Lego chose to implement SAP’s Supply Chain Management SCM, Product Lifecycle Management PLM, and Enterprise Resources Planning ERP modules.. The appropriate strategy including support bu
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE
The Lego Group, headquartered in Billund, Denmark, is one of the world's leading toy manufacturers, renowned for its iconic bricks and figures enjoyed by children for generations The name ‘Lego’ is derived from the Danish words “Lego godt,” meaning “play well,” emphasizing the company's focus on quality and creative play Since its founding, the Danish company has experienced sustained growth, solidifying its position as a global toy industry leader.
1932, and for most of its history its major manufacturing facilities were located in Denmark
Lego has consistently improved product quality to meet the evolving needs of children worldwide, using toy design to ignite imagination, curiosity, and excitement They define quality as a commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring children have the best possible play experiences that support their growth Over time, Lego has earned the trust of many parents and has grown in popularity globally However, few are aware of the challenging development journey Lego underwent in its past to achieve the remarkable success it enjoys today.
In 2003, LEGO faced stiff competition from imitators and electronic toy manufacturers, prompting the company to undertake a strategic restructuring to cut costs LEGO outsourced labor-intensive processes to reduce expenses, maintaining only highly skilled workers in Billund As a result, LEGO's workforce shrank from 8,300 employees in 2003 to around 4,200 by 2010, supporting its efforts to remain competitive in a challenging market.
Lego’s strategic restructuring and double-digit sales growth over recent years have driven international expansion and a more diverse workforce This growth trajectory has introduced supply chain and human resources challenges, prompting the company to reengineer its supply chain for simplified production without compromising quality Additionally, improved logistics planning has enabled Lego to strengthen collaboration with retailers, suppliers, and outsourcing partners, ensuring efficient operations and sustained global growth.
SOLUTION
STRENGTHS
The Lego Group is a globally recognized brand and a leading manufacturer in the toy industry Its strong reputation is amplified by its commitment to technological innovation, which drives continuous product development without compromising core values This dedication to innovation helps the company attract new customers and enhance brand awareness worldwide.
With decades of experience in the toy industry, the Lego Group has developed expertise that enables them to consistently meet customer needs This extensive industry knowledge also allows the company to quickly identify and implement strategic adjustments to their product lines, ensuring continued innovation and customer satisfaction.
The Lego Group's diverse product range, spanning television, video games, and motion pictures, strengthens its brand presence in the entertainment industry By creating engaging and educational play experiences for children, the company promotes learning through play, appealing to parents and kids alike These strategic product expansions enhance Lego's competitive edge in the global toy industry, positioning it as a versatile and innovative brand.
WEAKNESSES
The Lego Group faces a significant challenge due to the simplicity of its product designs, making them easy to imitate This vulnerability allows competitors to offer similar goods and services, leading to a lack of distinctiveness in the market As a result, the brand finds it difficult to fully differentiate its product lines from those of rivals, impacting its competitive edge in the industry.
The LEGO Group faces challenges in differentiating itself within the highly competitive toy market, as rapid industry growth threatens its unique brand identity The presence of numerous low-cost alternatives puts pressure on LEGO’s market share, given the company's relatively higher prices Additionally, LEGO's focus on a single product category limits its market versatility, making it more vulnerable to competition and shifting consumer preferences.
OPPORTUNITIES
To effectively target new demographics, The Lego Group must develop additional branding programs and activities, which will support expanding its product range into new international markets This strategic approach enhances brand engagement and drives global growth.
Organizations can enhance their learning and development by leveraging the latest technology, which also provides valuable insights into ongoing industry trends and advancements Embracing emerging technologies enables businesses to stay competitive and adapt to changing market dynamics Staying informed about sector developments through technological tools empowers organizations to make strategic decisions and foster innovation.
The Lego Group is exploring the possibility of relocating its production processes to more cost-effective locations, enabling the company to reduce manufacturing expenses This strategic move not only enhances cost efficiency but also provides an opportunity for long-term growth in the industry.
Children are increasingly exploring alternative entertainment options, significantly impacting the electronic industry To attract young audiences, companies could organize school-based gaming tournaments, which help reduce device switch counts and boost brand retention among children.
THREATS
The main challenge facing the Lego Group is the ease with which its product designs can be copied, as many competitors offer similar goods and services This high level of imitation makes it difficult for Lego to fully differentiate its product lines from those of rival brands, impacting its competitive edge in the market.
