THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering

IE466: CONCURRENT ENGINEERING
BOSE JIT II, ASSIGNMENT #2
Due: 10/20/00
This case will not be discussed in class. The materials for this case are on reserve in the Engineering
Library, including the BOSE JIT II videotape which you need to watch before you begin writing.
Questions for BOSE, JIT II Case Study
1. Briefly, what is JIT II and how is it different from business as usual at Bose prior to JIT II? In
more detail, contrast the old structure for procurement with the new structure.
2. What are the advantages of JIT II? Disadvantages? Should all of Bose's supplies be contracted
via JIT II or just some? If just some, what are the characteristics of the ones that should? How
should vendors be selected for participation? How would you convince them to participate?
3. What are the incentives for suppliers to undertake a JIT II relationship? What are the risks?
4. How do you view JIT II and its relationship to concurrent engineering? Would you recommend
its consideration to your boss? Under what circumstances?
5. Tom Beeson said If we were big enough, wed do everything ourselves. What does this mean,
and what are the reasons behind this statement?
6. What changes were made in purchasing at Westboro before JIT II? As part of the new JIT II
program, what functions were vendor reps supposed to perform? What are the expected
benefits?
Unlike the Resotech, Inc. case, you are required to work on this case study on your own.
Submit: 3-4 page paper addressing Questions 1 through 6.