Talon Innovations: How Should Lean Supply-chain Strategy Align with Corporate Strategy?
Talon Innovations (TI), a small U.S. precision-parts manufacturing company, faced the prospect of folding-up and 130 employees losing their jobs. A few years before, the company was struck with twin crises of cheap overseas competition and the downturn in the world economy. The company was in the process of migrating to an international strategy when its owner died. He was the chief architect of engineering and operational strategy. Misalignment of supply chain strategy with the international strategy at that critical transitional period could have been catastrophic. This critical incident discusses the strategic initiatives the company took and could have taken to help it to survive and grow. Students can evaluate the situation to see how innovations in strategy supersede conventional operational and supply chain practices in the current global competitive marketplace.
- Identify/recognize factors in the external and internal environments that influence the choice of corporate and supply chain strategy.
- Explain the rationale behind the decision making process and choice of strategy in business.
- Describe supply chain strategies that ensure alignment with corporate strategies.
- Assess the role of lean strategy in the growth of entrepreneurial ventures.
- Evaluate alternative supply chain strategies for sustained growth in entrepreneurial ventures.