In this assignment, you will complete the Case Study from Chapter 10 in the textbook entitled Leadership, Benchmarking, and Operations Management Planning at Fox 40 International Inc. Format: MS Word or Google Doc 12 Font Double Spaced 3-4 pages in length (not including Title Page or References) Review the case study on page 394 of Chapter 10 in your textbook. Your report should be structured as: I. Introduction II. Question 1: Leadership Ideas and Front Line Interactions III. Question 2: Comparison of Product Offerings IV. Question 3: Justification for Relocation V. Conclusion VI. References Your report should be supported through APA (in-text citations and references) throughout. Apart from the textbook, please use a minimum of 4 additional external academic sources to support your academic work
RUNNING CASE Leadership, Benchmarking, and Operations Management Planning at Fox 40 International Inc. For successful Canadian entrepreneur and inventor Its product mix includes 19 Whistles Styles (e.g., Fox Ron Foxcroft, it all started in 1982 when he purchased 40 electronic whistle); Lanyards & Attachments (e.g.. Fluke Transport, a Southern Ontario trucking busi- flex coils); additional brands that include Fox 40 Gear; ness. The company slogan-If It's On Time ... It's SmartCoach Coaching Boards; SICK Self Impression A "FLUKE"Was soon recognized throughout North Custom Kit, and Heat Alert Mouthguards; Marine America. Over the years, Ron diversified into new & Outdoor Products (e.g., Xplorer LED Light); Pink ventures and the Foxcroft Group of Companies now Products; and Logo Imprinted Products. includes Fluke Transportation Group, Fluke Warehous- Leadership at Fox 40 is very much a reflection Leadership ing Inc., Foxcroft Capital Corp., Fox 40 International of the vision of the company's founder and CEO, Inc., and Fox 40 USA Inc. Ron Foxcroft, along with Dave Foxcroft, President The formation of Fox 40 International Inc. (Fox and COO. Over the past 25 years of growth, Ron and 40) is the result of a dream for a pealess whistle. When Dave continue to appreciate that success is very much developing his first whistle, Ron was motivated by his related to both customers and employees. The impor- knowledge and experience as an international basket- tance of satisfying customer needs is central to all they ball referee. Frustrated with faulty pea whistles, he do. As Ron states, no one (i.e., any employee) needs spent three years of development with design consul- permission to satisfy a customer." Every employee tant Chuck Shepherd, resulting in the creation of the will do whatever it takes. One of the company's values Fox 40 Classic Whistle. (The whistle was named for is to respond to any customer question in 12 seconds, Ron and that he was 40 when he applied for the patent.) either with an answer or a commitment to. "I don't Introduced in 1987, this finely tuned precision know but will find out." This vision is also reflected instrument does not use a pea to generate sound. In fact, in a firm belief that any employee should be prepared there are no moving parts. The patented design moves to do any job, except take out the garbage; that is the air blast through three tuned chambers. This whis- Ron's job. tle, and all the subsequent whistles that have been intro- They also know their vision can only be continu- duced, is 100 percent constructed of high-impact ABS ally and consistently fulfilled if it is embodied by every plastic so it is impervious to moisture. Wet or dry, Fox employee. So, when hiring staff, Fox 40 knows the 40 Pealess Whistles cannot be overblown and never importance of hiring the right kind of people; honesty fail-the harder you blow, the louder the sound! They and integrity being key and a very much a reflection can be heard for miles and work in all conditions. They of how Ron and Dave behave. Starting in entry-level are faultless, reliable, and trusted. positions, each employee's strengths and weaknesses Fox 40. a proudly Canadian company, dominates are assessed through the assignment of tasks with spe- duced, is 100 percent constructed of high-impact ABS ally and consistently fulfilled if it is embodied by every plastic so it is impervious to moisture. Wet or dry, Fox employee. So, when hiring staff, Fox 40 knows the 40 Pealess Whistles cannot be overblown and never importance of hiring the right kind of people: honesty fail-the harder you blow, the louder the sound! They and integrity being key and a very much a reflection can be heard for miles and work in all conditions. They of how Ron and Dave behave. Starting in entry-level are faultless, reliable, and trusted. positions, each employee's strengths and weaknesses Fox 40, a proudly Canadian company, dominates are assessed through the assignment of tasks with spe- the global whistle industry. Tens of thousands of Fox cific time lines. Performance is monitored not only by 40 Whistles are produced monthly for shipment to management, but by peers. Strengths are channelled to Strengt 