Product details

The case offers an illustration of a fast-response global supply, production, and retail network. In 2002 Zara, operating out of La Coruna in north-west Spain, was the only retailer that could deliver garments to its 507 stores in 33 countries in just fifteen days after they were designed. Its unique systems for product design, order administration, production, distribution and retailing were behind this astonishing capability. Its unconventional approach provides interesting opportunities for discussion and learning. The case is quite popular with executives, MBAs and undergraduate business students. It can be used in a remarkably wide range of courses - from a core operations management course to electives focused on international operations, operations strategy, global logistics, distribution, retailing, as well as in specialised and general executive programmes. The teaching note includes several photographs from Zara's operations in La Coruna, and the appendices are available as PowerPoint files as the teaching note supplement. This case was the winner of the 2003 Indiana University Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER)-sponsored Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) International Case Competition. This case was sponsored by the Indiana University CIBER Case Collection.