Module name: BSc International Business

** For coursework, the submission word limit is 3,000 words. You must comply with the word count guidelines. You may submit LESS than 3,000 words but not more. Cover sheet, numerical tables, bibliography, appendices and annex are NOT included within word count calculations. Other tables and charts containing text ARE included in word count. Any work exceeding the 3,000 word limit will not be marked.

** You are required to use only Harvard Referencing System in your submission

** There is no set format for writing your report but you are expected to pay careful attention to your structure and layout to make the document clear and compelling to read, with an obvious and logical flow of content and information.

Use of headings, sub-headings and numbering will be important for structure and use of charts, diagrams and models may be important for improving appearance and the effectiveness of communication.

A basic structure for your answers in the report would be to follow the same order as the questions.

Research

You are expected to carry out your own extensive research on Mattel from various sources. A case study is NOT provided.

Student Guidance

The assignment requires you to address key topics from the syllabus, explore the concepts and principles behind those topics and apply them to Mattel. It will test your skills in a number of ways, for instance your:

1) Knowledge of the syllabus.
2) Ability to apply and integrate key concepts in a practical situation.
3) Understanding of the concepts behind international business expansion and management.

2.1 Assessment Summary.

Mattel

This module is assessed through the submission of a written report aimed at assessing some key international business challenges faced by Mattel the multinational toy company.

The specific requirements of the report will be aligned to the Learning Outcomes and to several topics covered in this module.

2.1. Questions

Mattel is the one of the main global players in the toy industry. Founded in California in 1945 the company’s portfolio of brands includes Fisher-Price, Hot Wheels, Barbie, American Girl and Monster High amongst others.

The company already has global presence but market conditions are ever-changing and decisions need to be taken about priorities to protect the long term health of the business.

You have been tasked with critically analysing the Mattel business to gain a deeper understanding of the issues it faces now and in the future. In particular you are tasked with evaluating the strategic importance of the USA as a key market for Mattel.

In carrying out these tasks, you will need to carefully and thoroughly research and analyse certain aspects of the business. You are expected to demonstrate your understanding of international business principles by providing insight on the Mattel business.

You have been asked specifically to address the following in your report:

à1)  The U.S. market (Part a=15 marks, part b=10 marks; part c=10 marks; Total = 35 marks)

1. a)  Identify and critically evaluate three key factors of the U.S. market to explain if and why it is an attractive and strategically important market for Mattel’s future. (15 marks; 5 marks for each factor evaluated)
2. b)  Identify and critically analyse one current significant political factor that specifically affects the Mattel business in the U.S. (10 marks)
3. c)  Offer a justified recommendation to deal with the current political factor/challenge identified above in part (b). (10 marks)

à2)  Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (30 marks total)

1. a)  Using credible evidence to support your discussion, identify two key factors in the toy industry that are influencing innovation at Mattel. (10 marks; 5 marks for each factor correctly identified and discussed).
2. b)  Identify and critically analyse two international business challenges that Mattel faces in responding to the innovation influences discussed in part (a) above. (10 marks; 5 marks for each challenge correctly identified and discussed).

1. c) Identify and critically analyse two CSR considerations Mattel must make on an international scale as part of their ongoing innovation process. (10 marks; 5 marks for each CSR consideration correctly identified and analysed).

à3)  Mattel Supply Chain Management (25 marks total)

1. a)  Critically analyse Mattel’s approach to supply chain management (SCM) by examining two specific elements of the supply chain. (20 marks; 10 marks for each supply chain element correctly identified and analysed)

1. b)  As part of your answer, please explain – with evidence – any strengths or weaknesses you identify in the SCM and explain how they contribute to the competitive advantage or disadvantage of Mattel. (5 marks)

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Supply Chain Management

Instructions

1. This is Part 1 of the Final Exam that requires the use of Excel. It is a take-home exam.
2. Part 2 of the Final Exam will be conducted in-class during the regular class hours. No laptop or cell-phone use will be allowed.
3. The purpose of this exam is to test your individual understanding of the material covered in this course. Please do this exam on your own without help from anyone else.
4. Solution to some of the problems can be completed with the use of Excel. Please copy and paste your work from Excel into this document (email the separate excel file if necessary).
5. Email or submit via Brightspace
6. Late exams will not be accepted.

(For Instructor’s use)

Problem 1 (10 points)

The Soft Toys Company has collected information on fixed and variable costs for its three plant lcoations.

Based on the information provided above, answer the following four questions.

• Which location is the best choice if producing 3,000 units? (You can use the attached Excel template to create the cost curve).

Problem 2 (10 points)

Given the following information, perform an ABC analysis based on annual usage (use that attached Excel and paste the table below).

Problem 3 (10 points)

The Bucks Grande exhibition baseball team plays 50 weeks each year and uses an average of 350 baseballs per week. The team orders baseballs from Coopers Town, Inc., a ball manufacturer noted for six sigma level consistency and high product quality. The cost to order baseballs is $100 per order and the annual holding cost per ball is 30% of the purchase price. Coopers-Town’s price structure is:

• Determine the best order quantity. Note: Show all steps and calculations.

