CASE STUDY #1: Brown's Logistics - A Fumbled Inspection

It was 7:45 A.M. and the Brown's warehouse manager, Lou Groza, had arrived at work and just sat down for his ritual morning coffee and jelly donut. His desk phone started ringing. The screen on the phone let him know it was his boss, Operations Manager Earnest Byner. He picked up the phone and before he could say anything...

"Lou, I need to see you right now!"

"Yes boss." Lou replied and hung up. He knew well enough that it was urgent and opted to leave his coffee cup and jelly donut on the desk. He scrambled out the door.

"Put whatever you've got scheduled for this morning on hold!" Ernie boomed as Lou came through the door. Lou sat down.

"Bronco Mutual, our insurance carrier, just called to say that two of their reps will be here later this afternoon to inspect the warehouse. I recognize their names, Elway and Castille, from last year's unannounced inspection. Those same two tore this place apart! I don't want another report going to Mr. Shottenheimer's office that criticizes the way we handle hazardous material. Last year's report was bad enough."

Lou hesitated a moment and then said, "The warehouse is in good shape right now, minus one issue. We can't have hazardous material stored overnight."

Ernie replied "Those gas cylinders that the maintenance department brought over here a week ago? They are classified as hazardous material. They need sent out to be recharged because we are not supposed to store them in the warehouse at all. And maintenance won't take them back, they have the same problem."

Lou nodded in agreement and said "I know boss, but last month when we sent the last batch out to be recharged, our box manufacturer sent us specially-designed and labeled shipping boxes with fitted safety brackets before we shipped them. I don't have any of those boxes in stock and it will take me at least two days to get some. If we ship them today, we'll have to use regular boxes. I don't know if the carrier will accept them if they're not marked and packaged correctly."

Ernie shot back, "Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Don't get hung up on the details. Use your initiative and get the job done!"

He continued as he stood up. "When the insurance inspectors get here this afternoon, I want a clean, orderly warehouse with no hazardous material in sight"

And as he was walking out (of his own office with Lou still sitting there) he added, "What the carrier doesn't know won't hurt them." And he was gone.

It's now 8:00 A.M. and Lou is back at his desk. Confirming the old wives tale that bad things come in threes, his coffee had cooled and his jelly donut was nowhere to be found. This definitely wasn't the way to start the day.

Taking a sip of cold coffee, he scratched his head, and thought to himself, "What am I going to do now?"

PLEASE BE DETAILED and Write in 3rd Person (He, She, it, They).

1. Introduction

a. Identify the key problems and issues in the case study.

b. Formulate and include a thesis statement (also known as a problem statement) summarizing the outcome of your analysis

2. Background

a. Set the scene, briefly: background information, relevant facts, and the most important issues.

b. Demonstrate that you have researched the problems in this case study.

3. Alternatives

a. Outline possible alternatives (not necessarily all of them)

b. Explain why alternatives were rejected

c. Explain any constraints taken into consideration and the reasons why

d. Why are alternatives not possible at this time?

4. Proposed Solution

a. Provide one specific and realistic solution

b. Explain why this solution was chosen

c. Support this solution with solid evidence

d. Personal experience (anecdotes)

5. Recommendations

a. Determine and discuss specific strategies for accomplishing the proposed solution.

b. If applicable, recommend further action to resolve some of the issues

c. What should be done and who should do it?