Case: National Cranberry Cooperatives

Sanjay Jharkharia, IIMK

Case facts
NCC a cooperative of cranberry growers

99% of all sales of cranberries were made by cooperatives active in cranberry industry.
NCC was one of the larger cooperatives and had operations in various growing areas of North America. Different harvesting techniques - Dry & Wet Water harvesting could result in yields up to 20% greater than those obtained via dry harvesting
Sanjay Jharkharia, IIMK 2

Case facts

contd

Increased mechanization of cranberry processing Water harvesting is increasing year by year. Maximum delivery in a day: 18,879 bbls. Average Truck Delivery: 75 bbls ( 20 400 bbls)

Sanjay Jharkharia, IIMK

Process Flow
5/10 Min Per truck Weighed/ Graded 250*16 = 4000 bbl Dry 1-16 8*250 =2000 bbl Both 17-24 3*400 = 1200 bbl Wet 24-27 2*1500 bbl/hr Tested/ Sampled 3*1500 bbl/hr Destone Unloaded From Truck 1500 bbl/hr Dechaff 3*400 bbl/hr Bulk Bins 3000bbls /hour Kiwanee Dumper

Separate

Bulk Truck

Dechaff
3*200 = 600 bbl/hr Dryer
Sanjay Jharkharia, IIMK 4

Bag

Problems
Growers are upset that their trucks and drivers have to wait a lot before unloading the berries Over time cost is on the rise. Half the berries graded as top quality were not really top quality.

Sanjay Jharkharia, IIMK

Starting Calculations
Max. qty in a day Avg/ truck Approx. No. of trucks/day Time Available/day No. of Trucks/ Hr Number of barrels/hour = 18879 19,000 bbl = 75 bbl = 19,000/75 = 253 = 12 Hrs = 21 = 19,000/12 = 1583(approx)

Sanjay Jharkharia, IIMK

What is expected in the analysis?

Whether the plant is having sufficient capacity to meet the peak load requirements? If no, which element of the plant is the bottleneck? What needs to be done to ease the bottleneck? What about the use of dual bins? What about light meter system? Any other possible recommendation?

Sanjay Jharkharia, IIMK