Case Home-Style Cookies

1. Briefly describe the cookie production process.

The production process of the company is called a batch processing system. This process entails the company obtaining orders from distributors. The amount of ingredients are calculated by the person in charge of mixing who enters the information into the computer to calculate the amount of ingredients needed. The ingredients are sent to giant mixing machines. The cookies are dropped onto a conveyor belt and sent into the longer ovens purchased to increase productivity as well as some cookies being cut diagonally saves space so that productivity is increased. The last process is the cookies are cooled and then the workers put the cookies into boxes, wrap and then seal them and label them.

2. What are two ways that the company has increased productivity? Why did increasing the length of the ovens result in a faster output rate?

Cookies without fillings are cut into diagonal shape so that the space is maximized and more of them can fit. The diagonal shaped cookies saves more storage space compared to the ones which is straight cut. The other thing that the company adopted to increase productivity is by investing in longer ovens which obviously increases the cooking capacity. Increasing the length of the ovens result in a faster output rate because it improves the production by giving way to more cookies produced.

3. Do you think that the company is making the right decision by not automating the packing of cookies? Explain your reasoning. What obligation does a company have to its employees in a situation such as this? What obligation does it have to the community? Is the size of the town a factor? Would it make a difference if the company was located in a large city? Is the size of the company a factor? What if it was a much larger company?

Not automating the packaging process of the cookies is the right choice for the company since automating means layoffs. People will surely be affected...