1. Briefly describe the cookie production process. 

2. What are two ways that the company has increased productivity? Why did increasing the length of the ovens result in a faster output rate? 

3. Do you think that the company is making the right decision by not automating the packing of cookies? Explain your reasoning. What obligation does a company have to its employees in a situation such as this? What obligation does it have to the community? Is the size of the town a factor? Would it make a difference if the company was located in a large city? Is the size of the company a factor? What if it were a much larger company? 

4. What factors cause the company to carry minimal amounts of certain inventories? What benefits result from this policy? 

5. As a consumer, what things do you consider in judging the quality of cookies you buy in a supermarket? 

6. What advantages and what limitations stem from the company’s not using preservatives in cookies? 

7. Briefly describe the company’s strategy.

The company’s only product is soft cookies, of which it makes over 50 varieties. Larger companies, such as Nabisco, Sunshine, and Keebler, have traditionally produced biscuit cookies in which most of the water has been baked out, resulting in crisp cookies. The cookies have no additives or preservatives. The high quality of the cookies has enabled the company to develop a strong market niche for its product.