Washburn Guitars produces a wide variety of acoustic and electric guitars with annual sales of 50,000 guitars totaling $40 million in revenues. Washburn is a Chicago-based company that has been in business for over 123 years. Its workforce consists of craftsmen who love music, play music, and value the craft and design of each guitar. The tone of a guitar comes from the porosity of its wood. Guitar bodies are made from mahogany, alder, poplar, and swamp ash. The necks are made of mahogany and maple. It takes five board feet to make a body and three board feet to make a neck.

1. Using the concepts of focus, magnitude of change, and number of production processes, discuss Washburn’s manufacturing conversion process.
2. How would you describe Dan Donegan’s role in the production process that produced his signature guitar?
3. What form of plant layout does Washburn employ in the manufacture of its guitars?