A05

MGT5061-FA22-A05 C2 RMA-beta

Florida Institute of Technology

Department of Extended Studies

Virtual Site

MGT5061-FA22 Systems & Logistics Support Management

Dr. Paul Battaglia

Assignment 05 C2 RMA BETA

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This case is 8 percent of the course grade

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Individual work.

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How submitted:

*** post your file (or files) with your answers to the assignment in Canvas.

MS Word for longer narrative.

If you use software (such as Excel), then also load that file.

If you solve manually or graphically, then best to scan & load that file

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The general scenario is that you are working for the company (Light-Up-My-Light, Inc). And need to do certain analytic or managerial work. Obviously (?), the major topics addressed will be the course topics; and more specifically usually the material from the current chapters!

Please remember to:

.a. put your last name in the file name;

Example for student named Jones: 5061-FA22-A05-Jones

.b. include your last name in the running heading; and

.c. number the pages.

I usually print out your answers and these items help me to identify whose work I am looking at, grading, etc.

Unless other arrangements are made (e.g., you “invoked” an extension), your answers are due according to the class schedule.

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Basic Copyright 2022 Dr. Paul Battaglia and Florida Institute of Technology. For use ONLY by students enrolled in MGT5061 for the FA22 term. Any other use requires explicit written permission.

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Light Up My Light, Inc.

Oh, oh!

The engineers are in a pinch. At the most recent staff meeting one pf the topics discussed was that one of the newer light fixtures was having some problems. This is the model L799AC. They are being returned at a rate that is much higher than anticipated. It appears that the L799AC is just are not as durable as customers are expecting from a light fixture. The planned MTBF was 1,800 hours. The Operating time until failure for the 8 returned units ranged from 99 to 199 hours. That is an eye-watering difference!

Customers and the LUML engineers know that there is a “mixture” of factors (e.g., reliability; maintainability even though is most cases customers plan on doing very little maintenance beyond changing the bulb once the fixture is installed; and availability).

The CEO asked them to look into this situation, come up with some areas that should be looked into; and to send information on the situation.

Alas, the engineers are not agreeing on what the situation is or how to proceed. With somewhat bruised egos, then have asked your boss Tom Perkins (VP/Director of Logistics) for assistance in analyzing the situation and writing the reply to the CEO.

Perkins said sure; go ahead and coordinate with {your name}.

After some review and discussion, here are the “issues” that need to be looked at.

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Q#1. (100 points) The idea of a “bathtub” is often used to describe the failure rate curve. When searching the Internet and other sources (some old textbooks) they got a zillion hits (or at least a very large number) on the subject. But what is needed is a concise answer to explain this concept to the non-engineer, non-logistician CEO. Probably a figure. And then a brief explanation of the elapsed time and the failure rate. A time period/region (or is that periods/regions?). And the characteristics of each period/region that the cycle/curve covers.

Q#2. (100 points) Luckily some customers kept records on failure of the fixtures. So when asked they could give accurate numbers instead of just a notion pf failed-too-early. Here is a summary of the 8 units returned due to failure.

Returned Unit #	Operating time until failed (hours)
1	133
2	155
3	199
4	176
5	148
6	165
7	160
8	99

[NOTE: This is obviously a small sample of 8 observations. But treat this as if it represented a large sample so, for example, you do not need to try to apply a finite population correction factor, etc.]

Q#2a. If the returned fixtures were in the stage where the exponential reliability function applied, based on these actual MTBF’s what was the theoretical reliability at 200 hours of operation? [Note: if answering as “percent” then to 2 decimal places; if answering as a proportion then to 4 decimal points.]

Q#2B. Show your work and explain your answer.

Q#3. (100 points) The fixture has three major parts which act in series. [Note: final answers to 2 decimal places.]

Part #1 has a reliability of 0.99.

Part #2 has a reliability of 0.95.

Part #3 has a reliability of 0.90.

Q#3a. What is the theoretical reliability of the system/product?

Q#3b. If LUML is going to work on improving the reliability of the system/product, which part do you recommend the engineers initially concentrate on? Why?

Q#3c. If LUML can improve the reliability of that part by 5 per cent, what should the new reliability be for the system/product? [Interim calculations to 6 decimals. Final to 2 decimals.]

Q#4. (100 points) As noted, the planned MTBF was 1,800 hours. The average corrective maintenance time was planned to be 1 hour. [Note: satisfactory conditions, etc., etc.]

Q#4a. What was the planned inherent availability of the system/product?

Q#4b. Explain your work.

Q#4c. What are the implications for LUML?

Q#5. (50 points) One aspect of MGT5061 is to address “policy”. Give and explain two policies concerning RMA that LUML should consider implementing. Include the reason(s) why the policy would be appropriate? (Or, if you prefer, consider it RAM knowing RAM distorts the relationship to some degree.)

No real limits on length. On the one hand, I am not looking for multiple pages. On the other hand, you do need to cover the topic. Usually a few sentences with solid reasons for each is sufficient.

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Reminder. There are graded elements that are not always explicitly stated.

For example, use of references to document ideas that are not your own. Reference list. APA format.

Note that even in “real life” my experience is that you should have the “backup” that you need just-in-case-you-are-asked. The difference is probably more of the formality of HOW you document your sources rather than “SHOULD I have backup?”.

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