MARTIN GUITARPRODUCTION

BANG MIYEON, CHOI HYUNUK,

KWAG SOOYEON, KU CHANGWON

CONTENTSI. Martin guitar?II. Process of producing Martin guitarIII. Features of producing Martin guitarIV. Operational challenges – recommen-

dationV. Technical challenges – recommenda-

tion VI. Other recommendation

1. MARTIN GUITAR?Top quality guitar company from 1833

Prices are from about $300 to about $12,000

1. MARTIN GUITAR?

Top Quality

2. PROCESS OF PRODUCING MARTIN GUITAR1) Raw material – Wood

Peru MahoganyAmerican MapleSpanish Cedar

2) Neck Support - Grain runs along with the annual ring of the tree

3) Cut wood into thin slats by machine

4) Carving Neck by CNC ma-chine

5) Machine makes the hole and human inspects it

2. PROCESS OF PRODUCING MARTIN GUITAR

6) Carving exact frets by ma-chine

7) Mahogany blocks – made by CNC machine

8) Flexible Line – made by machine

2. PROCESS OF PRODUCING MARTIN GUITAR

9) Bridge – made by CNC ma-chine, similar to the neck

10) Body – made similarly to CNC, but are in bed

11) Body Back – Very same opera-tion as body, but separate piece of wood

2. PROCESS OF PRODUCING MARTIN GUITAR

12) Brace – needs good skills, takes delicate touch by master

13) Lining Rim – all by hand

14) Fiber – black, white, ivory binding or decorating edge of guitarFit into the slot perfectly accurate

2. PROCESS OF PRODUCING MARTIN GUITAR

15) Fitting the neck – uses special device to check the exact position of the neck

16) Tuning machine – fixed to the head by hand

17) String Line – carved by hand

18) Inspecting

2. PROCESS OF PRODUCING MARTIN GUITAR

3. FEATURES OF PRODUCING MAR-TIN GUITAR

• Internal plant isn’t mechanized and has separated parts un-like other factories

• Still uses draft knives, files and their hands to make guitars• Machines are used only in dangerous process

1) Manual labor > Mechanization

Manual labor Mechanization

• Factory contains heavy equipment used for assembly line production – can produce adequate amounts of guitars, whose demand can’t be afforded by small workshop

2) Factory > Workshop

3. FEATURES OF PRODUCING MARTIN GUITAR

4.1 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES1) Adjusting to Changes

Mandolin

Ukulele

2) Distribution problem• Early, C.A. Zoebisch & Son was the sole distributor of Martin Gui-

tars

• Frank Martin made extensive sales trips where he personally sold the majority of the company’s output to music dealer

• Now, the company uses optimal selling method – The products are sold at only authorized stores and online

4.1 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES

4.2 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES - RECOMMENDATION1) Adjusting to Changes – Electronic guitar

• The competitive brands of quality guitar give weight to produc-ing electric guitars.

1. didn’t devote themselves to produce electric guitars

2. didn’t try to produce

them continuously

new product development department long term project

2) Distribution problem – need more authorized shops in Asia

Authorized shops in North America

Too few shops in Asia!4.2 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES - RECOMMENDATION

5.1 TECHNICAL CHALLENGES1) T-cross Bar Problem

• During the World War II, metal supply was in shortage• Replaced T-cross bar with a similarly shaped piece of ebony, but

it was more prone to neck–angle problems• After the war, the steel T–bar found its way back into production,

only to be replaced in 1967 by a square steel tube• In 1985 the Martin Company introduced adjustable reinforcing

(truss) rod

2) Rosewood Supply Problem• Until the mid 60’s, Martin had always purchased rosewood in log

(or "timber") form in Brazil• In mid 60’s, the Brazilian government placed an embargo on tim-

ber shipments• The company began importing rosewood from India• The new three–piece back D–35 was a major success

5.1 TECHNICAL CHALLENGES

3) Dreadnought Body Style• Originally devised in 1916 as a collaboration between Martin and

the Oliver Ditson Co., the dreadnought body style was larger and deeper than most guitars

• Greater volume and louder bass made the guitar more useful as an accompaniment instrument for singers of the day

• Today the "dreadnought" size and shape is considered one of the "standard" acoustic guitar shapes

5.1 TECHNICAL CHALLENGES

4) 14 Fret Neck Innovation• After the Great Depression in 1929, Martin’s sales decreased dras-

tically• Martin changed the conventional 12 fret neck to 14 fret neck,

which allowed easier access to higher notes• Great players like Leroy Powell, Al Esposito welcomed the change

5.1 TECHNICAL CHALLENGES

5.2 TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION- COMPARISON WITH CORT

1) Martin’s specialty: Handmade• Cort operates highly mechanicalized

company• But there are also operations by hand• So Martin should keep their handmade

policy

2) Making Body• Martin’s process of making body part is too inefficient• Like the machine of Cort, Martin should implement some new ma-

chines to higher the production rate

5.2 TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION

3) Making Neck• Martin’s process of making neck part is too inefficient• Like the machine of Cort, Martin should implement some new ma-

chines to higher the production rate

5.2 TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION

4) Gluing Bracers• Martin’s process of gluing bracers is all by hand• But this gluing process is much more efficient by machine, and it

does not lower the quality, if not highering it• Like the machine of Cort, Martin should implement some new ma-

chines to higher the production rate

5.2 TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION

5) Using efficient line• Martin’s whole process is too long in distance – there are too

much time wasted by moving the parts• Martin should change the composition of the company to be more

efficient

5.2 TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION

Adopting Meister System• Germany’s Porsche uses this system • Come down by education of apprentices from medieval Zunft• Martin can adopt this system to train apprentices into masters

6. OTHER RECOMMENDATION