140 countries. A mould may be made offshore due customer satisfaction issues. Weaknesses are discussed to the cost savings (at least $100,000); however, Fox and plans for improvement are identified. Senior man- Challar 40 owns all of its moulds. Approximately 90 percent agement are directly accessible to any customer and to of the company's products are made in Canada with any employee. Ron and Dave embody the importance select components coming from overseas markets. of front-line interaction. For example, Ron is the first Front Final assembly occurs in Canada. While the first prod- person at work every day and both of them come and Line nct was the Fox 40 Classic Whistle, the company leave through the front doors, passing through the main Interacti now has over 900 active stock-keeping units (SKUS). areas of the company's facility to their offices S. es 394 CHAPTER 10 Producing World-Class Goods and Services Answer 2 Fox 40 embodies benchmarking by comparing itself perception of their customers of the importance of to the very best. Much of the research and development "Made in Canada." So, that is an overarching criterion. is focused on "not" robbing and duplicating what very The large number of global customers supports a focus successful companies have done. One method is to look on logistics Transportation infrastructure, including to companies that started with a single, simple, product highways, shipping, airlines and close proximity to the and then have expanded through the addition of comple- border, are also important. The majority of employees mentary products. Gillette started with a shaving blade, work in distribution and rely on public transportation added shaving cream, and then deodorant. Wrigley's to get to work. This is an equally important criterion. started with gum. There is also a focus on brand rec- For their large customer base in the United States, they ognition and so they look to market leaders in this area, have chosen to do customs clearing, so they have a including Coke. When making decisions on potentially distribution centre in that country, located in Niagara entering a market new to them, the Foxcrofts are guided Falls, New York, which is very close to their facilities by a belief that no market is worth considering unless in Hamilton, Ontario. they believe they can become the number one company, The importance of employee input also plays out in terms of sales in the new market. They expect to be in terms of layout decisions. The company has recently able to sell to all customers in any market they enter. moved to a new location. Their entire location is very When planning facility location, key factors are clean and has "hospital operating room" white walls once more impacted by customers and employees. With as Dave is a strong proponent of employees act their sales in 140 countries, both men know the overriding environment." nswer 3 RUNNING CASE Leadership, Benchmarking, and Operations Management Planning at Fox 40 International Inc. For successful Canadian entrepreneur and inventor Its product mix includes 19 Whistles Styles (e.g., Fox Ron Foxcroft, it all started in 1982 when he purchased 40 electronic whistle); Lanyards & Attachments (e.g.. Fluke Transport, a Southern Ontario trucking busi- flex coils); additional brands that include Fox 40 Gear; ness. The company slogan-If It's On Time ... It's SmartCoach Coaching Boards; SICK Self Impression A "FLUKE"Was soon recognized throughout North Custom Kit, and Heat Alert Mouthguards; Marine America. Over the years, Ron diversified into new & Outdoor Products (e.g., Xplorer LED Light); Pink ventures and the Foxcroft Group of Companies now Products; and Logo Imprinted Products. includes Fluke Transportation Group, Fluke Warehous- Leadership at Fox 40 is very much a reflection Leadership ing Inc., Foxcroft Capital Corp., Fox 40 International of the vision of the company's founder and CEO, Inc., and Fox 40 USA Inc. Ron Foxcroft, along with Dave Foxcroft, President The formation of Fox 40 International Inc. (Fox and COO. Over the past 25 years of growth, Ron and 40) is the result of a dream for a pealess whistle. When Dave continue to appreciate that success is very much developing his first whistle, Ron was motivated by his related to both customers and employees. The impor- knowledge and experience as an international basket- tance of satisfying customer needs is central to all they ball referee. Frustrated with faulty pea whistles, he do. As Ron states, no one (i.e., any employee) needs spent three years of development with design consul- permission to satisfy a customer." Every employee tant Chuck Shepherd, resulting in the creation of the will do whatever it takes. One of the company's values Fox 40 Classic Whistle. (The whistle was named for is to respond to any customer question in 12 seconds, Ron and that he was 40 when he applied for the patent.) either with an answer or a commitment to. "I don't Introduced in 1987, this finely tuned precision know but