The following is a possible outline that could be used for the final report of the BOCAM Case. Other structured outlines are also possible and just as acceptable. Also refer to the description of the final report provided in the case outline for more details. The report must be at most 6 pages, double-spaced, but there is no limit on useful appendices: useless appendices will be perceived negatively by the instructor.
1. Introduction (Maximum: 2 pages)
Brief description of the BOCAM Company, of its Strengths and Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities, and of the challenges that you had to address.
2. Analysis (Maximum: 2 pages)
2.1 Demand Forecast Summarize which models were used (you may want to provide a table in appendix to summarize the models chosen) and justification for your choice. Mention also which other models were rejected and the reasons why they were not used.
2.2 Aggregate Production Planning Description of your strategy for the coming year: level production? Matching demand (chase strategy)? Mixed policy? Is hiring preferred to over-time? What is your hiring plan for the next year? Justify your choice of strategy.
2.3 Implementing the Aggregate Plan Was your preferred aggregate plan feasible in the short run (sufficient inventory and work-force levels?). What changes did you need to do to your aggregate plan in order to come up with a feasible MRP? How was the initial situation at BOCAM: good or bad? (i.e. were you forced into costly decisions that could have been prevented had you been able to control the operations starting from, say, week 309, as opposed to 313?). What is your hiring plan for workshops 2 and 3? (Hiring, transfer, over-time policies).
2.4 Distribution Plan Analysis of distribution capacity: insufficient or excess capacity? Qualitative description of your plans (which truck was assigned to each warehouse, how were the distribution schedules constructed, based on what principles). Choice of safety stocks: based on what? Did you expect any shortages at the beginning? When and where?
3. Operating Decisions (Maximum: 2 pages) Strengths and weaknesses (errors) in each week: quality of your weekly forecasts (give a table summarizing the shortages you incurred each week in number of units and as a percentage of the demand so as to demonstrate the quality of your forecasts and of your distribution plan). Are you producing enough? Was it possible to do better and avoid some of the shortages you experienced? Are your production costs minimized? (With respect to hiring versus over-time... Could you have taken advantage of transfers and have you done so?)
What planning errors did you do? How did you manage to correct them? What were the consequences of your errors, and when will the adverse impact of your errors be eliminated?
Is the firm in good or bad shape for the short run? Do you expect profits in the weeks to come? For the medium run? Justify with numbers and calculations whenever possible (tables in appendix).
4. Recommendations (Maximum: 2 pages)
4.1 Production plan for the next twelve weeks (feasible MRP in appendix) and for
