Case $4$: JIT in Action

A new phenomenon called $$Apparel on Demand$$ is slowly making its presence felt.

It is an extension of JIT linking retailers and manufacturers for a just$-$in$-$time

responsiveness. NaaR Clothing Inc., promoted by a young management graduate

has recently ventured into the business of making reasonably priced custom jeans

for women. It has partnered with many stores selling women garments. In the

stores, women are electronically measured and information like colour, fabric,

style, etc., are recorded. The information reaches the NaaR manufacturing facility

at Ahmedabad almost immediately through a state$-$of$-$the$-$art information

system.NaaR guarantees delivery of the custom jeans within $10$ days. With the

growing acceptance of jeans among the women in India, specially in the urban

areas, the market for women$$s jeans is growing at a fast pace. NaaR with its unique

business model hopes to garner a significant share of this market. The promoter of

NaaR along with her top executives is confident that their concept of JIT jeans

would work.

$($a$)$ Do you think NaaR$$s strategy would work? Why or why not? What is the

importance of retailers in its business strategy?

$($b$)$ Will customers wait for $10$ days to have the jeans delivered? What can NaaR

do to compete on customer service if delivery takes this much time?

$($c$)$ Comment on the necessity of a robust supply chain in the context of NaaR

Clothing Inc.