Drake Radio

The control module contained a microprocessor chip that monitored the operations of all of the other modules. If one of the modules stopped functioning correctly, the control module would activate a warning light on the front panel that indicated which module was not working properly. The owner could pull out the appropriate module and replace it with a new module from a nearby Drake dealership. If a Drake dealership was not close, Drake promised two-day, COD delivery. The malfunctioning module could even be sent to Drake or given to a Drake dealership to be repaired or for a refund. All of the modules, except the FM tuner, were manufactured by Drake and stored until they were needed. Annual carrying cost was estimated to be 25 percent for all modules. The FM tuner modules were supplied by Collins Electronics, which also adjusted and sealed them. The cost to place an order was estimated at $50 per order, and the time to receive an order from Collins was approximately two weeks. Collins also offered quantity discounts on its FM tuners. (See Table 1). Nitobitso Electronics also manufactured FM tuners compatible with the DRZOOO. Because of its location in Japan, the time to receive an order was about two months, and the ordering cost was $100 because of the additional required paperwork. (See Table 2.) TABLE 1 Quantity dlxmunt lrom ('01le on FM tuner, Quantity Price [LIMP 525 Ill-HASH\" l4 SUI and ovcr Figure 1 I Ianuary l Februaryl March I April I 801 807 795 797 Drake Radio Drake Radio got its start during World War I by manufacturing radio communications equipment for the military. By the start of World War II, Drake was one of the largest suppliers of military communications equipment. After World War II, Drake diversified into the following three market areas: .Military communications equipment .Amateur radio equipment -CB radios and equipment Using its technology and experience gained from manufacturing military communications equipment, Drake became known as one of the best producers of amateur radio equipment. Drake especially excelled with its single sideband radios and its two-meter radios for amateur use. Although these radios were expensive, they were of the finest quality and always in demand. In developing CB radios, however, Drake decided to mass produce cheap units that would have a wide appeal and a low price. To help protect its good name in military communications equipment and amateur (ham) radios, these inexpensive CB radios were marketed under the brand name of Husen One of the biggest selling features of the DR 2000 was its ability to use the DRZOOO RC, the remote control device for the stereo receiver. Because all of the switching and components were solid state, the engineers of Drake Electronics were able to develop a complete remote control station that was no bigger than a cigarette pack. The basic idea for the remote control device was borrowed from that of television, and Drake engineers were able to control all functions by the DR- 2000 RC. Each remote control box cost $75, and many people purchased more than one unit. The ability to control the stereo system from literally anywhere in a house was one of the system's biggest selling features, but it also caused some problems in homes with children. As a result, Drake developed a master control unit that parents could keep and that would override all other remote control units and the controls on the stereo receiver. Another outstanding feature of the DR2000 was its completely modular design, shown in Figure 2. Each module was contained in a completely separate, color coded box. By unlatching four hidden slides, the top of the cabinet could be removed, giving access to all of the modules. In 1975, George Populas, the president of Drake Electronics, decided to investigate the possibilities of entering into the market of home stereo systems. These stereo systems would be high quality, highly priced, and marketed with the Drake name. The most remarkable stereo system that Drake manufactured was the DR2000, which was a sophisticated stereo receiver. The demand for the DR-2000 was fairly constant from month to month. (See Figure 1.) The DR2000 had all the features of a stereo receiver that carried a price tag of $765. Some of these features included the ability to connect four different speaker systems, loudness control, flatness control, blend control, and complete digital read out. Of course, it could be connected to one or more receivers, tape units, turntables, and so on. Instead of having a bass control to regulate the low frequencies and a treble control to regulate the high frequencies, the DR2000 had five separate controls that regulated five frequency ranges. One control regulated frequencies from 0 to 500 Hz, another control regulated frequencies from 500 to 5,000 Hz; a third regulated the frequencies between 5,000 to 10,000 Hz; a fourth regulated frequencies between 10,000 to 15,000 Hz; and a fifth, the frequencies between 15,000 and 50,000 Hz. Table 2 This is different. TABLE 2 Quantity discount from Nitobitso on FM tuners Quantity Price 0-200 $25 201-800 23 801-2,000 22 2,001 or more 21 Figure 2 Power Supply Preamplifier Phono Preamplifier Left Right Amplifier Control Amplifier AM AM IF Multiplexer RF FM FM IF Output Tuner 1. What is the reorder point for Collins and Nitobitso? 2. Would you recommend that Drake get FM tuners from Nitobitso? Explain your answer 3. Everything else being equal, which supplier of FM tuners would you want with a fluctuating demand