Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof.

Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

To: Prof. Roger Kisiel
From: Waqas Sher Zaman
Date: September 26, 2014
Subject: Custom Mold Inc.
Introduction: Custom Molds, Inc. was founded by father-and-son-team of Tom and Mason Miller in
1987 in Tucson, Arizona. The company business activities involve the manufacturing of custom
design molds for plastic parts and production of custom made plastic connector for electronic
industry. The company main focus in the beginning was to provide high quality custom design molds
but after making strong brand reputation in the designing and fabrication of precision molds the
company decided to expand its business activities to manufacturing of plastic parts. However in the
early 2009 Custom Mold Inc., faced a lot of problems which included changing strategies within the
clients business lead to change in order needs in an unexpected way, decline in demand for multiple
nods, longer delivery time then the promised times, increase in defective products and bottlenecks in
production process.
Analysis: The major issues which are being faced by Tom and Mason miller are which included
changing strategies within the clients business lead to change in order needs in an unexpected way,
decline in demand for multiple nods, increase in demand of plastic products, longer delivery time then
the promised times, increase in defective products and bottlenecks in production process. Due to the
change in the strategies that lead to decrease in the demand of multiple nods, electronic manufacturers
which were trying to make strategic partnerships with their supplier to ensure the timely delivery of
high quality at lower cost which allowed the additional fund to be used for other purposes that could
provide more return on investments. Increase in plastic products demand became an issue for Custom
Molds Inc., because it has basically focusing more on the production of custom molds and because of
extra orders and work load they may have to change the layout of the production plant to meet the
increasing demands. Furthermore, Custom Mold Inc., faced a lot of complains about longer delivery
times for the supply of products and defective products due the bottlenecks in the production process
and until now the company has not been able to identify the causes of these bottlenecks.
In this ever changing business environment, the competitive priorities of any organization production
and manufacturing process should be high quality products, lesser and effective lead time for delivery
of products, low production and manufacturing cost and flexibility in production and manufacturing
process. (Hayes and Wheelwright, 1984). As the competitive priorities for Custom Mold Inc., was
also the quality, lead time, low manufacturing cost and flexibility which was previously achieved by
manufacturing their own but due to change in trend that made manufacturers to develop strategic
relationships with the supplier to ensure the timely delivery of high quality at lower cost which
allowed the additional fund to be used for other purposes that could provide more return on
investments. Therefore, Custom Mold Inc. should adapt to this new trend to maintain its competitive
priorities.
Conclusion: The Millers should change the entire production process and come out with a new plan
that is more effective and efficient and will wipe out their current problems for the production of
Molds and Parts. They can also consider closing down the Molds production and can focus more on
the production of plastic parts to ensure production efficiency, competitiveness and more profits.
Expansion of their business can also be done by the construction of new factory with new machines
and equipment's to achieve maximum production efficiency and less lead times. Furthermore, strong
relationships with customers and supplier are to me made. While evaluating these alternatives, the key
factors which they should consider are the cost, quality, efficiency, reliability and percentage of
success.

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

References
Hayes, R., & Wheelright, S. (1984). Restoring Our Competitive Edge: Competing
Through Manufacturing (1st ed.). Newyork: John Wiley and Sons.
Teece, D. J., Pisano, G. and Shuen, A. (1997), Dynamic capabilities and strategic
management, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 18, No. 7, pp. 509-533.

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

APPENDIX-A
Flowchart of Custom Mold's operations

Mold Fabrication Process

Receive
Order

Design
Specifications

Purchasing

Mold
Fabrication

Inspection/
Testing on
Injection
Machine

Yes

Acceptable?

Cleaning/
Polishing

No

Packing/
Shipping

Scheduling

Receive
Order

Parts Manufacturing Process

Design
Review

Questions?

Purchasing

No

Dry Mix

Wet Mix

Holding Tank

Injection Machines

Yes

Contact
Customer

Cut & Trim

Need Assembly?
Yes

Assembly

No

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

APPENDIX-B
5-Step Critical Thinking Decision-Making Process Matrix
Step 1: Identify the problem(s) and uncertainties.
What exactly is the problem
The major issues which are being faced by Tom and Mason miller are which included changing
strategies within the clients business lead to change in order needs in an unexpected way, decline in
demand for multiple nods, increase in demand of plastic products, longer delivery time then the
promised times, increase in defective products and bottlenecks in production process.

