Reference no: EM133496630

Problem

The Regina Company„ one of the largest inakets of vacuum cleaners recent') had scv cfc ptollkins with the quality of its products. The market responsc to this 1ak of quality caused financial problems for Ow company. in late 1995. Regina began having return rates as high as 30 to 50 percent on some of its Housekeeper and Housekeeper Plus models. These models were sold primarily through discount stores. Further, Regina's Spectrum vacuum cleaner, an upgraded version sold in specialty stores, was introduced in 1995 with many quality problems. ef The specific problems identified for the Housekeeper and Housekeeper Plus models were associated with faulty belts and weak suction. In the Spectrum model, the agitator was melting; and making a loud noise, the foot pedals were breaking, and the steel-encased motor (which had been advertised as the power source for the vacuum cleaner) had been replaced with a less desirable. less reliable motor. As a result of these problems, Target stores discontinued Regina's Housekeeper Plus model after reporting that "at least half of those sold were returned." At Starmart, which accounts for about a quarter of the Housekeeper sales, I. out of every 5 machines sold was returned. To help service customer complaints, Regina set up an 800 telephone number for customers to contact the firm. directly. The sales returns caused Regina's shareholders to question the 1995 fiscal earnings report. Furthermore, both inventories and accounts receivable doubled during the 1995 fiscal year. At the end of that period, Regina's chairman and 40 percent stockholders Resigned. The chairman's resignation was closely followed by a company announcement stating that the financial results reported for the 1995 fiscal year were materially incorrect and had been withdrawn. This announcement brought a suit from shareholders who had bought Reoina stock on the basis of the 1995 camings report. It also prompted an audit of the 1995 results and a request to another accounting organization to work on Regina's business and accounting controls. A few months later, Regina 'agreed to be acquired by a unit of Magnum, a vacuum cleaner and Waterpurification Company. Under Magnum, Regina shut down production while engineers worked to solve the problems inherent in the Housekeeper and Housekeeper Plus vacuums, particularly the suction difficulties. In September 1998, Magnum and Regina decided to separate the two companies again. Since then, Regina has been regaining market share with its Housekeeper models. The 'vacuums are popular because they carry on-board tools.

Questions I. What type of controls would you have established to preclude the major returns experienced by Regina?

Question II. How would you have controlled the finished-goods-inventory to avoid its growing to twice the size that it was in the previous year.