OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION

"Forward Group Pvt Limited"

 Introduction

Forward Group is a consumer driven, design oriented and an Innovative Company, aiming to work with
coherence of renowned global Brands, organizations and entrepreneurs, translating marketing and
business goals into design strategy, novelty and to attain a new product success.

26 year of innovation - the past, the present and the future Forward Sports Private Limited is one of the
few companies in Sialkot industry that can trace its history back in 26 years. Forward is family owned
manufacturing and exporting business concern of footballs, volley balls, rugby balls, beech balls,
medicine balls, bags etc.
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 Historical Background

In 1991 Forward Sports was established by Mr. Khawaja Masood Akhtar, a civil engineer who had been
working in the football manufacturing industry for some years and whose passion for the game led him
to lead his new sweatshop.

The first years of Forward Sports of 50 employees proved to be difficult in the intense and competitive
market. However, Masood worked his way out starting from 1000 balls per month and finally won his
trust over world biggest giant in the market "adidas" in 1994.

Till 2003 most of the production processes involved in producing hand-stitched balls was manual.
Understanding that, Masood strategized his business approach by implementing "Lean
Manufacturing•" principles that helped him reducing waste through this labor-intensive business and
won 'Best Lean Manufacturing System' award from adidas.

The year 2004 proved to be revolutionary for Masood as he mechanized most of his football
manufacturing processes in this year. Different machines were developed with the help of local and
foreign consultants including automatic lamination machine, more than 200 pieces per stroke cutting
machines and seven automatic multicolor printing machines.

In 2007, Forward achieved another technological milestone. With yearlong efforts Forward
successfully developed the thermal bonding technology to produce 32 panel thermal bonded footballs
locally.

In 2008, Forward successfully set up a new assembly line for thermal bonded footballs and took it to
the level of mass production. In 2008, Forward started to receive meager orders of thermal bonded
Official Match balls from adidas.

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007

Gradually, Forward mechanized its football (hand stitched) manufacturing processes and as a result
in 2008, Forward enhanced its capacity to 700,000 hand stitched balls per month and became the world's
largest hand stitched football producer.

But in 2009, Forward took quantum leap and won the orders for official match balls of UEFA
Champions League 2010 in Spain. Throughout 2008 and up till 2015; Forward Sports continued to
produce Official Match and competition level thermal bonded footballs for adidas.

In 2014, Forward won the contract to produce official match ball for the world cup 2014.

Right now forward is manufacturing three types of Soccer balls (Hand Stitched, Thermal Bonded, and
Machine Stitched) with a combined capacity of 750,000 balls per month that made Forward Sports won
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), "Best Export Performance
Award" from 2008 to 2016.

Forward Sports has set standards in manufacturing industry by delivering quality products with shorter
lead-time. All these innovations and continuous modification made it possible for Forward Sports to be
a unique manufacturer in international market. Soccer balls, Beach Balls, Hand balls, Medicine balls,
Indoor balls, Sports bags, Shin guard, Goal Keeping Gloves are few of the products of that Forward has
introduced in recent years.

The company employees about 3000 people making it one of the largest employers in the area and it is
the only company that employs women too. Thus providing rare opportunities for women in rural areas.
There are currently around 600 women working on the assembly lines.

Forward Sports has achieved a lot due to its commitment and passion. We have the simple goal achieve
highest levels of quality by discovering new horizons of technology.

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007

  Vision Statement

Translating marketing & business goals into design strategy, novelty & to attain a new product success.

 Mission Statement

Forward Group is a consumer driven, design oriented and an Innovative Company, aiming to work with

coherence of renowned global Brands, organizations and entrepreneurs, translating marketing and

business goals into design strategy, novelty and to attain a new product success.

AWARDS & CERTIFICATES

 ISO 9001 Certified

 SA 8000 Certified

 ISO 14001 Certified

 OHSAS 18001 Certified

 Lean Manufacturing Processes

 CTPAT

 FLA Membership

STRATEGIES OF "FORWARD SPORTS"

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007

  Quality Focus

We aim to maintain our leading position in industry by satisfying our respectable customer's needs and

expectation through providing highest quality possible.

 Breakthrough Thinking

You generate new ideas, delving beneath the surface to find true meaning and using conceptual and

lateral thinking to create business advantage.

 Innovation

We firmly believe that innovation is intrinsically valuable and by that we can find better ways to produce

good quality products by optimizing our resources.

 Going Green

To run a successful business, it’s important to pay careful attention to trends within your industry and

the global marketplace as a whole.

(Going Green means to take environment friendly steps i.e. energy conservation with the use of LED

bulbs rather than old ones etc.)

 Research & Development

Achieving our goals without a strong R&D is not possible. Hence R&D has always constituted as large

part of our company, especially, in theoretical and best practices competence.

 Integrity

We believe integrity enables us to establish & maintain long term relationships with each of our unique

client partners as well as our employees.

 Community Initiative

As an industry leader we are committed to create a better society and working to provide health,

education & social services to our community.

 Energy Management

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007

Forward Sports is committed to continuous improvement of its Environmental Management System for

the achievement of safe and conductive environment.

 Organizational Awareness

You use your understanding of an organization’s culture to make an impact, working within both formal

and informal structures to achieve goals.

 Change Catalyst

You're excited by the opportunities change brings and respond positively to challenges. You adapt

creatively and will actively promote the change process.

 Seizing the Future

You want to impact future performance and you take action to realize goals and create new

opportunities.

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007

 PESTL Analysis of "Forward Sports"

 Political

Political instability in Pakistan can lead to changes in laws and policies which can be in favor or

against the manufacturing sector.

 Economical

Economy of Pakistan is facing issues about employment, inflation, illiteracy, which hinders

business growth.

 Social

Cultural issues can be there but still as there are a number of multinational companies there,

therefore, cultural issues are not prominent.

 Technological

People are highly skilled and Forward Gear can introduce new technology for manufacturing.

 Legal

Various laws such as discrimination law, consumer law, antitrust law and employment law can

affect how Forward Gear operates, its costs, and the demand for its products.

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007

 SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths:

 Having strong brands as it clients like Adidas and Reebok.

 In Sialkot there is no other competitor of Forward Gear
 It has huge production halls which can accommodate more than 1200 workers.
 Highly Qualified Management
 High Security

Weaknesses:

 Internal employee’s politics effects quality of work

 Loans are affecting profits of Forward Gear and also its goodwill.
 Old employees are at more risk of their job termination.

Opportunities:

 Many market areas are untapped

 Develop more portfolios in coming years

Threats:

 Cost threats, company can have cost increments due to the electricity rising rates in Pakistan
which may result in loss of order from China because China demands very economical rates.
 Political Threats
 Employees Union is very strong in organization, it can waste time and resources of
organization.

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007

 References

i. https://sports.forward.pk/

ii. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_Sports

Name: Ayesha Munir Hussain Enrollment # 01-221182-007