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PHASE 4 DISCUSSION BOARDKENNETH C HOLMES ECON616-1601B-02PROFESSOR KENRETT JEFFERSON-MOOREMARCH 9, 2016SWOT ANALYSIS FOR PRODUCTION RELOCATION TO THE U.S.Introduction:The time has come to make the decision whether to return auto parts production back to the U.S. or keep producing in South Korea. The first monthly activity report was just completed, and is ready for submission. In addition, management has requested a SWOT analysis pertaining to the decision of returning manufacturing back to the U.S., and the information will prove essential for the board to make the most informed decision. The following document discloses all research and findings, as well as the full SWOT analysis.SWOT analysis for U.S. relocation: AUTO EDGE U.S. PRODUCTION RELOCATION SWOT ANALYSISStrengthsWeaknesses4 decades of experience manufacturing automotive engines and transmission partsAuto Edge has diminished its reputation as a result of poor quality issuesWell known auto industry leader for producing quality, durable, reliable products, and detailed craftsmanshipQuality dropped when the previous CEO, Fred McFadden was firedHave supplied products for the top three U.S. auto makers for over 3 decadesCurrently there is no CEOThe Auto Edge brand had high industry loyalty, even with their higher costAuto Edge would need to regain their reputation for quality, dependable, and reliable auto partsThe U.S. is 2nd in global ranking for GDPThe current U.S. unemployment rate is 5.95%, and is 1.3% higher than the global average of 4.62%. The U.S. is 1st in global ranking for employment?OpportunitiesThreatsReturning production to the U.S. will enable Auto Edge to take control of quality control, and reestablish themselves in the auto industry as a producer of quality, durable, and dependable auto partsAuto Edge outsourced because of high labor costs, rigid U.S. regulations, and increased competition, and those factors are still in placeReturning to the U.S. would bring jobs back to the labor force, and lower unemploymentAuto Edge lost control of quality controlReturning production to the U.S. will increase the GDP furtherNo CEO, means no leadership at the top to take handle the responsibilities of running Auto EdgeThis move would create added costs, but the costs would support the production quality needed to regain profitability and growthFound guilty of supplying products that failed quality tests?Poor quality products caused the recall of millions of automobiles?Auto Edge brand products quality is in serious question by the auto industry, and loyal customersStrengths: Auto Edge’s 4 decades of experience manufacturing automotive engines and transmission part, over 3 decades of supplying the top three U.S. auto manufacturers, and their previous high industry loyalty are the driving forces behind why Auto Edge must turn the situation around, and produce their products to U.S. industry standards. Weaknesses: After the termination of the CEO, Fred McFadden, and products failing U.S. quality standards tests, Auto Edge is faced with a diminished industry reputation that must be regained to be accepted in the auto parts industry. An investigation should also be conducted regarding why quality dropped after the previous CEO was fired. Was the CEO to blame, or did the lack of controls without the CEO cause the quality control problems?Opportunities: Returning production to the U.S. would enable Auto Edge to regain quality control, use their own experienced and well trained managers and workers, and reestablish themselves as a manufacturer of quality, durable, and dependable auto parts. This move would create added costs, but Auto Edge must realize those costs support production, profitability and growth, and will raise their quality back to U.S. industry standards. Additionally, this move would bring management and production jobs back to the U.S., would raise the U.S. GDP, provide much needed stimulus to the economy, and take advantage of the current low interest rates on business loans CITATION NA1614 \l 1033 (N.A., 2015 Economic Statistics and Indicators, 2016).Threats: Auto Edge outsourced because of high labor costs, rigid U.S. regulations, and increased competition, and those elements are still present. Additionally, since Auto Edge was found guilty of supplying auto parts that failed quality tests, and cause the recall of millions of automobiles, their brand suffered a major reduction in acceptance by the auto industry as a whole, and by their most loyal customers. These factors must be overcome to achieve acceptance and prominence in the auto part industry.SWOT analysis for staying in South Korea:AUTO EDGE SWOT ANALYSIS FOR STAYING IN SOUTH KOREAStrengthsWeaknessesSouth Korea maintains steady annual GDP growth, maintains low unemployment and inflation, and the Won losing value keeping costs downSouth Korea has strict government regulations creating high labor costsSouth Korea established free trade agreements with their eastern, U.S. and European business partners, and maintains a steady surplus of exports with those partners?The South Korean labor force is highly skilled, and excels in technologies and R & D?There are minimal import duties on products manufactured in South Korea, and shipped to the U.S.?South Korea offsets their high labor costs with tax deductions and identical treatment to internal firms?OpportunitiesThreatsThe South Korean third party production facility produced the quality Auto Edge is known for, and can do so again, with the right quality controls in placeAuto Edge lost control of quality controlAuto Edge can reinstitute and reinforce their quality expectations with the third party facility, and employ skilled and experienced managers to ensure their quality is up to standards.Products produced in the third part facility have recently failed quality inspections in the U.S.Regaining control of quality control will enable Auto Edge to maintain the lower cost structure, and higher profit margins per item and line.The South Korean Won losing value has caused western investors to withdraw their funds from the countryAuto Edge can build their own production facility, and institute their quality controls with new highly skilled and experienced supervisors and labor?This move would create added costs, but the costs would support the production quality needed to regain profitability and growth?Strengths:South Korea is a strong industrial Eastern nation with a high