Which link breaks first, and the cheapest fix
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| Link in the chain | Capacity next year (cases) | Demand next year (cases) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle and cap supply | 1,500,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Production (plant) | 1,200,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Transport (own trucks) | 900,000 | 1,000,000 |
The prompt
A bottled-water company in Indonesia, which reports in US dollars, expects demand of 1,000,000 cases next year. Its plant can make 1,200,000 cases, but its own trucks can move only 900,000. Each case earns USD 2 of contribution. It can hire a third-party logistics firm at USD 0.60 per case, or run more trucks of its own for USD 150,000 a year, adding 150,000 cases of transport capacity. The table below shows each link in the chain. Can it meet demand, and what is the best fix?
Interviewer-led: the interviewer shows the chain table and asks which link breaks, what it costs, and which of two fixes to choose.
Practice with a partner
1. Send the interviewer link to a friend. They read the case aloud and hold the answers.
2. You open the candidate view: you see only the prompt, a timer and a notes box.
3. Speak the case out loud. Your partner shares data when you ask, then scores you with the rubric.
Interviewer view
For the person running the case
Candidate view
For the person answering the case
The exhibit
| Link in the chain | Capacity next year (cases) | Demand next year (cases) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle and cap supply | 1,500,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Production (plant) | 1,200,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Transport (own trucks) | 900,000 | 1,000,000 |
My notes on this case
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