Prompt:Refer to the case study (located in the Reading and Resources area of Module One), your own independent research, and the course materials to answer the following items. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

Theories and Techniques

Explain the five steps of thetheory of constraints(TOC) process. To what processes might the company in the case study apply TOC? Why would

applying TOC to these processes be advantageous?

Describe howtotal quality management(TQM) principles and tools can be used to improve quality in the latest line of products in the context of

the case study.

Data Analysis

Draw a cause-and-effectdiagramthat assesses why some of the company's supply chain partners might have struggled to implement some of the

company's newly developed materials. Summarize your findings from the diagram.

Draw a hypotheticalprocess(time-function)mapfor producing a recently released (within the past two years) product manufactured by the

company. As an operations manager, how will you use the value map? Be sure to include your process map within your case study analysis.

Considering the data and options below, determine where the company should locate its new manufacturing plant. Explain why this would be

the favorable location.

Factor

Political Risk Transportation Costs Labor Productivity Rental Costs Labor Costs Taxes

Weight Mexico City

.25 70 .20 40 .20 85 .15 90 .10 80 .10 90

Columbia, SC

80 90 75 55 50 50