This case tests operational optimization through process redesign and labor specialization. The solution requires candidates to identify that the current generalist model creates inefficiencies, and that assigning specialized tasks based on employee skill sets (revealed in the exhibit) can reduce production time by 25% without external hiring or technology investment. The profitability calculation then demonstrates the financial impact of this operational improvement.
Our client owns a designer shoe-store that makes high end made-to-measure shoes for customers. The high-quality product has gained popularity rapidly and the client wants to ramp up production. However, the highly-skilled labor that our client employs is hard to come by.
Our client wants us to help them figure out how to increase output without adversely affecting quality and the company’s potential profitability.