Read the case study and prepare a presentation based on the following: - Summery of the Company and its business operation - Problem faced by the company - Solutions of the problem This is a group activity. This is a group task. Your presentation should be max for 15 minutes. Saturn Corporation was formed as a wholly owned aubsidiary of General Motors. Setam's initial mission was to "market vehicles developed and manufacturte in the United Srates that are world leaders in quality, cost, and cuatomer satisfaction through the integration of people, technology, and business pyotems. " The mission was given substance when construction began on the prodoction facilities in middle Ternesee After an exiensive and very highly poblicized iearch for a suitable location for the plant was conducted, Spring Hill. Tennessec, was chosen. The proximity to large numbers of potential cusiomers and the relative abundance of transportation options appear to have significantly indluenced the lhation decision. Spring Hill is located fast 30 miles wouth of Nativilie and within 600 miles of approximalely eo perceat of the nation's population. The site is located minutes from interiate 65 and is accessible to Interatates 49 and 24 . Rail netvice to and frem the site is provided by a fall ipur coestructed by CSx. Operations The 43 imilion square foot Spring Hill ptodection comples is matagod as an integrated yystem frum the surce of raw tratrials to the final castanier, The intent is traly to have castoner heds and devito Afive the entire Saturn operation The fiphly vutedmated ananafacturing and asacinbly comples consints of three maint clades the stamping pland, lrody fabricatoon, and the paint shop. In the final yerration. gines and transmissions are prodiced on-site. 1he second operation, body systems, includes the stamping plant, body fabrication, and the paint shop. In the final operation, vehicle systems, cars are assembled, tested, and prepared for shipping. The vehicle systems facility is strategically located between the powertrain plant and the body systems plant to improve material flow. The just-in-time method of inventory control is employed in order to minimize in-plant and in-transit inventory. As a result, Saturn relies primarily on truck transportation and an excellent highway system to reduce order cycle times and inventory costs and to keep materials and components arriving only when needed. When a new Saturn exits vehicle systems, it is inspected and staged for loading either in the truck or rail loading area. Since each vehicle is produced to fill a specific customer or retailer order, the final destination is known before the vehicle reaches the transportation staging area. Another highly innovative aspect of the Saturn corporate philosophy concerns the final link with the customer-the automobile dealer. The Saturn retail strategy is called the Market Area Approach. Saturn "dealers" are referred to as "retailers." Each retailer has a well-defined market area. Inventory is typically much lower than for other popular brands. This is due, in part, to consistently strong demand and to Saturn's integrated information exchange system that gives the retailer instant access to production sch uling information that can be very helpful in completing a customer order and/or h. dling a customer inquiry concerning delivery dates. While retailers are not ghv specific delivery dates, they are given the scheduled date of production for each vehi that is ordered. Retail prices are set by Saturn, not by the retailers. In effect, it is a "no haggl one-price policy. Every customer is treated the same and pays the same price for ide tically equipped vehicles. Saturn customers appear to prefer this low-pressure sellin situation. They also appreciate the special attention that is given to the first-time Sa urn buyer. When a first-time buyer picks up their new vehicle, a picture is taken, an the entire sales staff is on hand to wish the new owner well. Not the type of treatme: that U.S. car buyers ane accustomed to receiving at traditional dealerships! Saturn's success is dependent on meeting and exceeding customer expectations o an ongoing basis, given the intense competition between brands in the small-car max ket. There is evidence that the company is up to the task. Regular surveys of Satur owners consistently indicate that they would "enthusastically recommend the pur chase of a Saturn" to other potential buyerx. Saturn ako excels in the annual J.D Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index, the automobile industry's bench markisurvey. Business Situation Saturn's logistici system is viewed is a critical component in the overall success of the organixation. The sxstemis supply chain management capabilities are fundamental to the company's ability to operate a just-in-tins mamafacturing system. The logiatics syotern focises on three primary activities-anbeaud material fow finiuhat whicle transportation and service sponsibilaty of the dirktor Organcation is managral as