AEROTECH CASE STUDY Final PDF

Republic of the Philippines
Carcar City College

Luanluan Street, Poblacion 1, Carcar City, Cebu
Tel No. 487-0063 / 487-9077
carcarcitycollege.weebly.com
CASE STUDY 2:
PROPOSING A DATA GATHERING
STRATEGY AT AEROTECH, INC.
CONTEMPORARY WORLD
Subject
Submitted by:
Alemios, Julie Ann F.
Benemerito, Nikki
Flores, Gilli Gretch
Laputan, Ara Mae
Pautan, Kris Jane
Quijano, Jea Christy
Sato, Jayzel
Misso, Earlyn Joy
MR. JONREIL S. TRAYA, LPT

Instructor
FACTS OF THE CASE
Aerotech is an aerospace technology research and products firm. It is located
in the suburbs of a large metropolitan area. It is housed in an older concrete building
that was built in the 1970s without many windows of the showy glass characteristic
of many other companies in the area. In fact, these days it would be easy to drive by
the headquarters and not know that this major, multimillion-dollar company was even
located here. Aerotech has a long and distinguished history, having been a major
supplier to the top government contractors contributing to U.S space and defense
programs in the 1980s. In the past 20 years, however, it has fallen out of favor
among government contractors as quality problems plagued the company’s
products. The company briefly considered bankruptcy but averted a Chapter 11 filing
when its new CEO took place 4 years ago. The CEO helped the company to partially
recover by revising its strategy. AeroTech has now begun to diversify into other
areas in which there is higher demand.
Patrick Delacroix, an Executive Vice President of Engineering for Aerotech
called for a meeting with Cassandra Wilson, the organization development
consultant in the Aerotech Human Resources Department to plan out projects to
address the major issue in the company. Cassandra Wilson has been assigned to
consult with the engineering organization. An article in the local newspaper predicted
the demise of Aerotech if annual losses continue at the present rate, and it
suggested that based on financial analyst’s projections, layoffs this year are almost
certain to repeat last year’s 16% reduction of Aerotech staff.
Patrick began working for AeroTech 25 years ago as an associate engineer, a
few years after he finished his doctorate in engineering from a local university. He
1|P age CASE STUDY

has witnessed the extensive changes in research and development of engineering
products in his various roles as engineering manager for metals fabrication, as
director of the new component division, and now as vice president of the entire
engineering operation. He lived through the decline in personnel and morale after
quality problems forced the closurenof the fabrication operation, but he also oversaw
the rise in revenues following the successful component products released in the
past 6 years. Most recently, he presided over the largest loss of engineering talent
that the company had seen through voluntary and involuntary termination programs.
There are 5 engineering teams under Patrick’s division: Laser Systems,
Component Systems (new), Component Systems (enhancements), Satellite, and
Custom Design. The Laser and Satellite teams are relatively new and are recognized
as the two critical areas in the new direction of the company. Todd Lyman is the
manager of the laser systems engineering group. He joined the company just last
year right after the engineering group was reorganized after the layoffs. Moreover,
Todd has an extensive background in laser engineering management at one of their
company’s competitors.
THE DEFINED PROBLEMS
After Aerotech recovered from bankruptcy, the company is now back in the
verge of its demise. There are major problems which contributed a lot to the
declining of their performance and productivity. Patrick pointed out productivity as
the main issue. Patrick Delacroix is concerned in the Laser team with Todd Lyman
as their manager.
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Patrick also further discussed the possible reasons of the area's low productivity and
take into consideration that Todd was a product of external hiring. Knowing the fatlct,
he may not know well yet the strategies and techniques the company has been
using. From the time their manager took place, they have very limited budgets and
very short delivery windows in which they are expected to bring result to the
business. The company is not meeting their commitments to getting their products
out in its expected release dates. The engineers on Laser System Groups have also
a very weak time management. Furthermore, since Todd stepped in, his team has
led three (3) new product releases- two (2) were product upgrades and one (1) was
the new product. Two of the three (2 out of 3) were delayed beyond their original
expected release dates.
ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION
Worrying that Aerotech might again consider bankruptcy, Patrick and
Cassandra brainstormed what areas in the Laser System Group needs some
interventions. Upon consulting with Cassandra Wilson, Patrick came up with these
two following interventions in order to address the productivity issue in the company.
First is since it was observed that the engineers lack time management, they
decided to give a Training Program for the engineers in Todd’s team that would
teach time management, prioritizations, and project management. Second one is
since they also observed that from the moment the new manager came in to the
group, there was a drastic change in terms of productivity which is why they decided
to conduct a Management Coaching Session for Todd Lyman to help him better
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work through the management issues with his team including the cycle time and
budget projections.
BEST ACTION PLAN
With the abovementioned interventions, we therefore came up with this action
plan.
Function Time
Goals Key Results
Area/s Frame
Production To meet the company’s The manager shall have 6 months
Management commitments in getting enough understanding (once a
their products released on on how Aerotech works month)
its original release dates. which shall reflect on the
team’s cycle time and
budget projections.
CONCLUSION
Although Aerotech has been partially recovering on its bankruptcy, there are
still areas in the company that needs to be properly address to ensure productivity
and efficiency among the engineers. Considering the fact that the Laser System
group has performed well in their work not until their new manager stepped in can
create an idea that the new manager might need further management coaching.
Surely, Todd is an experienced individual when it comes to engineering and
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management and in fact, he had worked as a manager from one the competitors but
every company has its own strategies and techniques and that is something that
Todd needs to learn more about AeroTech. Conducting a Management Coaching
Session to Todd can really help him know fully and deeply how Aerotech works and
be able to apply it to his team. After the series of coaching sessions, Todd is
expected to improve in productivity and efficiency throughout the course of his
management coaching.
5|P age CASE STUDY

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Republic of the Philippines

Carcar City College

MR. JONREIL S. TRAYA, LPT

Aerotech is an aerospace technology research and products firm. It is located

in the suburbs of a large metropolitan area. It is housed in an older concrete building

among government contractors as quality problems plagued the company’s

areas in which there is higher demand.

Patrick Delacroix, an Executive Vice President of Engineering for Aerotech

called for a meeting with Cassandra Wilson, the organization development

consultant in the Aerotech Human Resources Department to plan out projects to

certain to repeat last year’s 16% reduction of Aerotech staff.

Patrick began working for AeroTech 25 years ago as an associate engineer, a

1|P age CASE STUDY

products in his various roles as engineering manager for metals fabrication, as

There are 5 engineering teams under Patrick’s division: Laser Systems,

Component Systems (new), Component Systems (enhancements), Satellite, and

Todd has an extensive background in laser engineering management at one of their

THE DEFINED PROBLEMS

declining of their performance and productivity. Patrick pointed out productivity as

2|P age CASE STUDY

expected release dates.

ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION

Worrying that Aerotech might again consider bankruptcy, Patrick and

teach time management, prioritizations, and project management. Second one is

3|P age CASE STUDY

BEST ACTION PLAN

With the abovementioned interventions, we therefore came up with this action

Production To meet the company’s The manager shall have 6 months

Management commitments in getting enough understanding (once a

their products released on on how Aerotech works month)

its original release dates. which shall reflect on the

team’s cycle time and

Surely, Todd is an experienced individual when it comes to engineering and

4|P age CASE STUDY

Todd needs to learn more about AeroTech. Conducting a Management Coaching

expected to improve in productivity and efficiency throughout the course of his

5|P age CASE STUDY

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