Question: please answer the case questions throughly CASE FOR ANALYSIS Bradford Chemicals Company's Bradford Chemicals manufactures high-quality plastics and resins for use in a variety of


CASE FOR ANALYSIS Bradford Chemicals Company's Bradford Chemicals manufactures high-quality plastics and resins for use in a variety of products, from lawn orna- ments and patio furniture to automobiles. The Bradford plant located near Beatty, a town of about 45,000 in a South-eastern state, employs about 3,000 workers. It plays an important role in the local economy and, indeed, that of the entire state, which offers few well-paying factory jobs. In early 2004, Sam Henderson, plant manager of the Beatty facility, notified Governor Tom Winchell that Brad- ford was ready to announce plans for a major addition to the factory-a state-of-the-art color lab and paint shop that would enable better and faster matching of colors to customer requirements. The new shop would keep Brad- ford competitive in the fast-paced global market for plas- tics, as well as bring the Beatty plant into full compliance with updated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Plans for the new facility were largely complete. The biggest remaining task was identifying the specific loca- tion. The new color lab and paint shop would cover approximately 25 acres, requiring Bradford to purchase some additional land adjacent to its 75-acre factory cam- pus. Henderson was somewhat concerned with top man- agement's preferred site because it fell outside the current industrial zoning boundary, and, moreover, would neces- sitate destruction of several 400- to 500-year-old beech trees. The owner of the property, a nonprofit agency, was ready to sell, whereas property located on the other side of the campus might be more difficult to obtain in a timely manner. Bradford was on a tight schedule to get the proj- ect completed. If the new facility wasn't up and running in a timely manner, there was a chance the EPA could force Bradford to stop using its old process-in effect, shutting down the factory. The governor was thrilled with Bradford's decision. to build the new shop in Beatty and he urged Hender- son to immediately begin working closely with local and essential, he stressed, that the project not be bogged down state officials to circumvent any potential problems. It was or thwarted by conflict among different interest groups, the region. Governor Winchell assigned Beth Friedlander, as it was too important to the economic development of director of the Governor's Office of Economic Devel- However, Winchell was not willing to offer his commit- opment, to work closely with Henderson on the project. ment to help push through the rezoning, as he had been an enthusiastic public supporter of environmental causes. Henderson sat down to identify the various people and Following his conversation with Governor Winchell, organizations that would have an interest in the new color lab project and that would need to collaborate in order for it to proceed in a smooth and timely manner. They are as follows: Bradford Chemicals Mark Thomas, vice president of North American Op- erations. Thomas would be flying in from Bradford's Michigan headquarters to oversee land purchase and negotiations regarding the expansion. . . Sam Henderson, Beatty plant manager, who has spen his entire career at the Beatty facility, beginning on th factory floor fresh out of high school. Wayne Talbert, local union president. The union is strongly in favor of the new shop being located in Beatty because of the potential for more and higher- wage jobs.
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