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  • May 2021 (Revised July 2021)
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Coats: Supply Chain Challenges

By: Willy C. Shih and Adina Wong
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:22
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Abstract

Coats, the largest thread maker in the world, transformed its business to digital colour measurement so that it could respond better to customer demand in the garment industry for rapid product cycles and more fragmented colour choices. Its embrace of digital colour measurement technologies enabled customers to drive ever shorter fulfilment cycles. But the company faced a monumental challenge in forecasting demand for the wide spectrum of colours and thread types, and it had shifted to an ABC inventory classification model for make-to-stock versus make-to-order products. The question at hand was whether it should now consolidate some of its high volume make-to-stock manufacturing in an ultra-low-cost location while leaving the make-to-order products close to the customer.

Keywords

Inventory Management; Supply Chains; Digital; Operations; Supply Chain Management; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Asia

Citation

Shih, Willy C., and Adina Wong. "Coats: Supply Chain Challenges." Harvard Business School Case 621-115, May 2021. (Revised July 2021.)
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About The Author

Willy C. Shih

Technology and Operations Management
→More Publications

Related Work

    • August 2021
    • Faculty Research

    Coats: Supply Chain Challenges

    By: Willy C. Shih
    • August 2021
    • Faculty Research

    Coats: Supply Chain Challenges

    By: Willy C. Shih
    • August 2021
    • Faculty Research

    Coats: Supply Chain Challenges: Spreadsheet Supplement

    By: Willy C. Shih
    • May 2021 (Revised July 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    Coats: Supply Chain Challenges

    By: Willy C. Shih and Adina Wong
Related Work
  • Coats: Supply Chain Challenges By: Willy C. Shih
  • Coats: Supply Chain Challenges By: Willy C. Shih
  • Coats: Supply Chain Challenges: Spreadsheet Supplement By: Willy C. Shih
  • Coats: Supply Chain Challenges By: Willy C. Shih and Adina Wong
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