Thai Sock Chooses Coats Digital’s FastReactPlan for Enhanced Capacity Planning

Thai Sock Co. Ltd., a renowned global sock manufacturer and supplier to well-known brands such as Nike, Paul Smith, Converse and M&S, has selected Coats Digital’s FastReactPlan to streamline its capacity planning processes. FastReactPlan will integrate and consolidate capacity planning information from various sources into one unified and visually intuitive system.

FastReactPlan will enable Thai Sock to synchronize its yarn and knitting capacity plans efficiently. By accurately tracking sock production on the factory floor and quickly assessing and mitigating challenges, the company aims to improve its decision-making capabilities. This will empower Thai Sock to seize opportunities arising from the growing market trend for smaller, more diverse order assortments.

Founded in 1964, Thai Sock has expanded rapidly to become the largest vertically integrated sock manufacturer in Thailand. The company has consistently invested in cutting-edge technologies, producing fine luxury socks through specialized knitting processes at its manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and China. Besides socks, Thai Sock also manufactures headbands, wristbands, and textured nylon and polyester yarns. The company’s distribution centres in the UK and China further support its global presence.

Miss Alisara Vichaiwatanapanich, Deputy Managing Director of Thai Sock Co., highlighted the challenge the company faced with planning and visibility of capacity plans across its yarn and knitting teams. The reliance on multiple disconnected spreadsheets resulted in time-consuming processes and difficulties in confirming yarn lots against sock production, causing a significant disconnect between higher and lower production levels.

To overcome these challenges, Thai Sock embraced Coats Digital’s FastReactPlan, an advanced production planning and control tool within the Manufacturing Solution Suite. This dynamic, visual system optimizes delivery, efficiency and lead times. It integrates capacity, critical path and materials into a single, dynamic planning system, offering effective master planning across multiple factories and precise scheduling of manufacturing lines and machines.

By eliminating the reliance on cumbersome Excel spreadsheets, Thai Sock expects to increase the speed and accuracy of production planning, tracking and order confirmation processes. Anticipating a 200% return on investment within the next year, the company aims to capitalize on the rising demand for smaller, intricate orders.

Piyanit Meesang, Sales Manager Thailand at Coats Digital, expressed delight in partnering with Thai Sock to establish robust best practice planning processes. The implementation of FastReactPlan will provide greater visibility and a unified version of the truth for all capacity planning teams, enabling Thai Sock to optimize efficiencies and tackle challenges swiftly.

With this strategic collaboration, Thai Sock aims to further solidify its position as one of the world’s leading sock producers and continue providing high-quality products to its global clientele.