Factors influencing the competitiveness of small and medium clothing manufacturing enterprises in the eThekwini Municipal District in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine factors influencing the competitiveness of small and medium clothing manufacturing enterprises in the eThekwini municipal district in KwaZulu-Natal. SMEs in the clothing manufacturing industry remain at lower competency. This appears to be as a consequence of a lack of knowledge and understanding of those factors that contribute to their competitiveness. The study aimed to determine which factors contribute to the competitiveness of manufacturing SMEs, while also describing how they impact these small clothing manufacturing industry enterprises in the eThekwini District Municipality of KZN. Data were collected from different parts of the eThekwini district municipality, which include Durban central, South Coast of Durban, North Coast of Durban, and west parts of Durban. The sample consisted of 80 SME owners and managers of clothing manufacturing companies who are members of the National Bargaining Council for the clothing manufacturing industry in the eThekwini District Municipality. The research design embraces a quantitative research approach with a closed-ended questionnaire distributed to participants by the researcher. Due to lockdown restrictions posed by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, and some participants restricting visitors, arrangements were made to receive and return the completed questionnaire through email. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 for Windows. Numerous factors were anticipated to challenge the competitiveness of clothing manufacturing SMEs in the eThekwini District Municipality, with cheap imports, technological advances, and a lack of competitiveness knowledge by both employers and employees amongst these.