will find out." This vision is also reflected instrument does not use a pea to generate sound. In fact, in a firm belief that any employee should be prepared there are no moving parts. The patented design moves to do any job, except take out the garbage; that is the air blast through three tuned chambers. This whis- Ron's job. tle, and all the subsequent whistles that have been intro- They also know their vision can only be continu- duced, is 100 percent constructed of high-impact ABS ally and consistently fulfilled if it is embodied by every plastic so it is impervious to moisture. Wet or dry, Fox employee. So, when hiring staff, Fox 40 knows the 40 Pealess Whistles cannot be overblown and never importance of hiring the right kind of people; honesty fail-the harder you blow, the louder the sound! They and integrity being key and a very much a reflection can be heard for miles and work in all conditions. They of how Ron and Dave behave. Starting in entry-level are faultless, reliable, and trusted. positions, each employee's strengths and weaknesses Fox 40. a proudly Canadian company, dominates are assessed through the assignment of tasks with spe- duced, is 100 percent constructed of high-impact ABS ally and consistently fulfilled if it is embodied by every plastic so it is impervious to moisture. Wet or dry, Fox employee. So, when hiring staff, Fox 40 knows the 40 Pealess Whistles cannot be overblown and never importance of hiring the right kind of people: honesty fail-the harder you blow, the louder the sound! They and integrity being key and a very much a reflection can be heard for miles and work in all conditions. They of how Ron and Dave behave. Starting in entry-level are faultless, reliable, and trusted. positions, each employee's strengths and weaknesses Fox 40, a proudly Canadian company, dominates are assessed through the assignment of tasks with spe- the global whistle industry. Tens of thousands of Fox cific time lines. Performance is monitored not only by 40 Whistles are produced monthly for shipment to management, but by peers. Strengths are channelled to Strengt 140 countries. A mould may be made offshore due customer satisfaction issues. Weaknesses are discussed to the cost savings (at least $100,000); however, Fox and plans for improvement are identified. Senior man- Challar 40 owns all of its moulds. Approximately 90 percent agement are directly accessible to any customer and to of the company's products are made in Canada with any employee. Ron and Dave embody the importance select components coming from overseas markets. of front-line interaction. For example, Ron is the first Front Final assembly occurs in Canada. While the first prod- person at work every day and both of them come and Line nct was the Fox 40 Classic Whistle, the company leave through the front doors, passing through the main Interacti now has over 900 active stock-keeping units (SKUS). areas of the company's facility to their offices S. es 394 CHAPTER 10 Producing World-Class Goods and Services Answer 2 Fox 40 embodies benchmarking by comparing itself perception of their customers of the importance of to the very best. Much of the research and development "Made in Canada." So, that is an overarching criterion. is focused on "not" robbing and duplicating what very The large number of global customers supports a focus successful companies have done. One method is to look on logistics Transportation infrastructure, including to companies that started with a single, simple, product highways, shipping, airlines and close proximity to the and then have expanded through the addition of comple- border, are also important. The majority of employees mentary products. Gillette started with a shaving blade, work in distribution and rely on public transportation added shaving cream, and then deodorant. Wrigley's to get to work. This is an equally important criterion. started with gum. There is also a focus on brand rec- For their large customer base in the United States, they ognition and so they look to market leaders in this area, have chosen to do customs clearing, so they have a including Coke. When making decisions on potentially distribution centre in that country, located in Niagara entering a market new to them, the Foxcrofts are guided Falls, New York, which is very close to their facilities by a belief that no market is worth considering unless in Hamilton, Ontario. they believe they can become the number one company, The importance of employee input also plays out in terms of sales in the new market. They expect to be in terms of layout decisions. The company has recently able to sell to all customers in any market they enter. moved to a new location. Their entire location is very When planning facility location, key factors are clean and has "hospital operating room" white walls once more impacted by customers and employees. With as Dave is a strong proponent of employees act their sales in 140 countries, both men know the overriding environment." nswer 3
