Explain the four primary priority rules for job sequencing. In what instances at the company might each rule be most advantageous?

enerating Value

1. Evaluate how the company in the case study uses operations management functions to provide products and generate value for its customers.

   Support your claims with examples from the case study or outside sources.

2. Assess how this company achieves a competitive advantage using operations management. Provide examples found in the case study or outside

   sources to support your reasoning.

3. Compare and contrast service operations and manufacturing operations at the company in the case study. How are they the same? How do they

   differ? How does each of these operations provide value for their customers?

Theories and Techniques

1. Explain how gross-to-net calculations are processed for material requirements planning (MRP). What specific input files would the company in

   the case study need to include in this process for a successful MRP? How would you use the MRP information to improve the operations as the

   manager of this company?

2. Compare and contrast the critical path method (CPM) and the program evaluation and review technique (PERT). What types of projects at this

   company would favor PERT over CPM? Why? What types of projects at this company would favor CPM over PERT? Why?

3. Explain the four primary priority rules for job sequencing. In what instances at the company might each rule be most advantageous? When

   would each rule be most disadvantageous? Support your claims with citations from your textbook or outside sources.

4. Explain the five steps of the theory of constraints (TOC) process. To what processes might the company in the case study apply TOC? Why would

   applying TOC to these processes be advantageous?

5. Explain the steps used to develop a forecasting system. How would these steps be specifically utilized by this company? What do you predict

   would be the result of implementing a forecasting system for the top-selling product line at this company?

6. List the major categories of supply chain risk and associated risk-reduction tactics. How could the company mitigate exposure to supply chain

   disruptions caused by natural disasters? For example, consider the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan.

7. Summarize the following theories: just in time (JIT), Toyota Production System (TPS), and Lean. How are these concepts related? Describe the

   advantages and disadvantages for using each of these concepts at the company presented in the case study.

8. Describe how total quality management (TQM) principles and tools can be used to improve quality in the latest line of products in the context of

   the case study.

Data Analysis

1. Draw a hypothetical process (time-function) map for producing a recently released (within the past two years) product manufactured by the company. As an operations manager, how will you use the value map? Be sure to include your process map within your case study analysis.
2. Draw a cause-and-effect diagram that assesses why some of the company’s supply chain partners might have struggled to implement some of the company’s newly developed materials. Summarize your findings from the diagram.
3. Considering the data and options below, determine where the company should locate its new manufacturing plant. Explain why this would be the favorable location.