Copper Kettle Catering Essay Example

of order machine can be disruptive and costly to the process if productive maintenance is not routinely performed. If Copper Kettle Catering decides to introduce a new item to the delivery-only menu, more inventory space would need to be allocated to the new item. Therefore, a lean system may actually create a barrier to entry for introducing new menu items because the entire process, and supply chain, would need to be rebuilt. Also, if Copper Kettle Catering has frequent, small shipments of purchased items that cannot be arranged with suppliers, then large inventory savings for these items will not be recognized.

3. I would recommend that Wayne and Janet Williams use a lean system for the production of deliver-only items because the process requires low inventory levels, has high lead times, but cannot compromise quality and value under any circumstance. A lean system is initially costly, but has a lot of potential to benefit Copper Kettle Catering in the long-run.

It will maximize the value added by each of the company’s activities by improving quality, increasing productivity (but not overproducing), developing better supplier relationships, improving delivery performance, eliminating wasteful time when items are not being moved or processed, and will greatly reduce costs. Although the automated machinery needed for production may be costly, only one worker would be needed for the production line at a time. Therefore, since Copper Kettle Catering won’t need as many preparation employees, only a small amount of employee training for a lean system would be needed.