I have the opportunity to make a good info gathering of an EMS company, before getting into the SWOT analysis. The above graphic is how I draft my work using a mind mapping tool called Simple Mind.
Generally, information gathering is more difficult to do, when compare to SWOT analysis. You will need to have full information before a proper SWOT analysis could be done, as well as preparing for a way to counter the SWOT.
Hopefully you will enjoy.
Company XXX SWOT - Info gathering
Topics
BD
Program management
• Extremely weak
• No proper training
o Hit the ground running
• Very junior
• Does not really serve the full purpose of this team
Strategy
• Nvr change
• Arrogant
• Want to grow to usd X B
o Did not know what to give & take
Quotation
• Know how
o Not many really understand the details
o Not many encouraged to explore variations
o Not many knows really how the format works
• Succession plan
o Slow
o Not ready
• Highly secretive
o Too many fat hidden in the costing file
• Only good for PCBA
o HLA, system build & System integration is not well costed
o Distribution & Direct Fulfillment is not well costed
o Reverse Logistics is over priced
• Excel file
o Macro written by one person
o No back up plan
• CBOM weaknesses
• Overall process weaknesses
Finance
Senior management
• Poor succession plan
• Very biase
• Perception
• All of them have their own agenda
Engineering in manufacturing
• 90% of them are weak in these areas
o Experience
o Exposure
o Skills
o Knowledge
o Language
Spoken
Written
o Problem solving skills
o Integrity
Problem solving
• Weak like hell
o At working level
o At senior level
o Just want to get over it
• No standard way
Quality
• Very poor
o Don't know how to manage the situation
Fail to solve a complex problem systematically
• Bad mentality
• Significant escapees
o R&D
o Manufacturing
• Majority of the team is weak
• There is no proper & systematic problem solving tools being used
• Most of the times, failed to even identify the "Problem Statement"
o Jump directly to root cause
Overall Integrity
• Very lack of integrity
• No professionalisme
• All based on personal perception
• Top management can do what they like
o Will get their "watch dogs" to run the dirty work for them
Spread news
Influence
De-fame
Gather information
Benefits
• Only good for senior management - Director & above level
o Always there will be food & drinking sessions at top level
Using company's money for "personal agenda"?
• Lousy medical coverage
Customers visits
• Very good
• Systematic
• Senior management's involvement
• Flexible
• Utilize MH Green Sheet
• Excellent salesmanship
CRM tools
• Ms Dynamics 365
• IBM cognos
• IBM TM1
• Miller Heiman
o Blue sheet
o Green sheet
o Used at all level
Standard language
• Power BI
• Annual customer survey
o Customer is getting annoyed by this survey
o No proper actions taken
No change
• Customer review
• Great tools, BUT
o Not many people knows how to really use it
For the real purpose of self improvement
Engineering R&D - focus in APAC
• Poor succession plan
• Not qualified as senior management
o Poor in managing customers
o Unable to manage situation
• Charges are extremely high
• Lack of business people that is able to quote based on what the customer wants
• Very inexperience
o Too young
• Always over charge
• Don't know how to be flexible
• Refuse to accept the fact that they are weak
o Still thinks they are the best
• Arrogant
Succession plan - weak
• Functional / Department head
• GM
• Senior level
o Questionable
• Operations Directors that are capable
• Not based on how good a person is
o Based on how much top management likes the person
Secret projects
• Way too many
• Too secretive
Internal politics
• Among regions
o Massive
• Personal gains & agenda
• At top level
• Very unhealthy
• Worst I have ever seen
• Always in a blame game
Supply Chain
• It is a big political mess in this group
• Very weak
o The team thinks they are very good
That is because they were never exposed to real good SCM team
• Leadership sucks in APAC
• There is no proper plan & long term goals
o Don't have the know how
• Sub teams
o Costing
o Sourcing
o Procurement
o MRO
o Logistics
o Warehousing
o Materials system
• ERP system used is really outdated
Travels
• Senior level travel in business class
• Hit the ground & start to work
o No time for rest
Pay & package
• Lower than industrial standards
• Lower than competitor
• Extremely lousy package in APAC region
• Package is very good only for Director & above level
Work hours
• No flexibility in APAC region
• Very calculative