Michelin Case Study Review
From Selling Tires to Selling Kilometers
Alex Fahrenbruch
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Abstract
This paper will discuss how Michelin transitioned from a production company to a service company. It will compare the differences in business models, the envisioned impact this would have on the company, what driving factors led Michelin to offer solution services, what difficulties were encountered, and a recommended course of action for Michelin’s service offering. Michelin is a leader in the international tire industry and in 2000, created a tire-management solution for large European transportation companies called Michelin Fleet Solutions. Upon launching this Michelin Fleet Solutions, Michelin developed a new business model that was vastly different the standard business model that had been under operation for many years. This business model envisioned many of the pros of starting this service solution but neglected to show the detriments. This led to difficulties within and out of the company a consulting firm was hired to help mitigate issues that had arisen. A decision must be made on whether Michelin should continue to pursue Michelin Fleet Solutions or not. Introduction In the year 2000, Michelin began an endeavor, Michelin Fleet Solutions, to offer a comprehensive tire-management solution for large European transportation companies (Zeithaml, 2013, p. 549). Michelin wanted to include a service and solution industry
To ensure that Glenn can build a respectable reputation as a car detailing business, Glenn must be able to grab a segment of the market in his area where a few competitors already exist. Glenn can penetrate the market by employing different marketing and promotional strategies to ensure that he’ll see success and profits with his limited resources. Glenn’s main objective for his business strategy is to provide cleaning and maintenance to both the interior and exterior of vehicles to preserve their condition by using quality name brand products and precise, hand-done work. Glenn has already identified the different segments of car owners: owners of older cars that are in poor condition, but served the purpose of transportation; owners of newer, mid-priced cars; and owners of expensive cars costing more than $35,000.
Nissan functions using these two major components. Service and manufacturing organizations face many similar issues that affect the end result of the operation. For example, both face issues of cost control, and create mission statements and a vision for how the organization will be run and perceived by customers. They however their operations answer different questions and formulate different strategies when it comes to planning and managing the way in which an organization is run. The manufacturing operations at Nissan are in contrast to that of TPS, they leveraged a regional, decentralized supply chain structure, but still imposed a strong central control and coordination in times of global crises. Service wise they maintained a flexible organization by integrating and embracing diversity into their team. These two operations gives value to the customers and meets the organizations overall objective of customer
Leadership in the industry. Treadway Tire Company is one of the major tire suppliers of the original equipment manufacturer
This case analysis explores the possibility of Breezy, a leading supplier of carburators and air filters in North America, the possibility of developing offshore busines in countries where car manufacturing is growing. The report is structured as follows: First, there are five important questions that Breezy must consider and ask itself before developing a relationship with a new customer. After Breezy decides to go offshore, it will have to go through the negotiating process, which involves five steps. Breezy then, must have capabilities of how an offshore business is organized, consider the many different costs and risks involved in the implementation and decide how it will finance the project. The report also talks
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world’s most important economic divisions by profits. This analysis focuses on the industry, specifically, manufacturers of automobiles. There are five competitors in the StratSim environment: Firm A, B, C, D, and E. Industry sales in the most recent year were 4.3 million units, with expected growth in the next year. Within this industry, there are seven-vehicle classes: Economy, Family, Luxury, Sports, Minivan, Truck, and Utility. There are two new classes with potential – if properly marketed.
Tire City, Inc. (TCI) was a rapidly growing retail distributor of automotive tires in Northeastern United States. Tires were sold through a chain of 10 shops located throughout Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire and Northern Connecticut. These stores kept sufficient inventory on hand to service immediate customer demand, but the bulk of Tire City's inventory was managed at a central warehouse outside Worcester, Massachusetts. Individual stores could be easily serviced by this warehouse, which could usually fill orders from individual stores within 24 hours. TSI showed solid results for the year ended in December, 1995; TCI had sales of USD23.51m and net income of USD1.19m. During the previous three years, sales had grown at a
Tire City, Inc is a growing distributor of tires in the Northeastern part of the United States. Tire City, Inc is positioned in eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and northern Connecticut. Tire City, Inc distributes its product through a chain of 10 stores and a central warehouse outside Worcester, Massachusetts. In the past three years, Tire City has grown at an annual compound rate of 20% which was attributed to its excellent reputation for service and competitive pricing. Due to its growth, Tire City is currently at maximum capacity in its warehouse and is considering expanding its current warehouse facility to accommodate service levels. Jack Martin and Abeer Mandil are in the process of
3. discussion, presentations, interviews with professionals at the Mercedes dealership or the BMW Mini dealership and the competition
Tangible goods, or rather manufactured goods, have been the dominant medium of exchange for centuries. However, recent decades have proved that it is no longer the case as there has been a prevalence of being service oriented (Vargo and Lusch, 2004:1-2). Services, as defined by Vargo and Lusch (2004), are “the application of specialized competences (knowledge and skills) through deeds, processes, and performances for the benefit of another entity or the entity itself (p.2).” Utilizing services gives businesses an edge, a competitive advantage, particularly in an evolving competitive market, something which Metalfrio is definitely part of (Vargo and Lusch, 2004:9). Those businesses that learn to adapt tend to do well. In addition, Vargo and Lusch (2004) write this shift to services is also a shift from producer perspective to a customer perspective (p.2). Thus, it leads to more of a collaborative effort where co-creation leads to adding value to the service rather than a product having value (Vargo and Lusch, 2004:6). Also, customers rather develop relationships with those that can provide a range of related services over an extended period of time, thus allowing businesses retain their clients for the long term (Vargo and Lusch, 2004:13). Overall, service oriented marketing is a direction that businesses should be headed towards to ensure that they can remain relevant and competitive in the
Focus more on large growing markets and exceed the sales up to 10 million cars per year.
Just like the other industries such as apparel, electronics, and consumer goods, the automobile industry has accelerated its foreign direct investment, cross border trade and global production. The automobile industry has increased outsourcing and bundled value chain activities in major supplier chains. As a result, more developed countries that serve as suppliers have increased their involvement in trade and FDI. With these increased supplier capabilities, large national suppliers have become global suppliers and are now controlling multinational operations. This is because of their increased capability of providing good and services to various lead firms all over the world. The automotive industry has a distinct firm structure. This
Automotive Builders, Inc. (ABI) is a company that consistently changed its production lines and strategic goals relative to the needs of the times, starting out producing diesel engine parts for tractors in the 1940’s, switching over to the production of parts for military vehicles during World War II, and then, after the war, settling into its current placement in both the automobile and tractor industry. Due to the downturn in the economy and stiff and superior competition in both quality and price rising up from the Japanese who had recently entered into the industry, ABI is trying to find productive and innovative ways to improve sales and guarantee placement as the number one company in its
The tire industry is working on making factories automated through each process. With these advancements tire retailers are realizing that this can help the bottom line.
The company understands the risks for working with U.S. auto industry especially during the recession in 2008, so they venture out to produce four new business units to minimize it by looking into investing on early-stage opportunities.
The end result of decision , will be a marketing strategy which will effectively launch the Lock-Awn product and EMR Innovations.