Read the case study and prepare a presentation based on the following: - Summery of the Company and its business operation - Problem faced by the company - Solutions of the problem This is a group activity. This is a group task. Your presentation should be max for 15 minutes. Saturn Corporation was formed as a wholly owned aubsidiary of General Motors. Setam's initial mission was to "market vehicles developed and manufacturte in the United Srates that are world leaders in quality, cost, and cuatomer satisfaction through the integration of people, technology, and business pyotems. " The mission was given substance when construction began on the prodoction facilities in middle Ternesee After an exiensive and very highly poblicized iearch for a suitable location for the plant was conducted, Spring Hill. Tennessec, was chosen. The proximity to large numbers of potential cusiomers and the relative abundance of transportation options appear to have significantly indluenced the lhation decision. Spring Hill is located fast 30 miles wouth of Nativilie and within 600 miles of approximalely eo perceat of the nation's population. The site is located minutes from interiate 65 and is accessible to Interatates 49 and 24 . Rail netvice to and frem the site is provided by a fall ipur coestructed by CSx. Operations The 43 imilion square foot Spring Hill ptodection comples is matagod as an integrated yystem frum the surce of raw tratrials to the final castanier, The intent is traly to have castoner heds and devito Afive the entire Saturn operation The fiphly vutedmated ananafacturing and asacinbly comples consints of three maint clades the stamping pland, lrody fabricatoon, and the paint shop. In the final yerration. gines and transmissions are prodiced on-site. 1he second operation, body systems, includes the stamping plant, body fabrication, and the paint shop. In the final operation, vehicle systems, cars are assembled, tested, and prepared for shipping. The vehicle systems facility is strategically located between the powertrain plant and the body systems plant to improve material flow. The just-in-time method of inventory control is employed in order to minimize in-plant and in-transit inventory. As a result, Saturn relies primarily on truck transportation and an excellent highway system to reduce order cycle times and inventory costs and to keep materials and components arriving only when needed. When a new Saturn exits vehicle systems, it is inspected and staged for loading either in the truck or rail loading area. Since each vehicle is produced to fill a specific customer or retailer order, the final destination is known before the vehicle reaches the transportation staging area. Another highly innovative aspect of the Saturn corporate philosophy concerns the final link with the customer-the automobile dealer. The Saturn retail strategy is called the Market Area Approach. Saturn "dealers" are referred to as "retailers." Each retailer has a well-defined market area. Inventory is typically much lower than for other popular brands. This is due, in part, to consistently strong demand and to Saturn's integrated information exchange system that gives the retailer instant access to production sch uling information that can be very helpful in completing a customer order and/or h. dling a customer inquiry concerning delivery dates. While retailers are not ghv specific delivery dates, they are given the scheduled date of production for each vehi that is ordered. Retail prices are set by Saturn, not by the retailers. In effect, it is a "no haggl one-price policy. Every customer is treated the same and pays the same price for ide tically equipped vehicles. Saturn customers appear to prefer this low-pressure sellin situation. They also appreciate the special attention that is given to the first-time Sa urn buyer. When a first-time buyer picks up their new vehicle, a picture is taken, an the entire sales staff is on hand to wish the new owner well. Not the type of treatme: that U.S. car buyers ane accustomed to receiving at traditional dealerships! Saturn's success is dependent on meeting and exceeding customer expectations o an ongoing basis, given the intense competition between brands in the small-car max ket. There is evidence that the company is up to the task. Regular surveys of Satur owners consistently indicate that they would "enthusastically recommend the pur chase of a Saturn" to other potential buyerx. Saturn ako excels in the annual J.D Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index, the automobile industry's bench markisurvey. Business Situation Saturn's logistici system is viewed is a critical component in the overall success of the organixation. The sxstemis supply chain management capabilities are fundamental to the company's ability to operate a just-in-tins mamafacturing system. The logiatics syotern focises on three primary activities-anbeaud material fow finiuhat whicle transportation and service sponsibilaty of the dirktor Organcation is managral as