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Sealed Air

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Submitted By jason16824m1
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Problem and Recommendation
Sealed Air has seen new competitors enter the protective packaging market industry producing uncoated bubble at a lower cost by employing a cheaper more efficient production method. We believe the entrance of this new competition will have a significant impact on the sustainability of Sealed Air potentially reducing sales by 55% and eliminating 40% of 1980 EBIT (see exhibit for backup). Given the significant impact we feel Sealed Air must employ a defensive strategy and start production of uncoated bubbles. Sealed Air can use a current production process which would allow them to effectively compete with the new competition requiring no additional capital.
Company Analysis
Sealed Air produces 2 main products (see exhibit for product breakdown, sales and market share) and also licenses to Astro its patented technology to produce coated and uncoated bubbles. Sealed Air’s core strengths include 1) 1st to market and leader in R&D, innovation and technical development, 2) best trained sales staff in industry, and 3) premium pricing position 4) patented manufacturing process for sealed bubbles. Significant weaknesses include 1) limited resources, 2) having premium products aimed at niche segments of the protective packaging customers, 2) lots of cheap competition and lack of easily demonstrable universal superiority confusing end users. Deciding to start manufacturing uncoated bubbles does not significantly leverage Sealed Air core competencies and is inconsistent with current company culture and organizational image. Exhibit 2 shows key competencies and the positive of negative impact of starting production of uncoated bubbles.
Despite the high cost of coated bubbles relative to the uncoated products, Sealed Air had kept most of the U.S. air bubble market. Key factors were Sealed Air’s patent protection and licensing of only

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