CASE 6.1 Hudson Guitars Saul Hudson was walking around the empty building that w
ID: 386884 • Letter: C
Question
CASE 6.1
Hudson Guitars
Saul Hudson was walking around the empty building that would soon house his guitar
factory. Accompanying him were an architect and the recently hired vice president (VP) of
manufacturing.
A rock and roll virtuoso, Saul has been building custom guitars for his band for more
than 20 years. On a break from those grinding world tours, Saul is launching a line of electric
guitars. Rather than outsource production to Mexico or China, Saul has decided to hire
his own team to produce the guitars.
During the building tour, Saul and his team discuss ideas for facility layout, production
methods, and technology requirements.
"How we set it up is a function of volume, variety and product pricing notes the VP.
"We can go anywhere from master craftsmen making one guitar at a time to an automated
production line cranking them out by the hundreds per day''
"We are in this to make money, so I can’t sit in this huge space and make them one at a
time Saul replies. "But, I don’t want to produce a $300 guitar for the mass market. We want
a great product that customers will see as an investment in a quality guitar that will last for
decades
A brief discussion ensues in which Saul shares his vision for selling three models in five
stock colors. They will be sold through music stores. He also wants customers to have the
option of configuring their own sound package and adding a custom paint job for a higher
price. These semi-custom guitars will be sold via the company's website.
"You also need to think about what part of the production will be done in-house versus
Outsourced” noted the architect. "That will influence how I modify the building”
Saul adds "if we want to do it right, we need to do the major work in-house. Cutting the
bodies and necks, painting, assembly and testing will happen right here. We can purchase
the humbuckers, strings, knobs, jacks, and other components from trusted suppliers."
"Hmm, parts coming in from multiple suppliers, fifteen different combinations of guitars
plus semi-custom orders, and serious manufacturing activity,' the VP recaps. "I think that
we will need some technology support to keep everything coordinated."
"That's why I hired you-to make those important decisions” replies Saul. "Remember
we're here to deliver stunning guitars that will launch the career of the next B.B. King, Keith
Richards, or that guy called Slash”
As he walked toward the door, Saul adds: "and, don’t forget that we need profits. Tell me
how you are going to measure our success."
1. Given the description of the product and the work that will occur in the guitar factory, which production process layouts could be considered? Which do you recommend? Explain.
2. What types of software should be used to help manage the scheduling and operations of the guitar factory? What benefits will they provide?
3. How should the VP evaluate performance of the factory? Discuss the metrics that must be balanced to achieve Saul’s goals.
4. What roles will packaging play in the success of Saul’s guitar company?
Explanation / Answer
1. Saul wants to make guitar in his new factory but the quality and quantaty of the guitar are very specific. he does not want to make guital in a very long time because he is considering how much cost , profit and expenses it will take. also saul does not want to make mass production of the guitar that are basic and cheap because he want quality to be considerd too. by giving thought to saul wants and needs to meet his demand. i think a project layout and workcenter would be the best fit for his factory. A project layout require a fixed location and the product is assembled in a factory during the entire production process. these allow for the products to move to each department and have specific task until the final project is completed.
2. Following are the several type of software that should be used to help manager in scheduling and operation of the guitar factory-----------
1. Acuity scheduling-------------------it is used for scheduling an appointment of staff with the client.
2. Flexbooker------------it offer single plan or appointment for user instead of multiple plan. it is beneficial because it offer high level features at compitative price.
3. Appointlet-----------it allow user to schedule appointment with client as a standard meeting planner.
they provide several benefits like increases the production of the manufacturing plant, facilitate the availability of resources, improve reliabilility by reducing human error, and also enhance the performance of the worker.
3. The vice president should consider all the demands that saul wants for his factory . however sometimes it is not always possible to meet these demands due to many factors have considerd . the metrics that should balance the VP evaluation are total cost, total cycle time, delivery performance , quality and safety.
4. saul wants to produce very good quality of electric guitar. In order to ensure that this quality is ensured to the customer , the proper packaging should be considerd. the role that should be considerd depends on finding the right material for the guitar. the material should be strong, reliable, and sustainable. since these are instrument they have to packaged with care. the packaging must be consist of soft cushioning in the inside of the case while offering protection on the outside so the guitar wont get damaged.
Related Questions
drjack9650@gmail.com
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.