Rondell Data Corp Case Study - 5285 Words

Case 20: Rondell Data Corporation John A. Seeger Bentley College Damn it, hes done it again! Frank Forbus threw the stack of prints and specifications down on his desk in disgust. The Model 802 wide-band modulator, released for production the previous Thursday, had just come back to Franks Engineering Services Department with a caustic note that began, This one cant be produced, either. . . . It was the fourth time Production had kicked the design back. Frank Forbus, director of engineering for Rondell Data Corp., was normally a quiet man. But the Model 802 was stretching his patience; it was beginning to look just like other new products that had hit delays and problems in the†¦show more content†¦How does it look in Engineering, Frank? Ive just reviewed the design for the second time, Frank replied. If Ron Porter can keep the salesmen out of our hair, and avoid any more last minute changes, weve got a shot. Ive pulled the draftsmen off three other overdue jobs to get this one out. But, Dave, that means we cant spring engineers loose to confer with your production people on manufacturing problems. Well, Frank, most of those problems are caused by the engineers, and we need them to resolve the difficulties. Weve all agreed that production bugs come from both of us bowing to sales pressure, and putting equipment into production before the designs are really ready. Thats just what were trying to avoid on the 802. But I cant have 500 people sitting on their hands waiting for an answer from your people. Well have to have some engineering support. Bill Hunt broke in, So long as you two can talk calmly about the problem Im confident you can resolve it. What a relief it is, Frank, to hear the way youre approaching this. With Kilmann (the previous director of engineering) this conversation would have been a shouting match. Right, Dave? Dave nodded and smiled. Now theres one other thing you should both be aware of, Hunt continued. Doc Reeves and I talked last night about a new filtering technique, one that might improve