HW#2 Cross Over Analysis and Graphs

Please read the following concerning all homework:

1. When submitting your assignment file(s) remember to use the naming convention detailed in the syllabus. Word, Excel, or both types of documents can be submitted.

2. Please include a cover sheet with your name and date, that includes online submissions (I use this for making comments and grading).

3. Include section headers such as Introduction, Analysis, & Recommendations within your summary for the problem.

4. Answer the problems as completely as possible. Neatness, accuracy, and overall clarity of work are important. Full credit will only be given for problems, which include the aforementioned items. I am looking for process and methodology not necessarily one correct answer.

5. Submit homework by the due date and time.

Remember: You are telling a "story" in the attempt to win a contract from a client, do your best to tell the story, win the contract, and get paid (or in this case get an excellent grade!)
 

Please submit the following problems:

The same instructions apply for all homework problems. It is vitally important that you do a good job defining the problem, stating assumptions, explaining your analysis, feel free to use graphs, tables, and/or any other means to get your point across. Simply writing an answer down is woefully inadequate (i.e., you will receive no points).

Please submit the following problems:

TAKE NOTE: THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THIS HOMEWORK - THE PAIRED ASSIGNMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT, BOTH MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED

Paired Assignment (y'all have done this once already so its easy)

I will be assigning two unique problems to the class. I will pair off students in the class (note, maybe one group has three and if your partner does not respond just send me your work and you will receive credit). One person will do one of the problems and the other person will do the other problem. Each pair of students will then be required to converse via the Discussions section in Canvas and comment on the other persons work. I expect at least four posts for each pair of students (2 per each student=4).

This exercise is to enhance interaction between you and your colleagues as well as foster interaction between the professor and all students. This exercise will be weighted 10% of the Homework #1 grade and those who complete the problems and discussion session will receive full credit for this portion of Homework #1.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PAIRINGS FOR HOMEWORK

Go to the following link:  OSCM Movies and select one movie clip from those assigned to you (e.g., if you are in the first column you are Problem A so click on any clip labeled HW#2 Problem A and vice versa for Problem B) under the Process Planning and Technology Decisions section.  There are multiple clips for the section.  However, you only have to chose one (1) clip and complete that one (1) clip. 

To complete the assignment, go into the Discussions section in Canvas, create a thread, and with the classmate you are paired with exchange a greeting. Second step, watch the video clip and complete the Questions for Thought listed by the movie clip (i.e., either Problem A or B) and post your Questions for Thought in the Discussions section in Canvas.  Finally, within the Discussions section in Canvas, comment on your classmate's work (these comments can be very simple and straightforward, such as "looks good" or "nice comments").

You must post to the Discussions section in Canvas to receive full credit for this part of the assignment. I will be monitoring the discussion posts so I will be aware if you cannot get through to your assigned classmate or if the assigned classmate chooses not to respond or participate. Anyone not participating or responding will receive a zero for this portion of the assignment. Those making a "good faith" effort but get no response will receive credit.

Please email me if you do not understand or need assistance.

Individual Assignment - Files Uploaded to the Assignment area in Canvas
 
For homework as well as exams it is vitally important that you do a good job defining the problem, stating assumptions, explaining your analysis, raising questions with regard to TRADE-OFFS, DEFINING RISK, QUANTIFYING RISK, etc., feel free to use graphs, tables, and/or any other means to get your point across.

The Bottle Deposit Scheme

Newman has decided he is going to pursue the “bottle deposit scheme”.  He and Kramer will collect cans and drive them to Saginaw Michigan where they will get the refund per can.  The refund amount per can has just increased for the upcoming President’s Day weekend.  The refund is now $0.20 per can.  Newman knows with the short amount of time he has that only two options are available:  the Uhaul plan and the Mailtruck plan.  The underlying scheme is the same but the costs have shifted a bit.

The Uhaul plan consists of the following costs:

-    fixed rental costs for the Uhaul of $400
-    fixed gasoline costs of $1.99 a gallon for the 1,400 mile roundtrip excursion and they can expect to get about 17 miles per gallon with the Uhaul
-    variable costs of $0.02 per can but the Uhaul can easily handle 4000 cans before these costs kick in (i.e., Newman gets 4000 cans free before the variables costs start)

The Mailtruck plan consists of the following costs:

-    fixed rental costs for the Mailtruck of $0 [he gets it free for being a Postal Carrier]
-    fixed gasoline costs of $1.99 a gallon for the 1,400 mile roundtrip excursion and they can expect to get about 13 miles per gallon with the Mailtruck
-    variable costs of $0.06 per can as the Mailtruck is older and needs TLC so the variable costs are higher than the Uhaul --- In addition, it can only handle 2000 cans before these costs kick in (i.e., Newman only gets 2000 cans free before the variables costs start)

The variable costs for both plans consist of wear and tear on the vehicle as more cans are loaded in (i.e., oil, radiator fluid, etc.) and charges through the toll-ways (e.g., the Uhaul gets a different rating and pays less than the Mailtruck when passing through toll-ways). Answer the following questions based on a comparison of costs between the two plans & discuss your results.  Provide no less than three (3) paragraphs, explain your answers and comment on what is happening (use basic section headers such as Intro, Analysis, and Recommendations).  HINT:  This is the place where the comment about graphs should pop back into your mind (i.e., it would behoove you to create a graph & use it to answer the following questions).

a.    If Newman expects to collect around 6000 cans, which plan should he select?

b.    Perform an analysis based on the idea that Kramer believes they can collect around 6000 cans on average but they may collect as many as 8000 cans or as little as 4000 cans.

c.    How does the decision change if Kramer’s estimates increase to 10000 cans on average with a high end of 12000 cans or a low end of 8000 cans?