Answered You can hire a professional tutor to get the answer.
Read the Entrepreneurial Case below and complete an SWOT analysis for this business product. Daniel Platt Limited:
Read the Entrepreneurial Case below and complete an SWOT analysis for this business product.
Daniel Platt Limited: A Case Study in Engineering Entrepreneurship Introduction William Wilkes, Roof Tile Technical Manager at Daniel Platt Limited and an experienced brick layer and roofer, recognised the problem precisely. "Builders using clay roof tiles often find that they cannot get the roof tiles they need when they need them, especially when working on the valley area of a roof where two pitches meet." During 170 years of manufacturing natural clay floor tiles Daniel Platt has had to adapt to market needs in an entrepreneurial way on many occasions and this problem for builders presented an opportunity to create new customers. The move into the niche market for clay roof tiles was one such entrepreneurial response when the wider market for ceramic products became increasingly competitive. Having made the move, maintaining a strong, distinct position in the selected niche was vital in order to maximise the value of the opportunity. The introduction of a flexible product design would enable the right products to be available ex -stock. Routinely builders might have to wait for up to eight weeks because a particular specification to fit the pitch of the roof they were working on was not available. The implications in terms of time lost and negative cash flow are significant as jobs cannot be completed within contractual terms. Producing only one type of fitting instead of three would reduce stock levels and improve product availability resulting in more satisfied customers and increases in sale revenue. The Engineering Issue Roofs are constructed with different levels of pitch (slope), most commonly 40, 45 and 50 degree pitches, each one requiring a different 'fitting' which is in fact the term used to describe the angle between the two wings of a valley tile. The task was to design a single tile that would fit all three angles. "It was relatively easy to get it right for two angles but all three required more consideration to ensure the aesthetics and the functionality of the tile were right", William Wilkes explained. The process began with a cardboard template, progressed to a metal angled support plate and then to a piece of extruded clay placed on the support plate and cut to required shape. Different angles were tried and tested on a metal frame roof construction fitted with boards and tile laths and located within Daniel Platt's manufacturing facility. The selected best fits were then fired and placed on to the test roof. It was a long and meticulous design engineering process. As the valley tiles do not feature the 'nibs' that hold regular roof tiles on the laths, precision engineering was essential as the valley tiles at every angle must be supported by the regular tiles. 10 Engineering Subject Centre Four Mini Case Studies in Entrepreneurship Innovative Actions Support Daniel Platt's capacity to exploit the opportunity was considerably enhanced by the support of the Innovative Actions Programme, West Midlands. This regional development agent provided a mechanism for encouraging companies to think differently and for making innovation 'real' and effective. Daniel Platt's entrepreneurial skills and engineering capability were boosted and a product that may have otherwise never reached the market was successfully created. The team provided David Platt with funding to support the research and product development processes including a coaching and mentoring service. The universal valley tiles are currently on test with the building trade and positive feedback is already being received. Sales of roof tiles are now providing customers for one third of the company's total output. Conclusion · Employ design engineers who really know their markets · Entrepreneurial characteristics can be handed down from generation to generation if the culture is right · Keep ahead of the market · Aim to diversify, building on core competences when the market moves.
