Apex Vacuum,a Family-Owned Manufacturer of Budget Vacuums,has Grown Exponentially Over

question 53

Essay

Apex Vacuum,a family-owned manufacturer of budget vacuums,has grown exponentially over the last few years.However,the company is having difficulty preparing for future growth.The only information system used at Apex is an antiquated accounting system.The company has one manufacturing plant located in Arkansas; and three warehouses,in Arkansas,Delaware,and California.The Apex sales force is national,and Apex purchases about a third of its vacuum parts and materials from a single overseas supplier.You have been hired to recommend the information systems Apex should implement in order to maintain their competitive edge.However,there is not enough money for a full-blown,cross-functional enterprise application,and you will need to limit the first step to a single functional area or constituency.What will you choose,and why?

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Definitions:

Star-Shaped Fracture

A type of break or crack in a material, characterized by lines radiating from a central point, resembling a star.

Bending Stress

The internal stress induced in a material when subjected to external forces causing it to bend, crucial in engineering design to prevent failure.

Torsional Stress

Stress that results from an applied torque or twisting force on a material, potentially leading to distortion or failure.