Page 189 - Writing Winning Business Proposals

180 Writing Winning Business Proposals

facility for years and probably doesn’t recognize that facility needs can be either
seriously overstated or understated without first establishing a solid base of effec-
tive operations from which to project those needs.
These are points you develop to formulate an opening P-slot for this task.
Importantly, the task will involve identifying opportunities to improve current
operations and/or outsource various components to establish a solid base that will
be used in conjunction with the forecast to accurately project future requirements.
You know that the output from this task will provide an essential ingredient for
developing the overall manufacturing facility strategy. Only when future require-
ments are known can the study team explore viable options for providing these
requirements. You convey this important understanding in the closing P-slot.
Your draft of Task 2:

Task 2: Determine Total Factory Space Requirements
at Alternate Forecast Levels
An important task of the engagement team will be to use the existing base of
production resources (floor space, equipment, and staffing) and modify that
base so that it can accommodate the additional future production demands
over time indicated by the confirmed market forecast. First, however, the team
will carefully evaluate that base to identify improvements or eliminate ineffi-
ciencies that might exist today. We don’t want ABC to risk adding too much or
too little capacity. This risk can be avoided by first establishing a proper base,
a “current-improved” base, from which to project future resource require-
ments. All this will be critical, because determining future needs involves far
more than simply an arithmetic extrapolation of today’s activities.

We were very much impressed during our walk-through of your main man-
ufacturing facility. You should know, however, that in nearly every similar
engagement, we have been able to recommend methods for better utilizing
currently available space, thereby making space available for additional equip-
ment to add to manufacturing capacity. To provide additional capacity and/or
space without first determining such improvement opportunities could result
in unnecessary capital investment.
We will ensure that ABC is making the most effective use of existing manufac-
turing resources. Specifically, we will:

◉ document current equipment and space utilization
◉ determine opportunities to better utilize current equipment and space and
to improve material flow