1. Martin Guitar production
Bang miyeon, choi hyunuk,
kwag sooyeon, ku changwon

2. contents Martin guitar? Process of producing Martin guitar
Features of producing Martin guitar
Operational challenges – recommendation
Technical challenges – recommendation
Other recommendation

3. 1. Martin guitar? Top quality guitar company from 1833
Prices are from about $300 to about $12,000

4. Top Quality
1. Martin guitar?

5. 2. Process of producing martin guitar
1) Raw material – Wood Peru Mahogany American Maple Spanish Cedar 2) Neck Support - Grain runs along with the annual ring of the tree

6. 2. Process of producing martin guitar
3) Cut wood into thin slats by machine 4) Carving Neck by CNC machine
5) Machine makes the hole and human inspects it
2. Process of producing martin guitar

7. 2. Process of producing martin guitar
6) Carving exact frets by machine
7) Mahogany blocks – made by CNC machine
8) Flexible Line – made by machine
2. Process of producing martin guitar

8. 2. Process of producing martin guitar
9) Bridge – made by CNC machine, similar to the neck 10) Body – made similarly to CNC, but are in bed
11) Body Back – Very same operation as body, but separate piece of wood
2. Process of producing martin guitar

9. 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 guitar
Fit into the slot perfectly accurate
2. Process of producing martin guitar

10. 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

11. 3. Features of producing martin guitar
1) Manual labor > Mechanization
Internal plant isn’t mechanized and has separated parts unlike other factories
Still uses draft knives, files and their hands to make guitars
Machines are used only in dangerous process
Manual labor
Mechanization

12. 3. Features of producing martin guitar
2) Factory > Workshop
Factory contains heavy equipment used for assembly line production – can produce adequate amounts of guitars, whose demand can’t be afforded by small workshop
3. Features of producing martin guitar

13. 4.1 Operational challenges
1) Adjusting to Changes
Mandolin
Ukulele

14. 2) Distribution problem
Early, C.A. Zoebisch & Son was the sole distributor of Martin Guitars
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

15. 4.2 operational challenges - recommendation
1) Adjusting to Changes – Electronic guitar
The competitive brands of quality guitar give weight to producing 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

16. Too few shops in Asia! 2) Distribution problem
– need more authorized shops in Asia
Authorized shops in North America
Too few shops in Asia!
4.2 operational challenges - recommendation

17. 5.1 Technical challenges 1) 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

18. 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 timber shipments
The company began importing rosewood from India
The new three–piece back D–35 was a major success
5.1 Technical challenges

19. 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

20. 4) 14 Fret Neck Innovation
After the Great Depression in 1929, Martin’s sales decreased drastically
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

21. 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

22. 2) Making Body Martin’s process of making body part is too inefficient
Like the machine of Cort, Martin should implement some new machines to higher the production rate
5.2 Technical recommendation

23. 3) Making Neck Martin’s process of making neck part is too inefficient
Like the machine of Cort, Martin should implement some new machines to higher the production rate
5.2 Technical recommendation

24. 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 machines to higher the production rate
5.2 Technical recommendation

25. 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

26. 6. Other 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