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Discusses the structure of the Seven-Eleven Japan supply chain in terms of its facilities network, inventory management, distribution, and information.

For nearly 60 years, Precision Steel Fabrication (PSF) had been making fabricated steel components for the contract furniture (commercial office furniture) industry. At the time of the case, the $10 million firm was emerging from a downturn in sales and seeing its first sales increase in three years, and was contemplating the purchase of a $1 million tube laser. The tube laser could do the work of three machines: a table saw, a hydraulic press, and a deburring machine. Should PSF purchase a tube laser? If so, how should three vendors' offerings be evaluated and what criteria are most salient? While the tube laser would greatly increase the firm's manufacturing efficiency, the decision itself is relatively risky. The case is written to provide the framework for evaluating an equipment purchase decision within the context of business and operations strategy, and in a small business environment.

This is an MIT Sloan Management Review article. Uses two different studies--a survey of CIOs at 256 enterprises in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region and a set of 40 interview-based case studies at large companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Carlson Companies, UPS, Delta Air Lines, and ING DIRECT--to conclude that when senior managers take the time to design, implement, and communicate IT governance processes, companies get more value from IT. Toward that end, they offer a single-page framework for designing effective IT: a matrix that juxtaposes the five decision areas (principles, architecture, infrastructure, business application needs, and prioritization and investment decisions) against six archetypal approaches (business monarchy, IT monarchy, federal, duopoly, feudal, and anarchy). Illustrates how successful companies use different approaches for different decisions to maximize efficiency and value for both IT and the overall enterprise. Offers recommendations to guide effective IT governance design.

With the hope of changing the way Canadians think about purchasing flowers, the owner of Bloom the Flower Company recognized the importance of the Wow! factor and the European florist model in her design of Bloom. Opened in 2002, the Toronto-based florist was continually stocked with a unique array of exotic, cut flowers for everyday purchase or individual or corporate events. Bloom's service delivery was based upon a friendly, welcoming and laid-back approach that focused on providing meaningful solutions to an individual's floral needs. Bloom's success had not gone unnoticed as several additional younger and hipper floral shops had been started in the area since Bloom opened. A number of business and service management issues have to be addressed in order for Bloom to grow.

The plant manager for Noram Foods was considering the impact of changing Noram's policy on package weight. Noram Foods in Canada had an enviable record of sound financial performance, although there had been a period of declining profits when the Canadian economy suffered under conditions of high unemployment, high interest rates, and high inflation. Leo Marsden believed the weight control issue represented a major opportunity for re-evaluation and increased performance.

An expansion in the bottling plant of a brewery leads to a reassessment of the manual palletizing operation. It is possible to purchase expensive automatic equipment and a choice of makes is involved.

The newly-appointed general manager of Butler Metal Products was considering changes to his firm's shop floor organization. About two years earlier, his predecessor had switched from a traditional functional hierarchy to focused factories. Although the changes were accompanied by 35% reductions in inventories, throughput times and defect rates, there was concern that they would not be enough to assure Butler's survival in the economically-stressed automotive industry. The focused factories were struggling with conflicting demands for shared equipment and human resources. Did the factories need to be refocused, left alone, or reverted back to the old organization?

This business game allows participants to make 12 scheduling decisions under conditions of demand uncertainty. It is played with groups of 3-5 participants and does not require a computer.

About 15 operators work in a simple hybrid batch-flow environment to produce the Earth Buddy novelty product. The case introduces the topic of process analysis. Sufficient information is presented to introduce and discuss the following concepts in an 80-minute class: capacity, throughput time, cycle time, bottleneck identification and resolution, and work-in-process inventory accumulation and draw-down. Issues that can be explored during the discussion include: shift scheduling, the impact of cross-training, batch versus flow production, rush orders, and the impact of defects on capacity. (An Extend simulation file is available for this case, Earth Buddy - Extend Simulation file.)

McLeod Motors recently rationalized a number of motor end shields to reduce manufacturing costs, improve service, and reduce inventories. However, inventories have apparently risen. Students must identify why McLeod has inventory, how large the inventory might have been before the rationalization, how large they might be now, why they are so large, and what could be done to reduce inventory levels. The case can be used in conjunction with a discussion on inventory function.

