CASE:

The first Gantt chart (from part 1) was presented to the Board of Directors and the feedback given was the timeline is too long. The NPD team needs to find a way to deliver the product in 6 months or less without increasing costs.

Then disaster struck. The customer rejected the manufacturing sample.

The customer provided this comment: "the manufacturing sample provided sounds nothing like the R&D samples".The manufacturing sample was returned promptly. Upon investigation it was discovered that some wires were reversed inside the speaker cabinet and therefore the speakers were "out of phase". This could have been easily avoided. Manufacturing plugged the wires into the round sockets in the correct order and expedited the new samples to the customer.

The samples were received the next day by their customer, but unfortunately the customer's test schedule was booked solid with other competitor products. It would take a full three weeks to get a response from the customer.

During a short NPD team meeting it was determined that a new Gantt chart would need to be created based on the rejected sample and the extended timeline. Due to the gravity of the situation, you are given two days to submit the new chart. However, you are very concerned because the timeline is now much further beyond the 6 months stipulated by the Board of Directors. So, in addition to the new Gantt chart, you also complete a flowchart to dig deeper into the process (see Flow Chart Blank file AS1.2-HO1). You submit both the new Gantt Chart and process flowchart to your boss for his opinion.

Assignment steps

1. Read the case and summarize the situation.

2. Complete a Gantt chart based on the delay caused by the rejected sample.

3. Confirm how many months it will take to complete the project. Assume 4 weeks per month.

4. Describe the potential impact on the company as a result of the rejected samples.