Read the Case Study below, Answer the four (4) case questions in detail with com
ID: 387498 • Letter: R
Question
Read the Case Study below, Answer the four (4) case questions in detail with complete sentences. The last person from Chegg that help copied the answer from a previous submission on coursehero. Thanks
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 the 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
Answer.
1. Saul wants an assembly line which suits it's standard product, guitar. He want to keep the product a high demanding and attractive, so he wishes to have a standardized assembly line which will make guitars basic parts, like neck, body, paint it, and processing with outsourced guitar's parts to make it a final product. He also want to have a product range of semi custom guitars, can be customised as per the customer's preferences. By considering all these aspects, a combination of layout that is assembly line and a process layout is recommended which will facilitate basic operating and customising.
2. Factory planning and scheduling by JDA software group, can be used to maintain scheduling and operations in the factory. The software facilitates, aspects of effective production planning and scheduling for enhanced productivity, control and prioritization. It also provides multi-echelon sourcing to optimized change-over plans, pre-build to alternate supply, the solutions proactively address the numerous factors involved in master planning.(capterra.com).
3. VP need to evaluate the performance effectively, by considering the KPI, key performance indicators are the soul of factories which provides basis for measuring the performance. These KPIs provide insight of the factory's effectiveness. These indicators involve manufacturing cycle time, througput, capacity utilisation, overall equipment effectiveness, scheduling, suppliers quality, yield and many other important areas. These aspects must be optimised to attain the soul's goals.
4. Packaging is not only made for protecting the product, but to provide a brand and it's details on it. It gives a feeling of owning quality or luxury good, in this case the high quality and customised guitar, it's packaging needs to be matched with its standard. Packaging plays and important role to keep the guitar safe and store it, protect it from fire or water, and keep it same as it newly bought even when decades pass. It can be made as a symbol depicting the factory's standard. It's logo and name, in addition to it customer's name can be written on it.
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