GM Powertrain
Ogbeide Aizehi (Tijay)
Problem: The plant could not meet its budget due to poor performance as a result of it’s over engineered and inefficient processes, and what process changes were required in the plant of Fredericksburg to improve the efficiency?

Contributing factors: Labor issues (strike actions), QS 9000 certification process, and equipment break down such as the 1500-ton press, affected all the processes.

Alternatives: 1. Repair the broken press and install a new one, thereby increasing productivity.
Pros
* As a result of the new equipment, working process will be reduced, and the productivity will be increased. * Demand of long-term development will be met
Cons
* Impact on budget and performance evaluation * High cost for repairing and installing new press

2. Develop comprehensive initiative to initiate wide variety of changes, such as installing more efficient machinery, redesigning employee job responsibility to reduce workers idle time and documenting processes to attain QS 9000.
Pros
* Flexibility of assembly line * Continuous improvement and cost reduction. * High standard of quality and reliability as a result of QS 9000
Cons
* Some workers don’t want to change the work environment, so they need time to accept new work roles. * Disloyal workforce due to change in job responsibility

3. Retain employees, and provide Training program to employees to make them more efficient in carrying out various processes.
Pros
* Lay off worker may get opposition from the union, and it is discouraged for all employees. * Operations cost will be reduced. Cons * Cost of training programs. * Underperforming workers increase the total cost.

Recommendation
I strongly recommend alternatives 1 and 2 to solve the problem. Alternatives 1 will yield high