GDP, low unemployment and inflation, and a currency (Won) that has lost value to global currencies that keeps costs low. Maintaining production in South Korea would take advantage of their low inflation rate, their reduced valued Won which keeps costs low, their existing highly educated and skilled workforce that excels in technologies, and Research and Development, and the free trade agreement with the U.S., which keeps tariffs on products shipped from South Korea low. Additionally, since South Korea offsets their high labor costs caused by strict government regulations with tax deductions and identical treatment for internal firms, their tax costs are low CITATION NA124 \l 1033 (N.A., Country Profile South-Korea , 2012). Weaknesses:The major weakness for producing in South Korea pertains to their strict government regulations which cause high labor and real estate costs, but this is offset by tax deductions and identical treatment for internal firms.Opportunities:Auto Edge keeping their manufacturing in South Korea offers many opportunities including: Auto Edge could maintain the third party facility, reinstitute and reinforce their requirements of specific product quality, and ensure compliance through routine product testing. This would enable Auto Edge to maintain their lower cost, and higher profit margins, and still produce to U.S. standards. Auto Edge could also build their own facility, managed by their own qualified and experienced management team, and hire local skilled and experienced workers. This move would ensure the quality of production necessary to meet U.S. standards. Building a new facility would create added costs, but Auto Edge must understand that costs drive revenues, and can be part of the solution when managed properly.Threats:Because Auto Edge lost control of their quality, the third party facility started producing parts that did not pass U.S. quality tests. This must be corrected for Auto Edge to regain its standing as a producer of quality, durable, and reliable products. The South Korean Won’s reduction in value has cause many investors to pull their investments, but has not caused any major problems yet. This could be a blessing in disguise for Auto Edge, especially if foreign auto parts manufacturers leave South Korea, and lessens the competition. Conclusion:In 2005, Auto Edge decided to close their Detroit production plant and outsource production to prominent South Korea facility. The reasons were simple: Auto Edge was facing high labor costs, rigid American regulations, and increased competition from other engine and transmission parts suppliers. The transition was successful, and Auto Edge achieved its goal of reducing costs and government regulations. But in 2005, Auto Edge was found guilty of supplying auto parts that failed quality tests, triggered the recall of millions of automobiles, and caused a dramatic stock value drop, and the loss of their quality reputation and loyal customers. Top management and the Board of Directors sees the problem as the South Korea production facility, but the facility produced quality, dependable, and reliable parts for five years, until the CEO was fired. The real problem lies in quality control, and the absence of strong monitoring, testing, and maintaining of quality control guidelines. As the analyst hired to help in the determination to stay in south Korea or return production back to the U.S., the research conduction has provided several recommendations. Auto Edge should first start with the third party production facility. Auto Edge management needs to sit down with facility management and reconfirm their quality requirements. Auto Edge should have their own management on staff to ensure all staff are performing their duties to established standards, perform product quality tests to ensure quality meets required standards, and to maintain those standards for the long term. Auto Edge could establish their own facility in South Korea, run by their own skilled and experienced management, and hire local skilled workers. This would enable Auto Edge to establish and maintain their standard of quality, and provide continuous supervision to ensure all aspects of products meet cost and quality input and output standards. Additionally, this would take advantage of South Korea’s tax breaks, and free trade agreement with the U.S., that keeps tariffs on South Korean imports to a minimum, and keeps costs down. Auto Edge could reestablish their production in the U.S., again run by their own experienced and skilled management team, and hire skilled U.S. workers. This move would accomplish several things including: putting more U.S. workers back to work reducing the unemployment level, increase the U.S. GDP, and reestablish Auto Edge as the industry leader of quality, durable, and reliable auto parts. Auto Edge must understand that in either scenario, building a plant in South Korea or the U.S., that costs will be incurred, and that costs are the driving force behind revenues. Both scenarios will require a full cost analysis including NPV, IRR, and WACC. The decision will come down to whether the third party facility will be able to return production to the level of quality necessary to meet U.S. standards. If this cannot be accomplished, then building a production facility in South Korea or the U.S. must be considered. Auto Edge also needs to secure an experienced and qualified CEO to reestablish their quality standards, ensuring those standards are adhered to and maintained, and manage the growth of Auto Edge. The absence of a CEO put Auto Edge in danger of not reestablishing their required levels of quality, and not regaining their position as a producer of quality, durable, and reliable auto parts. These goals are essential for Auto Edge to regain their reputation. A price increase would not be recommended until Auto Edge has consistently produced auto parts to U.S. quality standards, and would not likely be instituted for several years. It would be unwise to push a price increase, as Auto Edge needs to reprove itself, and rebuild its loyal auto industry customer base. REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 N.A. (2012, March 28). Country Profile South-Korea . Retrieved from : f/business/text/South-Korea/Business...N.A. (2016). 2015 Economic Statistics and Indicators. Retrieved from ECONOMY WATCH: Follow the Money: economic-statistics/year/2015 ................
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