Confidential Instructions for the General Manager
You are the general manager for a company that prints and distributes many
kinds of
printed documents (such as technical papers, maps, directories, and
advertising flyers) for
customers throughout the United States. For many of your customers, your
company
folds these papers and inserts them into envelopes. Until six weeks ago, the
work of
folding the papers, inserting them into envelopes, and sealing the envelopes
had been
done by a team of employees. However, because the demand for these
services has
increased greatly, you purchased an automatic folding and sealing machine
from Alplaus
Supply Company six weeks ago. The plan is for this machine to perform the
simpler
folding/inserting/sealing jobs, thus freeing the employees to work on more
complicated
printing jobs.
However, you want to return the automatic folder/sealer that you bought
from Alplaus
Supply Company six weeks ago. At $3,600, it seemed to be an excellent
value for its
price, but after it was set up and tried at your printing plant, you realized
that it was either
defective or extremely poorly designed. First, the folder occasionally jams,
destroying
the paper which it is attempting to fold. Second, the liquid adhesive used in
sealing does
not always flow properly; envelopes are either coated with the adhesive,
thus ruining
them, or insufficient adhesive is applied and the envelopes do not seal
properly.
Otherwise, your employees are quite pleased with this machine. It is very
fast and quiet,
it handles a wide variety of papers and envelopes, and the employees really
appreciate the
fact that this machine -- when it operates properly -- allows them to spend
their time on
more satisfying printing jobs. But as it is, it is of no use to them, so you want
your money
back!