Bonus: Cause-and-Effect Diagram: (10 points).

Construct a cause-and-effect diagram for the following problem: The university course registration and payment process takes too long. Brainstorm some potential causes.

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Steel Nuggets Inc.

A Manufacturing Case Study Exercise

Advanced Topics in Supply Chain Management

Case Study:  Part I of IV

This case study exercise is designed to provide an example simulation project that is conducted in EXCEL.

Students will build a model and then use that model to conduct a range of experiments that are designed to explore business improvement opportunities.

The exercise is focused on a manufacturing facility production line that is composed of machining operations linked by conveyors.  At the end of the line goods are stacked and palletized before being shipped out to customers.  A pallet return mechanism is also included.

The case is broken down into four parts.

• Exercise 1: Modeling the Factory (100 points)
  • Building your Model
  • Validating your Model
• Exercise 2: Experimentation using the Model (175 points)
• Exercise 3: Further Analysis and Experimentation (200 points)
  • Capital spend Options
  • Further Options
• Exercise 4: Advanced Experimentation (125 points)
  • Zero Spend Options
  • Further Ideas

OVERVIEW

Steel Nuggets Inc. manufactures three types of parts and they wish to maximize the capability of their production facility.  The factory is old and has a number of problems.  The manufacturing process is not smooth or streamlined and some of the equipment is unreliable.  There are many options for change, each with a different cost and each with a different potential payback.

Your task is to construct an appropriate model of the Steel Nuggets Inc. manufacturing facility, validate your model against the current performance of the factory and then use the model to analyze various options for improving performance.

THE MANUFACTURING FACILITY

The facility produces three products.  Product A, B and C.   Each part is constructed/built on its’ own dedicated machine (MakeA, MakeB, MakeC)

These machines are never starved for the raw material (metal blocks) needed to manufacture the parts.  A single part is manufactured on each machine at a time.

The manufacturing times of the parts on these machines are as follows:

MakeA – Cycle Time = 5 minutes

MakeB – Cycle Time = 5 minutes

MakeC – Cycle Time = 10 minutes

THE TRIM OPERATION

Parts are delivered to a Trim operation on three separate conveyors that can each take 3 parts only at any given time.  (Machines will stop their cycle if conveyor is full)  The Trim operation takes parts from the conveyors in sequence – but will not wait if there is no part present on a particular conveyor – it will simply continue on to the next conveyor in the sequence.

Trim Operation Sequence: MakeAMakeB           Make C          MakeA

STACKING THE PRODUCTS

The Trim operation outputs the part onto another conveyor that delivers the parts to a stacking operation.  The conveyor is long enough to hold 10 parts.

The stacking operation is actually a person who takes the components and stacks them in three separate feeds to the palletizer depending on part type.  Each of A and B take 0.65 minutes to stack but, due to the heavy weight of C, this products takes 5.5 minutes to stack

This results in separate stacks of A, Band C in the feeding mechanism for the palletizer.

THE PALLETIZER

When a stack reaches 12 high there is no more room for additional parts of that type until the stack is palletized.  The palletizer takes the stack and loads it onto a pallet which has been taken from the Pallet Store.  The Palletizer takes anywhere between 3 and 3.5 minutes to complete this operation.  This operation has a uniform distribution (variance)

Full Pallets are placed in the dispatch system where they are taken to the customer and then the pallet is returned.  The whole process of delivery takes between five hours and 11 hours randomly (a UNIFORM distribution).  When the pallet returns it is placed in the pallet store for reuse.  There is no restriction on how many pallets can be delivered at once.

THE PALLETS

The pallets used are expensive custom items (due to the need  to keep the parts particularly rigid while in transport).  The company currently owns just 12 pallets.

CONVEYORS

All conveyors in this facility are of the accumulating type also known as queuing conveyors.  All parts will roll up to the queue of parts at the front.  The time for all conveyors to cycle one part position is .5 minutes

RELIABILITY

Not all the machinery in the factory is 100% reliable!

• The Trim machine breaks down every 100 – 200 minutes (UNIFORM distribution) and takes 20 – 25 minutes to repair (UNIFORM distribution)

• The Palletizer breaks down every 10 – 20 operations (UNIFORM distribution) and takes between 1 – 4 hours to repair (UNIFORM distribution)

• The Trim machine and the Palletizer are both repaired by the same person who prioritizes work on a first come first served basis.

The other machines and the conveyors do not break down

WORK PATTERNS

The factory is run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Each position involving people is manned for the entire duration of production.

ASSIGNMENT – PART I OF IV

Using the information available build a working model of the current facility.

Once the model has been built you need to then validate its accuracy against the currently observed output at the factory.

• Current Production Averages 2,456 parts per week.

A one page synopsis describing how your model works and the validity of the same is required.

Refer to Rubric for more details on the scoring of this assignment

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