analyse the case study using this checklist

The Issue

Identify the immediate issue$($s$)$

Determine the importance of the issue$($s$)$

Determine the urgency of the issue$($s$)$

This section should take $2$ or $3$ sentences at most.

Analysis

Identify the theories or frameworks that you will apply to the analysis of the case

Determine the causes and effects of the problems

Alternatives

Generate at least two alternatives

Determine the selection criteria

Assess the alternatives

Select preferred alternative

Action Plan

Implementation Schedule

Intermediate measures of success

Long$-$term measures of success

Consider a contingency plan

Plastco Packaging Ltd$.$ is a medium sized manufacturer of plastic bags, located on the West Coast. These bags are used in the retail sector for purposes ranging from groceries to clothing and other goods. These bags are made from a variety of types of plastic and in a variety of sizes, depending on the intended purpose. Usually, the retailer$$s name is printed on them.

There are three main phases in the bag manufacturing process:

$(1)$ producing the plastic sheeting $($produced as rolls of tubing$)$;

$(2)$ printing the retailer$$s name on the tubing; and

$(3)$ passing the rolls of tubing through bag making machines that cut and seal the tubing into bag lengths.

This case focuses on the third step of the production process, the bag making department. The department has $12$ bag making machines. Each machine operates semiautomatically but has to be manually loaded, set for the type of bag to be produced, started, monitored, and

adjusted. The machines need frequent servicing to replace the cutting knives, adjust slipping belts, and lubricate the many moving parts. These functions and major repairs, when necessary, are carried out by mechanics from the maintenance department, a separate

department reporting to the plant manager. The mechanics report machinery problems and future replacement and servicing needs to the maintenance supervisor, who reports significant problems to the plant manager. The plant manager then conveys any implications

for production of bags to the bag making supervisor.

There are six bag making machine operators, with each operator tending two machines. There are also six inspectors$/$packers$,$ who inspect the bags to ensure quality and pack them into

boxes. Defective bags are

thrown into waste bins, based on the type of plastic. They are then

melted down and remanufactured. Whenever an inspector$/$packer discovers poor quality output, she must notify the operator to correct the problem. If the inspector$/$packer deems

waste to be excessive, she is expected to report the operator to the bag making supervisor.

In addition, four utility workers handle miscellaneous tasks, such as delivering rolls of plastic

tubing and hauling boxes of finished bags to the shipping department. Tradition

ally, operators

and utility workers have always been male, while inspectors$/$packers have always been

female.

When a new operator is needed, the bag making supervisor selects one of the utility workers and assigns him to an experienced operator for on$-$the$-$job training. It takes up to six months

before a new operator is able to consistently produce an acceptable$-$

quality product without supervision, since the machines are $$finicky$$ to operate.

The length of time needed to do bag

changeovers also declines as the new operator gains experience.

The plant is unionized, and pay is based on an hourly wage.

Operators receive approximately $$28$ per hour, utility workers $$21$ per hour, and inspectors$/$packers $$14$ per hour. Overall, benefits constitute about $20$ percent of total compensation and increase with seniority$.$

The bag$-$making supervisor sees a number of problems at present.

First is the high turnover among the inspectors$/$packers$,$ as high as $100$ percent a year. Turnover among the utility workers is about one$-$third of that, and lower than that among operators, who quit or retire at the rate of about one a year.

Second, while the department usually meets the minimum

production levels, the bag$-$making supervisor believes that productivity could be much higher. He also believes there$$s a high level of waste. However, whenever he questions an operator about this, the operator either blames maintenance for doing a poor job servicing the

machines or the inspectors$/$packers for being unnecessarily fussy. It is also difficult to pinpoint specific operators for performing poor$-$quality work, since inspectors$/$packers seldom report an operator to the bag

$-$making supervisor. When one does so$,$ the operators usually accuse the inspectors$/$packer of incompetence.

All in all, there are very poor interpersonal relationships

among the operators, mechanics, and inspectors$/$packers$.$ Few members of the department appear to enjoy being at work.

Another problem is that customers are complaining about inconsistent quality in the products they receive. Sometimes the bags are of