Advanced Intelligent Devices (AID) is a manufacturer of microprocessors for a variety of video game consoles. Their clients include Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. AID is rolling out its latest family of microprocessors which will be used in the next generation of video game consoles. This current family of microprocessors have been designed (and marketed) as ultra-low power consumption devices while also providing a 50% improvement in processing capability over the previous generation. AID has used a new and innovative manufacturing process that enabled its engineers to pack more processor cores onto a single chip while providing excellent thermal management to keep the unit cool under maximum operating conditions. If it all goes well, this new microprocessor will be a turning point for the company. The company has been slowly edging its way up the crowded semiconductor market and is quickly closing the gap on its main rival.

The first batch of the processors are due for customer delivery soon and top management’s nerves are high. Their main manufacturing facility in Edwardsville, IL have been collecting data of the first batch of finished processors. The Edwardsville facility’s throughput is 15,000 processors per day, provided the assembly lines are operating under normal conditions. Their quality engineers draw 30 random samples per day to test processor speeds, to ensure that minimum expected benchmark levels are met. For each sample, 100 processors are randomly pulled from the assembly line and their speeds are measured. If the benchmark is met, that processor’s test results are marked as “Pass”; if not, the results are marked as “Fail” for that processor. The results of the first day of testing are included in the “Processor Speed Test” worksheet of the attached Excel document.

Additionally, adequate thermal management is a main concern for AID’s customers, who want their game consoles to smoothly play the next generation of video games without overheating. The current customer contracts have been bought with the lure of both excellent processing capability and consistent thermal management. To ensure that peak processor temperatures do not exceed set operating temperature levels, AID’s engineers have designed the processor’s max temperature 5.5 degrees less than the set operating temperature (which is specified in the customer contracts). This 5.5-degree temperature zone is internally referred to as the “Twilight Zone”. Due to the highly innovative nature of the new manufacturing process and the fact that this is a new family of microprocessors with no historic data to fall back on, AID’s engineers are betting on the Twilight Zone to keep maximum operating temperatures in check. The “Twilight Zone Temperatures” worksheet in the attached Excel document lists a random sample of the Twilight Zone temperatures from the first completed batch of processors, obtained by running the samples at maximum speeds.

Writing the Memo

The purpose of the assignment is to allow you to practice three course learning goals. First, you will need to identify the business problem outlined in the case, including the objective of the analysis and data you will use in your analysis. Then, you will identify and apply the appropriate analytical technique. Finally, you will communicate your analysis and results in a professional manner, recognizing the needs of the audience.

The attached memo describes the specific issues to be addressed. This document discusses the memo format and requirements.

For the memo, you will assume the role of a consultant for Cougar Consulting. Mr. Matteo Guendouzi, the Manager for Quality Assurance at AID has shared with you the data from the samples collected and has asked you to analyze it and provide him feedback on some concerns he’s been having on the manufacturing process (the questions are included in the memo that follows).

Your memo should be addressed to Mr. Guendouzi as the audience for your work, using a standard memo format. The format of the attached memo can serve as a guide. You may also want to consult a style manual like the Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers. (I will also supply you with some web links on formatting memos) Your memo should not exceed three pages (not including attachments).

One note about the audience, you should not assume that the recipient of the memo has taken MBA 521. This means that you should not assume he/she is familiar with technical terminology and the methods we use in the course. This means that you must present your work and explain it in layman’s terms.

Organizing the Memo

Your memo should include a beginning, middle and end. The beginning section of the memo should serve as an opening summary of the contents of your memo. It should be clear and concise and lay out the goal of the analysis that is presented in the memo. The main purpose of the opening is to allow the manager, in this case Mr. Guendouzi, to make a quick scan and determine the subject of the memo.

The middle section of the memo should describe the current situation, the data used in the analysis, the method of analysis, the model used to analyze the questions and the results that were found. The discussion of the current situation should be brief, providing a context for the analysis, but not rehashing a lot of the information that the audience for the memo would already know. (For example, in the case you do not need to include the entire history of the business.) In describing the data, you should indicate which data you used and why you used it (and why you did not use some of the data), and where you obtained the data. The description of the analytical method used should discuss, in lay terms, what the method does and why it is appropriate for the current analysis. In discussing your analysis you should indicate any assumptions you made and why you made them. The middle section of the memo will probably consist of several paragraphs in order to clearly and systematically present your work. This section should also make clear references to your attachments so that the reader knows where to look to view your calculations.

In the final section of the memo you will need to interpret the results of your analysis and provide a recommendation based on your analysis. In providing your recommendation, you should also indicate any shortcomings of the analysis and the benefits and risks, quantitative and qualitative, associated with implementing your recommendation. You should also identify alternative or additional courses of action the reader might take based on your evaluation of the results.

Attachments

Your memo should also include attachments that support your analysis and results. Your attachments might include examples of calculations, graphs and tables. Each attachment should be numbered and have a title and be referred to by number in the text of your memo.

Five additional notes:

• • Descriptive headings should be used to separate sections of your memo.
• • The attachments showing your analysis must be word-processed.
• • Do not include duplicates of exhibits included in the case as memo attachments.
• • Do not include raw computer output as attachments.
• • Number your attachments and refer to the attachments by number in your analysis.
• • Do not attach a cover page to the report.

Checking Your Work

In order to present your work in a professional manner, you should make a final check using the following checklist.

1. The project contains all of the required parts.

2. The memo does not exceed three pages.

3. The memo is typed in an easy-to-read font (no smaller than 12 pt.), using a standard memo format, single-spaced (double-spaced between paragraphs), with page numbers, appropriate margins, etc.

4. The entire project is professional looking: the analysis is neatly and clearly presented, and graphs follow proper format.

5. The entire project has been carefully proofread and contains no fatal errors.