The environmental coordinator at the Chatham Assembly Plant of Navistar International Corporation, must develop a total waste management program which addresses both corporate waste reduction objectives and regulatory requirements. At the time of the case, a plant-wide waste audit had just been completed by an outside contractor in response to the introduction of provincial legislation, referred to as 3R Regulations. The environmental coordinator must assess the competitive implications of different alternatives, design the program, decide which materials will be recycled, identify who will be involved in implementation, and take into account the reaction of different stakeholder groups. (A sequel to this case titled Navistar: Environmental Management (B), case 9A96D001, is available.)

International Decorative Glass (IDG) is a small manufacturer of glass panels which are inserted into exterior steel doors. While their primary market is in the U.S., most of IDG's manufacturing is done in China through a joint venture arrangement. In response to rapidly growing customer demand, the vice president of operations, is considering the expansion of either their Chinese or Canadian manufacturing operations. Alternatively, he has been approached by a supplier to form a new joint venture manufacturing operation in Vietnam. Financial, political and infrastructural considerations must be weighed, in addition to any signal that would be sent to their current Chinese partners.

On February 9, 1995, the purchasing officer at Fisher & Paykel Limited in Auckland, New Zealand, was preparing for the next meeting of the evaporator pad cover team. Recent supply problems had threatened to close down the refrigerator assembly line and the purchasing officer's task was to propose a workable and cost effective solution.

The president of Joong-Ang Development Company was concerned with the level of service quality at Yongin Farmland, the company's theme park located just south of Seoul, South Korea. Despite the service quality program he had initiated since he assumed his present position 14 months ago, service quality seemed to be less than that of its competitors. He wondered if he had made the right moves, how Farmland could achieve international service quality standards, whether it would be worth doing, and if it would really provide a sustainable competitive advantage. This case and its companion (B) case, 9A97D017, are intended for use in a service quality module of a service management course.

The assistant engineer in the Thermal Treatment Department of a state-owned enterprise in China has received approval for the formation of a new quality control group to reduce the high defect rate of a critical part. The total quality concept is presented within the context of a specific quality problem, which encourages students to both assess the company's quality system and apply quality improvement tools to this particular problem. This case is the first of a three part series that applies the principles and tools of total quality management in a Chinese setting. This case can either be used independently or in combination with the (B) case, 9A98D002 and (C) case, 9A98D003.

A renowned manufacturer and designer of niche vehicles for major automobile companies has traditionally competed on flexibility using a highly skilled design and manufacturing workforce and low levels of automation. However, the European auto market is threatened with a shakeout. The director of operations must decide whether to accept an offer from Mitsubishi to become the exclusive European manufacturer of a sport utility vehicle. The order would more than double the company's manufacturing volume and relieve pressure to replace models currently in production. However, the fit of the order with existing manufacturing strategy is poor, and major changes in facilities and equipment as well as people and systems would be required. The case is suitable for use in an operations class to introduce or apply basic concepts in operations strategy or to discuss operations capability and strategy with executives.

Unicon supplies pre-cast concrete products to the flourishing construction market in Hong Kong. The deputy managing director, is evaluating an opportunity to pursue a blanket regulatory approval for Unicon's custom-designed concrete products with its largest customer, the Hong Kong Housing Authority. This opportunity promised to offer cost savings to both Unicon and this customer, although questions remain about the broader implications for Unicon's manufacturing operations and other customers. At the same time, management must develop a plan to expand its manufacturing capacity if Unicon hopes to capitalize on the rapidly expanding market and fend off new competitors from mainland China.

The general manager of COM DEV's Chinese facility which assembled satellite components, was trying to decide whether the plant should seek ISO 9000 certification. Not only did ISO 9000 registration have a number of advantages and disadvantages, but as well, the decision in the Chinese plant would have some implications for COM DEV's other facilities in Canada and Europe. In addition, if the general manager decided to seek ISO 9000 certification for his plant, he would have to decide which level of certification to seek.

Necanko Inc. is a large international food manufacturer. A buyer-scheduler for the company must forecast sales demand to determine production planning, inventory management and distribution for the year. Sales were normally predictable and stable, but the company has just come back from a three month layoff due to slow sales and they are now experiencing a sales increase three times greater than usual. The buyer-scheduler is uncertain why the sales are spiking and must decide what action to take.

Necanko, Inc. is a large international food manufacturer. A buyer-scheduler for the company must forecast sales demand to determine production planning, inventory management, and distribution for the year. Sales were normally predictable and stable, but the company has just come back from a three-month layoff due to slow sales, and it is now experiencing a sales increase three times greater than usual. The buyer-scheduler is uncertain why the sales are spiking and must decide what action to take.