Hasbro, the second-largest toy manufacturer globally, is preparing to enter the market with a new line of competing products called Kre-O This strategic move aims to challenge established players like Lego and expand Hasbro’s presence in the construction toy segment.
Here is a diagram that illustrates the SWOT
Lego partnered with SAP AG, a global leader in enterprise software solutions, to enhance their business operations As part of their digital transformation, Lego implemented SAP Business Suite, including SAP’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) modules SAP’s comprehensive software applications are designed to streamline and support essential company functions and operations, ensuring improved efficiency and integration across Lego’s supply chain and product development processes.
Management (PLM), and Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) modules The
The SCM module offers key functionalities including supply chain monitoring, in-depth analysis, forecasting, planning, and inventory optimization to enhance operational efficiency Meanwhile, the PLM module empowers managers to optimize product development processes and systems, ensuring streamlined innovation and collaboration across teams Together, these modules provide a comprehensive solution for managing supply chain and product lifecycle effectively.
ERP module includes, among other applications, the Human Capital
Management (HCM) application for personnel administration and development
SAP’s business suite is based on a flexible three-tier client-server architecture
•Move to the other place where is cheaper than
•Organize the game competitions in the school
•Product designs are simple to imitate
•The second-largest toy maker in the world, is getting ready to join the market
•Focus on the one product category in the past
OpportunitiesThreats that can easily be adapted to the new Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) available in the latest versions of the software
Lego's success can be attributed to a well-executed strategic approach that supports business innovation and emphasizes the importance of selecting the right components By securing high-quality building blocks, designing for long-term application, and meticulously assembling physical components, Lego has built a strong foundation for growth Creating detailed templates, keeping copies of finished work, and ensuring seamless integration with other components have further enhanced their product offerings Additionally, planning future models allows Lego to stay ahead in the market, driving continuous innovation and ultimately contributing to the company's current triumphs.
Our comprehensive support for business innovation involves integrating SAP solutions across all areas, including finance, logistics, and sales A key focus is the long-term integration of SAP Product Lifecycle Management with SAP Warehouse Management, enhancing operational efficiency As Lego expands into new regions and adopts the "cookbook" approach, we will incorporate SAP ERP Human Capital Management to support workforce growth This strategic, methodical expansion of the SAP landscape demonstrates how customized SAP applications empower Lego to focus on core innovation and maintain industry excellence.
Choosing the right components is crucial, and SAP software offers the ideal balance between traditional processes and flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the toy industry SAP supports all key business functions, including finance, logistics, and sales, ensuring seamless integration across operations Long-term plans include integrating SAP Product Lifecycle Management with SAP Warehouse Management to enhance efficiency, while expanding the offering to include SAP ERP Human Capital Management as the business grows and enters new regions with standardized "cookbook" solutions.
Lego's successful international expansion and operational efficiency are driven by its strong reliance on SAP applications, which form the foundation of its business strategy Key SAP solutions such as product lifecycle management and warehouse management showcase how crucial these tools are for streamlining operations Integrating SAP Product Lifecycle Management enables Lego to enhance product development, reduce time-to-market, and maintain high quality standards Similarly, SAP Warehouse Management optimizes inventory control and logistics, ensuring timely delivery and improved supply chain agility Overall, Lego's commitment to SAP applications underscores the importance of advanced enterprise resource planning tools in supporting sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
Lifecycle management solutions in finance and production enable businesses to understand the true costs and manufacturing impacts of product development decisions, enhancing overall business insight By leveraging these tools, companies can respond swiftly and effectively to market changes and opportunities Making informed decisions early in the product lifecycle optimizes efficiency, reduces costs, and supports strategic growth.
For long-term success, Lego emphasizes top-tier product lifecycle management to rapidly introduce innovative products and maintains continuous logistics to oversee global manufacturing and distribution In addition to essential financial management and analysis, Lego relies on efficient human processes to support its diverse, multicultural workforce The integration of SAP applications on the IBM Power platform enables Lego to respond swiftly to market opportunities, with streamlined processes spanning from staff and production systems to product design and sales.
Choosing scalable platforms is essential as physical components are increasingly assembled abroad, allowing operations to start small and expand rapidly Lego leverages its dual-system architecture to maximize capacity and flexibility, enabling seamless reallocation of resources during planned service reductions for development, testing, and integration Additionally, IBM provides enhanced technical support with dedicated experts and account advocates, ensuring comprehensive assistance tailored to Lego’s specific hardware and software needs for optimal performance.
