CaseStudy1-CadburySchweppesProductionMethod

Cadbury Schweppes is a multinational soft drink (beverages) and confectionerybusinessthatisbasedintheUK.Thebusinessisapubliclimitedcompany.Itisinvolvedinthemanufacture,marketinganddistributionofitsmanybrandedproducts.CadburySchweppes now employs over 40000 people, and its products are available in almost200countries.Thecompany'sproductscanbedivided into:

• Beverages(carbonatedsoftdrinksandnon-carbonatedsoftdrinks(watersandfruit juices)
• Confectionery(chocolateproducts,sugarproducts,chewinggum)

Much of Cadbury Schweppes' manufacturing still takes place in the UK, AustraliaandNorthAfrica.However,inthe1990sthecompanymovedsomeofitsproductiontoRussia,Poland,ArgentinaandChina,countrieswithemergingeconomies.

Tosatisfymostofitsshareholders,CadburySchweppes'hassetoutastrategytohelpachieveits objective.Thisstrategy consistsof:

• Creating strong regional positions through organic growth, acquisitions anddisposals
• Developingstrongbrandsthroughmarketing
• Expandingitsmarketingsharethroughinnovationinproductsandpackaging
• RegularlyupdatingitsproductportfolioProduction

Despitemanufacturingitsgoodsinlargequantities,CadburySchweppesusesbatchrather thanflow production methods. Thecompanymustensuretheproductsareofhighquality.Notonlyaretherestrictlaws about how foodstuff is made, but also Cadbury Schweppes would not want todamageitsreputationbyallowinginferiorproductstobesold.

Cadbury Schweppes undertakes extensive research and development (R&D) todevelopnewproductsandtofindwaysofmanufacturing existing brands moreefficiently.CadburySchweppesusestheservicesofaspecialistR&DbusinessbasedatReadingfor itsUK confectionerybusiness.

InthecasestudyitisstatedthatCadburySchweppesusesbatchproductionmethodstomakeitsproductsandthatitisimportanttheproductsareofhighquality.

Basedontheinformationprovided:

1. describethedifferencesbetweenbatchandflowproduction.
2. criticallyevaluatethereasonswhyCadburySchweppesusesbatchproductionwhenmaking chocolatebars.
3. criticallydiscusswhichofthefollowingtwoqualitycontrolmethodswouldbe better forCadbury Schweppes:
   • checkingsamplesoftheproductsaftertheyhavebeenmade
   • makingworkersresponsibleforthequalityoftheirownwork