Case Scenario 3: Barracuda Inc

question 89

Essay

Case Scenario 3: Barracuda Inc.
Barracuda Inc. is a lamp-fixture manufacturer that is considering an entry strategy into the U.S. home-furnishings manufacturing industry. The existing landscape consists of many players but none with a controlling share. There are currently 2,500 home furnishings firms, and only 600 of those have more than 15 employees. Average net profit after tax is between 4 and 5 percent. While the industry still primarily comprises single-business, family-run firms that manufacture furniture domestically, imports are increasing at a fairly rapid rate. Some of the European imports are leaders in contemporary design. Relatively large established firms are also diversifying into the home- furnishings industry via acquisition. Supplier firms to the home-furnishings industry are in relatively concentrated industries (such as lumber, steel, and textiles). Retailers, the intermediate customer of the home-furnishings
industry, have been traditionally very fragmented. Customers have many products to choose from, at many different price points, and few home-furnishing products have strong brands. Also, customers can switch easily among high- and low-priced furniture and other discretionary expenditures (spanning big-screen TVs to the choice of postponing any furniture purchase entirely).
-(Refer to Case Scenario 3). Using the five-forces framework,summarize the opportunities and threats facing Barracuda as it considers entry into the home-furnishings manufacturing industry. Which threats are greatest to current incumbents?

Distinguish between different types of process shifts and their implications (level shift, trend, cycle).

Grasp the importance of sample size and sampling frequency in process control.

Interpret the significance of average run length in process control.

Understand how changes in process control settings affect detection of process shifts.

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Definitions:

Consumptions

The act of using goods and services for personal use, including the spending on such goods and services in an economy.

Apples

A fruit produced by an apple tree, widely consumed and cultivated globally for its sweetness and variety of uses.

Oranges

A citrus fruit known for its vibrant color and sweet, slightly tart flavor, commonly consumed fresh, juiced, or used as flavoring in various dishes.

Borda Count

A voting system where voters rank options or candidates, and each position on the ballot is assigned a certain number of points, with the option receiving the highest total of points winning.