Lego optimizes its compute capacity by distributing workload across systems based on specific demands to meet contractual obligations To enhance supply chain efficiency, Lego utilizes SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO), allocating spare computing resources to ensure smooth operations During weekends, when main systems are typically unavailable, Lego assigns additional computing capacity to APO, enabling quick and successful processing with enough time for reruns if needed.
Lego manufactures approximately 19 billion components annually across Denmark, Eastern Europe, and Mexico, with key items stored in centralized high-bay warehouses To support business expansion, it is essential that their warehouse solutions are reliable and easily replicable in new locations Since these warehouses operate on proprietary systems, they cannot depend on vendor assistance, prompting Lego to develop a standardized template based on SAP Warehouse Management This approach allows for quick replication when establishing new operations, reducing business risks Adopting this strategy ensures a consistent operating model across all sites and provides direct access to SAP's comprehensive support and development resources, facilitating seamless global growth.
Lego has consolidated its data storage by implementing IBM System Storage DS8700 systems, each with 1.5TB of production data, ensuring redundancy with one system in each data center Additionally, desktop application storage is integrated into the DS8700s, providing Lego with full access to all corporate data To effectively manage its complex information infrastructure—covering network and system health monitoring, application performance visualization, and IBM Tivoli Netcool/Webtop—Lego has adopted a comprehensive suite of Tivoli products These solutions standardize administration across its global environment and help reduce infrastructure management costs.
IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager (ITCAM) for Applications provides a unified, user-friendly interface that consolidates crucial application data, enabling seamless tracking, analysis, and control of connected SAP applications across the organization This technology facilitates smooth integration of external applications with SAP systems, offering Lego comprehensive visibility and management of their entire application landscape Additionally, IBM Tivoli Network Manager helps reduce operational costs by optimizing network asset utilization, thereby enhancing overall network efficiency.
BUILD AND DEVELOPMENT
RECORD A MACRO WITH A BUTTON
1 Click View > Macros > Record Macro
2 Type a name for the macro
3 To use this macro in any new documents you make, be sure the Store macro in box says All Documents (Normal.dotm)
4 To run your macro when you click a button, click Button
5 Click the new macro (it’s named something like Normal.NewMacros.), and click Add
7 Choose a button image, type the name you want, and click OK twice
8 Now it’s time to record the steps Click the commands or press the keys for each step in the task Word records your clicks and keystrokes
Note: Use the keyboard to select text while you’re recording your macro Macros don’t record selections made with a mouse
9 To stop recording, click View > Macros > Stop Recording
The button for your macro appears on the Quick Access Toolbar
To run the macro, click the button.
RECORD A MACRO WITH A KEYBOARD SHORTCUT
1 Click View > Macros > Record Macro
2 Type a name for the macro
3 To use this macro in any new documents you make, be sure the Store macro in box says All Documents (Normal.dotm)
4 To run your macro when you press a keyboard shortcut, click Keyboard
5 Type a combination of keys in the Press new shortcut key box
6 Check to see whether that combination’s already assigned to something else If it's already assigned, try a different combination
7 To use this keyboard shortcut in any new documents you make, be sure the Save changes in box says Normal.dotm
9 Now it’s time to record the steps Click the commands or press the keys for each step in the task Word records your clicks and keystrokes
Note: Use the keyboard to select text while you’re recording your macro Macros don’t record selections made with a mouse
10 To stop recording, click View > Macros > Stop Recording.
APPLICATION
INTRODUCTION
Young Mix is innovative software designed to generate multiple-choice questions from an original test set, enabling the creation of diverse exam questions with unique test codes It offers three distinct modes for mixing questions: question permutation, answer permutation, and combined question and answer permutation, ensuring comprehensive test variability This versatile tool enhances assessment diversity, improves test security, and streamlines the exam creation process for educators and institutions.
Young Mix Online efficiently combines multiple-choice questions in just 3 seconds for 24 codes, and only 1 second for 4 codes, ensuring rapid and accurate processing It transforms original exam questions—which may be unstructured or poorly formatted—into well-aligned, visually appealing, and fully informative content This innovative tool enhances exam preparation by providing neatly organized and comprehensive question sets, streamlining the study and review process.
