Down Creek Boots (DCB) is a boot manufacturer (fictitious) that focuses on making high-quality leather work boots, with prices ranging from $200-$350. After being successful in this market for over 30 years and developing a positive brand reputation and loyal customers, DCB has decided to broaden their line to include leather hiking boots. While these share some characteristics with work boots, the design will be slightly different and different soles will be used. They are fairly confident annual demand will be between 30,000 and 40,000 pairs in the first year, and expect a 10% growth rate in sales for the next few following years. However, in their plant in Minnesota, DCB currently has little excessive capacity. Thus, to make the new boots, DCB will either need to expand their plant, or outsource production to another boot maker. If they outsource production of the boots, they will outsource production to a firm that has the manufacturing capability to produce them in the United States, such as Red Wing or Thorogood. Once a manufacturing firm has determined capacity requirements, they then make a decision whether to produce the product itself or outsource from an outside firm. The six factors to consider when making these decisions mentioned in the textbook includes available capacity, expertise, quality considerations, the nature of demand, cost, and risks. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing verses producing in house in this scenario, by discussing how each of these six factors would be relevant in making this decision (make sure you discuss all six). Based on this discussion, state whether you think DCB should outsource production of the boots or not
Critical Path Method
The critical path is the longest succession of tasks that has to be successfully completed to conclude a project entirely. The tasks involved in the sequence are called critical activities, as any task getting delayed will result in the whole project getting delayed. To determine the time duration of a project, the critical path has to be identified. The critical path method or CPM is used by project managers to evaluate the least amount of time required to finish each task with the least amount of delay.
Cost Analysis
The entire idea of cost of production or definition of production cost is applied corresponding or we can say that it is related to investment or money cost. Money cost or investment refers to any money expenditure which the firm or supplier or producer undertakes in purchasing or hiring factor of production or factor services.
Inventory Management
Inventory management is the process or system of handling all the goods that an organization owns. In simpler terms, inventory management deals with how a company orders, stores, and uses its goods.
Project Management
Project Management is all about management and optimum utilization of the resources in the best possible manner to develop the software as per the requirement of the client. Here the Project refers to the development of software to meet the end objective of the client by providing the required product or service within a specified Period of time and ensuring high quality. This can be done by managing all the available resources. In short, it can be defined as an application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet the objective of the Project. It is the duty of a Project Manager to achieve the objective of the Project as per the specifications given by the client.
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- Down Creek Boots (DCB) is a boot manufacturer (fictitious) that focuses on making high-quality leather work boots, with prices ranging from $200-$350. After being successful in this market for over 30 years and developing a positive brand reputation and loyal customers, DCB has decided to broaden their line to include leather hiking boots. While these share some characteristics with work boots, the design will be slightly different and different soles will be used. They are fairly confident annual demand will be between 30,000 and 40,000 pairs in the first year, and expect a 10% growth rate in sales for the next few following years. However, in their plant in Minnesota, DCB currently has little excessive capacity. Thus, to make the new boots, DCB will either need to expand their plant, or outsource production to another boot maker. If they outsource production of the boots, they will outsource production to a firm that has the manufacturing capability to produce them in the United States, such as Red Wing or Thorogood.
Once a manufacturing firm has determined capacity requirements, they then make a decision whether to produce the product itself or outsource from an outside firm. The six factors to consider when making these decisions mentioned in the textbook includes available capacity, expertise, quality considerations, the nature of demand, cost, and risks. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing verses producing in house in this scenario, by discussing how each of these six factors would be relevant in making this decision (make sure you discuss all six). Based on this discussion, state whether you think DCB should outsource production of the boots or not.
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