. It summarizes research showing that US textile companies gained advantages through research and development, marketing, customer service and strategic partnerships. Implementing quality management systems like ISO 9000 can provide benefits such as higher quality perceptions, competitive advantages and improved efficiency. The most important competitive factors for a national economy include innovation, technology, demand factors and international operations. Countries must transition from low-cost to high-value economies. Sustainable supply chain practices and both incremental and breakthrough innovation are important for company competitiveness.

1. Competitive Advantages of Internationally
Operating Companies
Antonia FICOVA
Doctoral Student at Faculty of Economics and Business
Paneuropean University, Bratislava
antonia.ficova@yahoo.com

2. Business Strategies
• Target Audience With Clearly Defined
Need,
• Delivering a High-Quality Service,
• An Appropriate Price,
• Being the Best.
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014

3. • Berdine et al. (2008) US textile companies drive the
majority of the innovation in the supply chain to
both suppliers and customers,
• three competitive strategies that differentiate the
products of US firms from other regions of the
world are:
• 1. research and development,
• 2. marketing,
• 3. customer service.
• 4. strategic partnership.
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
The Case of US textil and apparel industry

4. • Hutchens S. - Benefits as a result of registration to ISO
9000:
• Higher perceived quality (83.3%);
• Competitive advantage (70%);
• Reduced customer quality audits (56%);
• Improved customer demand (29%).
• Better documentation (88%);
• Greater employee quality awareness (83%);
• Enhanced internal communication (53%);
• Increased operational efficiency and productivity (40%)
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
ISO 9000 and ISO 14000

5. • ISO 9000 deals with quality management,
• ISO 14000 is designed to provide a structure for the management of
environmental compliance following six categories: Environmental
Management Systems (EMSs), Auditing, Labeling, Performance
Evaluations, Life Cycle Assessment, and Environmental Aspects of
Product Standards.
• By implementing ISO 14000, any company can become truly
competitive by factors such as: Decreasing costs through increased
efficiencies, Creating and maintaining new market opportunities,
Demonstrating environmental leadership, Improving both its own
corporate image and community goodwill.
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
ISO 9000 and ISO 14000

6. • Hämäläinen, T. - The most important competitive
factors of a national economy are:
• information and competence, new technologies,
innovative organisations, highly evolved demand
and competition factors, international business
operations, a functional regulatory environment,
and a reliable public administration with the ability
to change and adapt.
• cannot be based on low costs but on the production
of goods and services with superior added value.
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
The Case of Finland

7. • must transition from a lowcost to a high-value economy
• Smiling curve – stagnation as their low cost advantages
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
The Case of China

8. • N. J. Gupta, Ch. C. Benson (2011, p. 4) improves
operational effectiveness:
• Green design,
• Green operations,
• Green manufacturing,
• Waste minimization,
• Reverse logistics.
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
Sustainable supply chain management

9. • 335 senior executives, November 2012,
• 5 industries: Aerospace and Defense, Automotive,
Conglomerates, Engineering and Industrial Products,
and Metals ,
• companies see value in both breakthrough and
incremental innovation to stay competitive.
• The focus on both breakthrough and incremental
innovation suggests companies are revisiting R&D
strategies according to what´s most effective for their
operations.
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
KMPG and his survey

10. Antonia FICOVA
Antonia Ficova, Competitive Advantages of Internationally Operating Companies, PEVS, 2014
Thank you for your attention!