Describes a comprehensive manufacturing strategy designed to reduce substantially the cycle time of orders (i.e. the time between the placement of an order by a customer and its delivery to the customer). To launch the strategy Digital has adopted manufacturing resource planning (MRP II). The case allows students to assess the pros and cons of the strategy which requires rapid information flows and tight manufacturing discipline, the usefulness o...

To follow Digital Equipment Corp.: The Endpoint Model (C1). Students must assess what their next steps would be as plant manager and group manufacturing manager.

Should follow Digital Equipment Corp.: The Endpoint Model (B1). A new plant manager has been hired; the case describes her experience, management philosophy, goals in the plant, and handling of a production problem.

To follow Digital Equipment Corp.: The Endpoint Model (B2). The division has just received a request for dramatically increased production. If it complies with the request, it will have to expedite production, override the MRP II system and the planned schedule. Should it accept the order? The case forces students to consider the tensions between an uncertain market and environment and disciplined manufacturing plans.

The management of a small manufacturer of circuit boards faces a number of production and operations management problems. The first day on this case is used to analyze the production capacity of various stages in the process and to examine bottlenecks and key production flow decisions. The emphasis is on physical flows. The second day the emphasis is on information flows. We look in detail at the problems faced by the company, discuss the tools a...

In the context of the delicate situation of a small soft drink company founded a couple of years previously by two young Valencians, this case presents a varied set of factors that make the company's owners wonder whether they should continue with the business or not. The case offers a good teaching opportunity for practicing the collection of relevant but simple information, and for applying useful methodologies for the analysis of business situ...