Albaross Anchor Unit 6

Unit Six Written Assignment

Luis Perez

MT435 Operations Management

Kaplan University

August 19, 2012

Introduction

Albatross Anchor is a family business that started in 1976. The company has grown over the years raising some issues with production and some administrative as well. The company’s technology is not updated, disorganized, and not meeting US safety and environmental standards. As the company grew, more processes were added and the space is limited, so production was not running smoothly. When Albatross Anchor first opened its doors, their expertise was producing the bell and mushroom anchors. In 1989, the owners of Albatross Anchor made the decision to expand which included the fabrication of the snag hook anchors. Albatross Anchor only sell their anchors at wholesale and the owners will need to rethink the layout of their facilities. As soon as they make some changes and implement them, it will help them sustain a competitive edge with their competition.

Question One

Carefully review the assignment scenario/case study. From the limited information in the scenario/case study, along with your answers to the unit three written assignment, identify at least three direct and specific long-term and three direct and specific short term operations changes that Albatross Anchor must make to gain a clear and sustainable competitive advantage (provide detailed information to validate and support each recommended change)

Long-Term Operational Changes

(01) The company in overall is severely outdated. The administration is much unorganized making the company runs inefficiently. Since the warehouse is not updated to standard it no longer complies with US safety and environmental standards. To stay within compliance the company should follow US Safety and environmental standards and update technology to meet these standards. This will improve their efficiency and effectiveness throughout the plant.

(02) The issue of using the same equipment each time...