Qnt 565 Week 1 Business Case Study

Business Research Case Study

QNT 565: Research Methods, Design, and Analysis

February 15, 2016

Business Research Case Study

When management faces a problem, it is necessary to conduct research to get to the cause of the problem. "Before we can describe, analyze, and explain a problem, we must define it" (Kepner & Tregoe, 1997, p. 29). To define the problem, one must recognize the significance, scope, magnitude, or feasibility of the situation, as well as the dilemma facing management. Research consultants must identify the purpose of research, and then formulate management, investigative, and measurement questions. Lastly, formulate a hypothesis.

The dilemma facing management, significance, scope, and research purpose

As a significant segment of Tyco International Ltd., Tyco Healthcare produces, distributes, and services a widespread of the product line that includes medical supplies and disposable diapers (Tyco International Ltd. History 2004). Tyco has five main operating groups, but the information provided here are for the plant in which my sister used to work. Tyco changed a fabric used to make diapers from a hydrophilic non-woven to a thinner non-woven to cut the cost the materials. The price difference was dramatic, and the company saved millions of dollars. Once the company put the new materials into production workers began to run into problems. During the production process, the workers noticed that the materials coated with glue were bleeding through because of a thinner fabric. The glue was getting stuck on the conveyors causing glue build up on the machine thus, a halt in production because the machine needs cleaning. Workers were frustrated with the increased waste and lack of production because of downtime. Managers started to come down hard on the employees because they were not meeting their quota. Another symptom of the problem is the increased in product defects. The purpose of this research is to prove that cutting the cost of material is causing more problems and loss of more money significantly.  

Management question

By reducing the cost of material, have we increased our overall production?

Investigative questions

Has low employee morale caused a slowdown in production?

Have the problems with the glue bleeding through created product defects?

Research questions

Should the employees receive more training to decrease waste and downtime of equipment?

Should thicker glue be used, so it stands a better chance of not bleeding through the material?

Should the maintenance sequencing be modified?

Would it be more cost-effective to change the glue rather than to revert to the old thicker material?

Should management return to the original diaper material?

Measurement questions

How often does a downtime occur on the production equipment?

How many diapers were not made because of the broken machines?

How long does it take to clean the equipment once the glue gets stuck?

Exactly how much waste is produce daily?

Hypothesis

If the current material in production continued then, it will cause equipment downtime, product defects, and decreased employee morale and may cost the company more than what Tyco saved by switching to thinner material.