Corning Glass Work Case Study
Harvard Business School Case Study
Corning Glass Works:
The Z-Glass Project
Claude Barnett Jason Fishner Jillian Ozkara Frankie Quarles
Empire State College – Operations Management
Instructor Betul Lus
October 17, 2010
Problem Statement
The Corning Glass Company many product developments throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. During that time they always had been a leader in the arena of glass and ceramic products. Corning Glass Company focused on commercial products until the 1960s when it entered the consumer market. One of Corning’s exceptional technologies in this market was Z-Glass. After several successful years of producing Z-Glass at the Harrisburg plant, yield output began a steady decline in July 1977.
In late 1977, a Manufacturing and Engineering (M & E) team from Corning’s corporate staff was assigned to the plant to evaluate the recent declines in productivity. In March 1978, the M & E division’s leader, Eric Davidson, felt discouraged by what had transpired in the preceding months during the team’s occupation at the plant. There were no disagreements as to whether productivity problems existed in the plant; however, the cause of the declines fell into two factions. The Plant Manager, Andrew MacTavish, attributed declines to the loss of most of his supervisory staff prior to declines. Alternatively, the M & E team discovered areas in the production process that could be improved upon.
Analysis
Harrisburg’s internal management structure is headed by MacTavish [Appendix: Figure 2]. Above him is staff at the corporate level who focus on overall manufacturing and production. MacTavish had advanced through the company learning the roles of the Plant Manager position he now holds. The other leadership entity at the plant was Davidson and his M & E division. This team was stationed in the plant by corporate to evaluate the decline in productivity
Corning Glass Works:
The Z-Glass Project
Claude Barnett Jason Fishner Jillian Ozkara Frankie Quarles
Empire State College – Operations Management
Instructor Betul Lus
October 17, 2010
Problem Statement
The Corning Glass Company many product developments throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. During that time they always had been a leader in the arena of glass and ceramic products. Corning Glass Company focused on commercial products until the 1960s when it entered the consumer market. One of Corning’s exceptional technologies in this market was Z-Glass. After several successful years of producing Z-Glass at the Harrisburg plant, yield output began a steady decline in July 1977.
In late 1977, a Manufacturing and Engineering (M & E) team from Corning’s corporate staff was assigned to the plant to evaluate the recent declines in productivity. In March 1978, the M & E division’s leader, Eric Davidson, felt discouraged by what had transpired in the preceding months during the team’s occupation at the plant. There were no disagreements as to whether productivity problems existed in the plant; however, the cause of the declines fell into two factions. The Plant Manager, Andrew MacTavish, attributed declines to the loss of most of his supervisory staff prior to declines. Alternatively, the M & E team discovered areas in the production process that could be improved upon.
Analysis
Harrisburg’s internal management structure is headed by MacTavish [Appendix: Figure 2]. Above him is staff at the corporate level who focus on overall manufacturing and production. MacTavish had advanced through the company learning the roles of the Plant Manager position he now holds. The other leadership entity at the plant was Davidson and his M & E division. This team was stationed in the plant by corporate to evaluate the decline in productivity
References: Fisher, R & Ury, W. (1983). Getting to yes: negotiating agreement without giving in. New York: Penguin Books. Harvard Business School. (1981). “Corning Glass Works: the Z-glass project. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing. Krajewski, L.J., Malhotra, M.K., & Ritzman, L.P. (2010). Operations management. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Publishing. Appendix Figure - Overall Yield, 1973-1977 Figure - Organization Chart Figure - Harrisburg Plant- Profit & Loss Statement, 1976-1977 ($ thousands) Figure - Yields and Downtime, 1976-1978 Figure - Harrisburg Plant - Yield Report Period 13, 1977