The problem is this

The major issues which are being faced by Tom and Mason miller are which included changing
strategies within the clients business lead to change in order needs in an unexpected way, decline in
demand for multiple nods, increase in demand of plastic products, longer delivery time then the
promised times, increase in defective products and bottlenecks in production process.

This is an important problem because

This is an important problem because it has effected the Custom Molds Inc. in the following
way
1. Reduction of orders
2. Reduction of profits
3. Reduction in the quality of the products
4. Increase lead time
5. Increasing customer complaints
6. Loss of competitive priority compared with other competitors
The key question(s) that needs to be answered to solve this problem is
What can be done to overcome the following problems
1. Reduction of orders
2. Reduction of profits
3. Reduction in the quality of the products
4. Increase lead time
5. Increasing customer complaints
6. Loss of competitive priority compared with other competitors

Step 2: Obtain information.

The following information is needed to answer this question
1. What reason has lead to increase in reduction
2. Why the profits have reduced

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

3.
4.
5.
6.

Why the quality of the products have reduced

Why the lead time has increased
What are the reasons for increasing customer complaints
What are the reasons for the loss of competitive priorities

Some important assumptions I am using in my thinking are

Due to the change in the strategies that lead to decrease in the demand of multiple nods, electronic
manufacturers which were trying to make strategic partnerships with their supplier to ensure the
timely delivery of high quality at lower cost which allowed the additional fund to be used for other
purposes that could provide more return on investments.

The points of view relevant to this problem belong to

1. Shareholders
2. Employees
3. Customers
4. Suppliers
Note: Remember to view the information you have obtained for potential bias. This is from
the perspective of your own bias to the research and the bias of the authors who compiled the
data and the research you gathered. In other words, do not discount the importance of others
data because of your own bias(is).

Step 3: Make predictions about the future.

If this problem gets solved, some important implications are
1. Increase in production efficiency
2. Increase in orders
3. Increase in profits
4. Increase in the quality of the products
5. Decrease in lead time
6. Less customer complaints
7. Gaining competitive priority

If this problem does not get solved, some important implications are
1. Reduction of orders
2. Reduction of profits
3. Reduction in the quality of the products
4. Increase lead time
5. Increasing customer complaints
6. Loss of competitive priority compared with other competitors

The potential alternative solutions to solve the problem are

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014
The Millers should change the entire production process and come out with a new plan that is more
effective and efficient and will wipe out their current problems for the production of Molds and Parts.
They can also consider closing down the Molds production and can focus more on the production of
plastic parts to ensure production efficiency, competitiveness and more profits. Expansion of their
business can also be done by the construction of new factory with new machines and equipments to
achieve maximum production efficiency and less lead times. Furthermore, strong relationships with
customers and supplier are to me made. While evaluating these alternatives, the key factor which they
should consider are the cost, quality, efficiency, reliability and percentage of success.

Note: if the problem is one-dimensional, there may be just one correct solution.

Step 4: Make decisions by choosing among alternatives.

What is the best solution and why
The Millers should change the entire production process and come out with a new plan that is more
effective and efficient and will wipe out their current problems for the production of Molds and Parts.

Step 5: Implement the decision, evaluate performance, and learn.

In business, the fifth step in the decision making process is implementation. In the MBA
program, most times you will end with Step 4 since you will not have the opportunity to
implement. You may be asked to develop an implementation plan and recommend how you
will evaluate performance in some assignments.

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

APPENDIX-C
Brief 2 Rubric
Total 65 points

Criteria

Develops an
opening
paragraph that
introduces the
case.

Unacceptable

Vaguely develops
an opening
paragraph that
introduces the
case or does not
have an opening
paragraph.

Acceptable

Proficient

Develops an
opening paragraph
that introduces the
case and, for the
most part, fulfills
assignment
requirements.

Develops an
opening paragraph
that introduces the
case and
demonstrates solid
ability to
accomplish the
assignment.

(4 points)
Analyzes the major
issues facing the
company and, for
the most part, fulfills
assignment
requirements.

(5 points)
Analyzes the major
issues facing the
company and
demonstrates solid
ability to
accomplish the
assignment.

