The Oxylane Group, parent company of the Décathlon chain, intends to improve its supply chain and the development of private label apparel products by adopting the FlexPLM system of PTC, a U.S. company based in Needham, Massachusetts. The software is already used by Liz Claiborne and JC Penney in the USA. It should improve the collaboration between Décathlon’s design and development teams and its suppliers, reducing design costs and lead times and improving product quality. It will be implemented by Oxylane’s production subsidiaries and subcontractors in Europe, North Africa, Asia and South America. It will also be used for designing sport shoes and bags under the retailer’s own exclusive brands – Quechua for mountain sports, Tribord for water sports and Geologic for hunting and fishing.