The End of Lean?: Automobile Manufacturers Are Rethinking Some Supply Chain Basics

by Chuck Munson

Overview

This case study shows how automobile manufacturers are reconsidering some "lean" approaches in the wake of events that have stretched supply chains beyond their limits. It focuses on two disasters: the devastating earthquake and tsunami that took place in Japan in March 2011 and an explosion in early 2012 at a key German chemical plant that produced a special type of resin used in fuel lines. Because many automotive companies had studiously eliminated redundant suppliers to reduce complexity and costs, suddenly there was no backup plan--risking potential model shortages and idle assembly lines. Focusing on realistic issues, this case study offers exceptional value to both students and practitioners. Authors: Erika Marsillac, Old Dominion University; Tom McNamara, ESC-Rennes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780133758405
Publisher:	Pearson Education
Publication date:	09/11/2013
Series:	Pearson Cases in Supply Chain Management and Analytics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	5
File size:	195 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Chuck Munson is a tenured Full Professor of Operations Management at Washington State University. His Ph.D. and MSBA in operations management, as well as his BSBA summa cum laude in finance, are from Washington University in St. Louis. He also worked for three years as a financial analyst for Contel Telephone Corporation. For two years, he served as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in Business at Washington State.

Munson serves as a senior editor for Production and Operations Management, and he serves on the editorial review board of four other journals. He has published more than 20 articles in multiple journals, including Production and Operations Management, Decision Sciences, Naval Research Logistics, IIE Transactions, European Journal of Operational Research, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Annals of Operations Research, European Journal of Information Systems, Interfaces, Business Horizons, and International Journal of Procurement Management. His major awards include being a Founding Board Member of the Washington State University President’s Teaching Academy (2004); winning the WSU College of Business Outstanding Service Award (2009 and 2013), Research Award (2004), and Teaching Award (2001); and being named the WSU MBA Professor of the Year (2000 and 2008).