Abstract
The concept of taxonomy is applied to inventory management in a supplychain using the example of the US textile industry. Through classification and standardisation of issues related to inventory management problems, it is shown how inventory models and techniques can be generalised across diverse application environments represented by autonomous business entities that form the supplychain. Three generic models that implement inventory decision rules to address constant or level, time varying or chase, and mixed demand patterns associated with stock keeping unit SKU categories are proposed. Applications of these inventory models to a textile supplychain are discussed.