Strategic Transformation of School Uniform Production and Distribution through a Centralised Digital Ordering System
Abstract
Sri Lanka has maintained a policy of providing free school uniforms since 1993, primarily through the distribution of raw fabric to approximately 4.5 million students annually. This long-standing approach has generated systemic inefficiencies in production, distribution, and quality, while imposing significant logistical and financial burdens on parents. Building on a prior study by the same author, which demonstrated that factory-made, ready-made uniforms are significantly more cost-effective than the current fabric distribution model, this paper proposes a further strategic transformation: the establishment of a centralised, internet-enabled digital ordering system for school uniform production and distribution. Employing a quantitative survey methodology, data were collected from 150 parents of schoolchildren across multiple districts and provinces of Sri Lanka, as well as from 20 garment factory owners. Findings reveal that 76% of students use between three and five uniforms annually, 71% of parents spend over Rs. 1,200 per year on uniforms, and 60% rely on tailoring, with over 80% reporting dissatisfaction with garment quality. The proposed system integrates garment manufacturing factories island-wide through a centralised computer application enabling parents to order uniforms online with home delivery within three days, at a target price below Rs. 600, approximately half the current market rate. The model addresses multiple socioeconomic objectives: reducing procurement burden on parents, stabilising factory production and employment, conserving foreign exchange, minimising fabric wastage, and improving access to quality uniforms for all students. The paper presents implementation frameworks covering the centralised operations centre, district-level manufacturing, delivery mechanisms, pricing strategy, quality control, and government oversight. The proposed model is applicable not only to Sri Lanka but to any country with an established garment manufacturing sector that supplies school uniforms.
Keywords
Citation Information
@article{rajapaksenpk2026,
title={Strategic Transformation of School Uniform Production and Distribution through a Centralised Digital Ordering System},
author={Rajapakse NPK},
journal={Research Square},
year={2026},
doi={https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9485858/v1}
}
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