Young Mix provides an Excel file containing the correct answers for each code, which can be easily imported into the QM Multiple-Choice Marking App on mobile devices for efficient grading Additionally, the original exam questions have been standardized and refined for a more polished and professional appearance, ensuring accuracy and consistency in assessment materials.
WHY WE CHOOSE YOUNGMIX?
Since 2017, the widespread use of multiple-choice tests has led to increased opportunities for exam content sharing and copying To prevent cheating, teachers often mix multiple-choice questions across different exam codes, either manually or using computer software Manual mixing is time-consuming and labor-intensive, while online software solutions require computer resources that can slow down weaker machines To streamline the process, teachers need fast, accurate, user-friendly, and free software capable of shuffling questions across various subjects As a result, multiple-choice question mixing software has been developed, with YoungMix emerging as the most popular and widely used online tool for exam question mixing.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF YOUNGMIX
Using Young Mix online quizzes software brings a lot of benefits, including:
Themes with many different bridges
Young Mix offers versatile assessment options by enabling the combination of exams that are entirely multiple choice or include both multiple choice and essay questions It allows for grouping questions, such as matching or group questions, and sequencing these groups in a specific order This flexible functionality ensures comprehensive and customizable exam creation to meet diverse testing needs.
In addition, Young Mix can also combine the following styles:
_ Or change both the question and the answer in each question
_ Or just replace the questions without replacing the answers in the question _ Or the answer only replaces in the question, not the question
From there, it can meet all the user's exams
Young Mix provides an Excel file with the correct answers for each question, which can be easily imported into the QM multiple-choice test app on your phone for efficient marking The platform offers features for proposing exam questions and creating comprehensive question banks Additionally, the original question file has been reformatted to be more standardized and visually appealing, enhancing usability and presentation.
Easy to use and no installation required
Young Mix offers a user-friendly solution that requires no learning curve or multiple software installations, making exam mixing simple and efficient This free tool is available at youngmix.vn and is developed by ChamThi, the provider of the renowned QM exam marking application for mobile devices Users can easily upload Word files, specify the number of exams to mix, and download the results instantly.
Any computer can use this software to mix multiple choice questions
Young Mix is compatible with all types of computers and devices, including Dell, Asus, desktops, MacBooks, iPads, Surface tablets, and even smartphones like iPhone, Samsung, and Oppo It requires no resources from the user's machine, ensuring smooth operation even on low-spec devices This universal compatibility makes Young Mix accessible to everyone, regardless of their hardware setup.
Young Mix is a versatile software designed to generate randomized multiple-choice questions across a wide range of subjects, including English, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Citizenship Education, and Informatics Widely adopted by educators at all levels—from primary and secondary schools to high schools and universities—it efficiently combines test questions into various coding formats, making it an essential tool for creating diverse and secure assessments.
• Young Mix can only mix up to 24 codes Teachers can only mix multiple codes from the one original exam
• The original exam needs to be standardized according to youngmix's regulations to mix the correct exam
Once the original exam has been uploaded to the software, editing is not possible To make changes to the exam, you must re-upload a new or modified version, effectively replacing the previous one to ensure your exam is up-to-date.
RIVALS
Apart from YoungMix, numerous other software options now assist users in exam mixing, each offering unique advantages and disadvantages A detailed comparison of these tools is presented in the table below, highlighting their key features to help users make informed choices.
• Decentralize and manage the exam library, assign permissions for members to take the test
• The feature of creating self-practice and self-scoring test questions
• In the mixed exam questions, users can insert images, audio files, and video illustrations
• Support to configure the score scale for exam questions and time
• Teachers, users can review exam history and students' work
• Each set of quizzes created shows random questions and answers based on the original question
• Only free for the trial version, if you want to upgrade, you need to pay for each package that suits your needs
• Complicated account registration is required
• The test will be randomized both the question and the answers based on the original set extremely quickly
• Questions will not be limited in number
• After mixing the test questions, the software allows to export raw data to computer memory Here, the user can enter data by editing the XML data file
There is no online version, users have to download the software to their computer
• It is completely free to use and is not limited to the time of use or the number of exam questions and the number of questions and exam subjects
Easily import your exam questions into the software by uploading an entire Word document or adding questions individually The process of swapping questions and answers is quick and user-friendly, streamlining your exam creation process for efficient testing management.
