recominend.

$24.$ A food processing company has large tanks that are cleaned daily. Cleaning includes the use of packaged detergents, which dissolve in a solution inside the tanks. The company purchases detergent packages with a fill$-$weight specification of $12\mathrm{.}00+-0\mathrm{.}08oz.$

A supplier representative claims that his company uses statistical process control and will promise an inherent process capability of $0\mathrm{.}20$ oz $.$ for the fill$-$weight specification. The

Operations Management, Seventh Edition

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Customer$-$Serving Processes

brochure says nothing else about the process except that the advertised weight of the detergent packages is $12$ oz $.$

a$.$ Should the food processor buy detergent from this supplier? Why or why not?

b$.$ If the supplier had control chart evidence that its fill$-$weight process was in fact centered at $12\mathrm{.}00$ oz $.$ and was in a state of statistical control, how would your answer to question a change? Does all output meet specs?

c$.$ Suppose the supplier is a reliable provider of other products and can reasonably be expected to improve the detergent$-$packaging process. What advice would you offer to the food processor on seeking alternate suppliers? What advice would you offer the supplier regarding the relationship with the food processor?