MACPHERSON REFRIGERATION LIMITED

In October, Linda Metzler, newly appointed production planning manager of MacPherson Refrigeration Limited (MRL) of Stratford,Ontario, was formulating the production plan for the year beginning on January 1. She had to submit the plan to the plant's general manager by the end of the month.

BACKGROUND

MRI had sales of about $28.5 million. The company began in Stratford almost 30 years ago, specializing in commercial refrigeration. Ten years ago the company opened a new 300,000 square foot plant in Stratford and diversified into consumer refrigeration. Subsequently, MRL added air conditioners to its freezer and refrigerator lines. The company sold its Hercules brand appliances through independent furniture and appliance stores in southern Ontario.

THE STRATFORD PLANT

In the past 20 years, manufacturing efficiency at the plant had increased dramatically through changes in both process design and assembly technology