• Manage database of all exams, subjects and exam questions to access data if needed at any time
• Providing full Vietnamese fonts (Unicode, ABC, VNI, ), the outstanding point is that it supports Russian, French, Chinese,
• Preserve the format of the original exam with all text formats, formulas, images,
Users can customize headers, footers, templates, and the exam arrangement program to create well-organized and visually appealing exam questions This ensures that, after permuting questions and answers, the exams remain functional and require no additional modifications.
There is no online version, users have to download the software to their computer
• Unlimited number of permutation questions can be created, automatically generating smart permutation codes
• Import/Export answers for automatic or manual grading
• Import/Export original exam questions for users to exchange exam questions with each other in the community to use
• Unlimited number of exam questions and questions
• Print the answers for the TestPro Engine exam marking machine software
• Link to test module TestOnline
• Users can compose exam questions from Microsoft Word but must be from the 2003 version or later
• When installing software on your computer, your computer needs hardware from Pentium II and RAM 128 or higher
• The capacity is quite light, with 100MB of free memory usable
• Smart Test has a software interface similar to MS Word 2013 and MS Word
2016, so creating code in Word format is quite convenient for teachers and students
• Support management function and ensure data security for safe users
• After creating the codes, the software will secure the questions through login authentication to avoid theft or backup
• Question data recovery feature if the user accidentally deletes the file
There is no online version, users have to download the software to their computer
• Allows users to create questions for the exam through audio recording, through images directly from the computer camera
• The bank of multiple-choice questions is diverse and quite rich
• Users can use different types of related questions to create for multiple choice
There is no online version, users have to download the software to their computer
• Allows users to create different multiple choice questions from the available question bank
• The program mixes multiple-choice questions for all subjects
There is no online version, fully integrated in the MS Word editing environment
Young Mix Online is the easiest and fastest software for creating multiple-choice exams today Users can effortlessly mix exams online without the need to download any software to their computer Completely free to use, Young Mix does not require users to log in or register an account before creating exams Its simple and user-friendly interface makes it convenient and easy for newcomers to navigate and use efficiently.
With the rising demand for mixing exams, specialized software has been developed to support teachers in creating assessments efficiently Choosing the right software depends on specific user needs, ensuring optimal functionality Among these, the Young Mix application stands out as a highly effective solution, effectively meeting users' requirements for exam mixing.
YOUNG MIX SOFTWARE USER MANUAL
• The question must begin with the word “sentence” For example: Sentence 1, Sentence 2, etc (Or the word “Question”, for example Question 1, Question 2,…)
• a newline (type Enter) before typing the answers
• Compulsory answers must begin with the words “A”, “ B ”, “ C ”, “ D ”
If you need to fix any answer, put a # in front of it Example: #A
• Each answer should be on one line (Optional, but identification will be more accurate)
• The correct answer must be highlighted in red (A or #A) or underline (A or #A )
For questions and answers that include images, it is essential to embed images in inline with text mode to maintain layout stability This ensures that images do not shift or move unexpectedly during future permutations or content updates, preserving a coherent and visually consistent user experience Proper inline image placement also enhances SEO by maintaining content readability and ensuring that images are contextually integrated within the text.
In addition, YoungMix also supports mixing exams according to question groups, according to the mixing option by adding the next 1 line above each group of characters below:
The group of bald sentences does not need to be mixed (Examples usually apply to the Listening test of English subject, )
Question group just transpose the questions
The group of bald sentences just need to transpose the answers
The question group needs to permute both the questions and the answers
This is an example original exam that has been prepared according to the standard
Figure 2 - Example of original exam questions
Step 2 Visit the link below, click Choose file and start uploading your prepared test file
• Young Mix – Mixing multiple choice questions online
During Step 3, the exam mixing option interface allows you to customize various parameters, including the number of exams, sorting short answers, selecting English exams, and unifying the font After configuring these settings, click "Mix Theme" to generate your customized exam.
Step 4 Upon completion, you will receive a multiple-choice test file with the following files:
• Excel file with the correct answer for each question This Excel file can be quickly imported into the QM multiple-choice marking app on your phone for later marking
• The original title file has been reformatted to make it more standard and beautiful
• New sets of multiple-choice questions for each code
• QR Code to answer QM app
Figure 5 - Files after mixing exam questions
Excel file with answers to all exam codes
Figure 6 - Excel file containing answers
To generate a QR code with answers from an Excel file, open the QRCode_dapan file located in the test set folder Navigate to the "Create QR Code" option, then select your Excel answer file The system will then produce a QR code containing the answers, providing a quick and efficient way to encode your data.