(0-3 points)
Analyzes the
major issues
facing the
company.

Vaguely analyzes
the major issues
facing the
company or
completely off
the topic.

(8 points)
(0-7 points)
Analyzes the
Vaguely analyzes
competitive
the competitive
priorities for
priorities for
Custom Molds
Custom Molds
processes and the processes and the
changing nature
changing nature
of the industry.
of the industry or
completely off
the topic.
(0-7 points)

(9-10 points)
Analyzes the
Analyzes the
competitive
competitive
priorities for Custom priorities for
Molds processes
Custom Molds
and the changing
processes and the
nature of the
changing nature of
industry and, for the the industry and
most part, fulfills
demonstrates solid
assignment
ability to
requirements.
accomplish the
assignment.
(8 points)
(9-10 points)

Student
Score and
Comments

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

Recommends
alternative
approaches that
could be pursued
and the factors
that should be
considered when
evaluating the
alternatives.

Vaguely
recommends
alternative
approaches that
could be pursued
and the factors
that should be
considered when
evaluating the
alternatives or
completely off
the topic.

Recommends
alternative
approaches that
could be pursued
and the factors that
should be
considered when
evaluating the
alternatives and, for
the most part, fulfills
assignment
requirements.

Recommends
alternative
approaches that
could be pursued
and the factors that
should be
considered when
evaluating the
alternatives and
demonstrates solid
ability to
accomplish the
assignment.

(0-7 points)
(8 points)
Creates a
flowchart that
represents the
operations of
Custom Mold.

Integrates
established
operation
management
principles into the
discussion.

Vaguely creates a
flowchart that
represents the
operations of
Custom Mold or
completely off
the topic.

Creates a flowchart
that represents the
operations of
Custom Mold and,
for the most part,
fulfills assignment
requirements.

(0-3 points)

(4 points)

Rarely integrates
established
operation
management
principles into
the discussion.

For the most part,

does a good job of
integrating
established
operation
management
principles into the
discussion.

(0-3 points)
Synthesizes
relevant
information and
materials to
provide evidence
of critical
thought.

Synthesizes
information at a
minimal level.

(9-10 points)
Creates a flowchart
that represents the
operations of
Custom Mold and
demonstrates solid
ability to
accomplish the
assignment.
(5 points)
Consistently does a
good job of
integrating
established
operation
management
principles into the
discussion.
(5 points)

(4 points)
For the most part,
effectively
synthesizes
information, which
supports main ideas.

(0-3 points)

Consistently and
effectively
synthesizes
information, which
provides strong
support to main
ideas.
(5 points)

(4 points)

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014

Develops ideas
with clarity and
logic.

Uses supporting
documentation
that has been
properly
references and
cited.

Demonstrates
little clarity and
logic. Readers
have difficulty
following the line
of reasoning.

Develops ideas with

clarity and logic.
Readers can
generally follow the
line of reasoning.

(0-3 points)

(4 points)

Inadequate or
minimal use of
supporting
documentation
or not properly
referenced or
cited.

For the most part,

uses supporting
documentation that
is properly
referenced and
cited.

Develops ideas
with clarity and
logic. Ideas flow
smoothly from one
to another and are
clearly linked to
each other.
(5 points)
Consistently uses
supporting
documentation
that is properly
referenced and
cited.

(0-3 points)
Considered
holistically,
demonstrates the
ability to write at
the graduate
level.

(4 points)
Considered
Considered
holistically, the
holistically, the
student
student
demonstrates an demonstrates an
inadequate ability acceptable ability to
to write at the
write at the
graduate level.
graduate level.

(5 points)
Considered
holistically, the
student
demonstrates a
proficient ability to
write at the
graduate level.

(0-3 points)

(5 points)
(4 points)
SubTotal Points

Turnitin.com

Did not turn paper

into Turnitin.com

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Minus 10 points
Revisions based on
the originality
Report

Did not revise

paper based on the
originality report
Minus 10 points

Grammarly

Did not revise

paper based on
Grammarly.

Waqas Sher Zaman, Assignment: Brief 2, MBA 731-01(F14), Prof. Roger Kisiel, September 26, 2014
Minus 10 points
Total Points =