Martin Guitar production

1. Martin Guitarproduction Bang miyeon, choihyunuk, kwagsooyeon, kuchangwon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

16. 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