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 largest toy manufacturers worldwide, renowned for its iconic building bricks and figures that have delighted children for generations The name ‘Lego’ is derived from the Danish words “Lego godt,” meaning “play well,” reflecting the company's commitment to quality and imaginative play Founded in Denmark, Lego has experienced sustained growth over the years, establishing itself as a leading brand in the global toy industry.
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 toys to ignite imagination, curiosity, and excitement The brand is committed to continuous improvement, striving to provide the best playthings that support children's growth As a result, Lego has earned the trust of many parents and gained global popularity However, few realize that Lego faced significant challenges during its development journey before achieving the remarkable success it enjoys today.
In 2003, Lego faced intense competition from imitators and electronic toy manufacturers, prompting the company to implement a strategic restructuring to reduce costs As part of this plan, Lego outsourced manually intensive processes to lower labor expenses, retaining only highly skilled workers at their headquarters in Billund This cost-cutting initiative led to a significant reduction in workforce from 8,300 employees in 2003 to around 4,200 by 2010, ensuring the company's continued competitiveness in the toy industry.
Lego’s recent restructuring efforts, combined with double-digit sales growth, have driven its international expansion and increased its diverse global workforce These strategic changes introduced supply chain and human resources challenges, prompting the company to reengineer its supply chain to streamline production while maintaining high quality standards Enhanced logistics planning has enabled Lego to strengthen collaboration with retailers, suppliers, and outsourcing partners, supporting its continued growth and global presence.
SOLUTION
STRENGTHS
The Lego Group is a globally recognized brand and one of the leading manufacturers in the toy industry Its commitment to technological innovation, while maintaining core principles, drives continuous product development This focus on innovation helps attract new customers and enhances overall brand recognition.
The Lego Group's extensive experience in the toy industry enables them to effectively meet customer needs and stay ahead of market trends Their expertise allows for seamless identification and implementation of product adjustments, ensuring continuous innovation and high-quality offerings for their audience.
The Lego Group's diverse product portfolio, including television, video games, and motion pictures, strengthens its market position and brand presence By integrating educational play with entertainment, the company engages young audiences, promoting learning through play These strategic advantages help Lego compete effectively with other major players in the toy industry and expand its influence across multiple entertainment platforms.
WEAKNESSES
The Lego Group faces a significant challenge due to the simplicity of its product designs, making them easily imitated by competitors Many businesses in the industry offer similar goods and services, which hampers Lego's ability to fully differentiate its product lines This lack of unique differentiation makes it difficult for the company to stand out in a highly competitive market.
The Lego Group faces challenges in differentiating itself within the competitive toy market due to rapid industry growth that diminishes brand identity The availability of numerous low-cost alternatives threatens to erode market share, as Lego’s premium-priced products become less attractive to cost-conscious consumers Additionally, the company's narrow focus on a single product category limits its ability to diversify and adapt to changing market trends, impacting long-term growth potential.
OPPORTUNITIES
To reach new market target demographics, The Lego Group must develop additional branding programs and activities, which will help expand its product offerings to various nations worldwide These initiatives will strengthen brand awareness and support global market penetration while aligning with the company's growth strategies.
Utilizing the latest technology enables organizations to enhance their learning capabilities and stay ahead in their industry This approach also provides better awareness of ongoing developments in the sector, helping businesses adapt and remain competitive.
The Lego Group is exploring the possibility of relocating its production processes to more cost-effective locations, which could significantly reduce manufacturing expenses This strategic move not only offers immediate cost savings but also supports the company's long-term growth and competitiveness within 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, effectively lowering switch counts and boosting brand retention rates Implementing engaging competitive events can enhance brand loyalty among children and foster long-term customer relationships, aligning with SEO strategies by highlighting keywords like "children's entertainment," "gaming tournaments," and "brand retention."
THREATS
The main challenge facing the Lego Group is that its product designs are easily replicated, as many competitors offer similar goods and services in the market This widespread imitation makes it difficult for Lego to fully differentiate its product lines from those of its rivals, impacting its competitive advantage and brand uniqueness in the industry.
Hasbro, the second-largest toy manufacturer worldwide, is preparing to enter the market with an innovative product line called Kre-O This new line of competing building sets aims to challenge established brands like Lego in the construction toy industry (Lego Group: Building Strategy Harvard Case Solution & Analysis, 2011)
Here is a diagram that illustrates the SWOT
Lego selected SAP Business Suite software to enhance its operations, leveraging SAP AG’s expertise in enterprise solutions As a leading global software provider, SAP offers a comprehensive range of applications designed to optimize essential business functions Specifically, Lego implemented SAP’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) modules to improve supply chain efficiency and streamline product development processes.
Management (PLM), and Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) modules The
The SCM module offers critical features including supply chain monitoring, analysis, forecasting, planning, and inventory optimization to enhance supply chain efficiency Meanwhile, the PLM module empowers managers to streamline and optimize product development processes and systems, ensuring smoother operations and improved collaboration across teams.
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 its well-crafted strategy that supports business innovation, selecting the right components, and securing high-quality building blocks The company emphasizes designing with long-term applications, assembling physical components effectively, and creating detailed templates Additionally, Lego maintains copies of finished works, connects different components seamlessly, and plans for future models, all of which have contributed to its current triumphs and industry leadership.
Our comprehensive SAP landscape supports all aspects of business innovation, including finance, logistics, and sales, enabling seamless integration across operations The long-term strategy involves integrating SAP Product Lifecycle Management with SAP Warehouse Management to optimize supply chain efficiency As Lego expands into new regions and introduces the "cookbook," we will enhance our system by adding SAP ERP Human Capital Management to support human resources growth This strategic expansion of the SAP ecosystem demonstrates how customized SAP applications allow Lego to meet evolving business needs, fostering continued innovation and operational excellence.
Choosing the right components is crucial, and SAP software offers the optimal balance between traditional processes and flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the toy industry The SAP ecosystem supports all core business functions, including finance, logistics, and sales, ensuring seamless operations Integrating SAP Product Lifecycle Management with SAP Warehouse Management is part of the long-term strategic plan to enhance operational efficiency Additionally, as the business expands into new regions, SAP ERP Human Capital Management will be incorporated to support workforce management and regional growth initiatives.
Lego's commitment to SAP applications allows the company to effectively secure essential building blocks for its operations Key SAP modules such as Product Lifecycle Management and Warehouse Management demonstrate how vital these applications are to Lego's core business processes By integrating SAP solutions like Product Lifecycle Management, Lego enhances product development efficiency, while Warehouse Management ensures optimized inventory control and supply chain management This strategic reliance on SAP technology underscores Lego's focus on streamlining operations and maintaining its competitive edge globally.
Lifecycle management solutions in finance and production enable businesses to understand the true cost and manufacturing impact of product development decisions This comprehensive visibility allows companies to assess the business implications thoroughly By leveraging these insights, organizations can respond swiftly and effectively to market changes and new opportunities Making informed decisions early in the development process enhances agility, competitiveness, and overall business success.
For long-term success, Lego emphasizes exceptional product lifecycle management to rapidly introduce innovative products and implements always-on logistics to streamline global manufacturing and distribution Additionally, Lego relies on effective human resource processes to support its diverse, multinational workforce while using integrated SAP applications on the IBM Power platform to enhance responsiveness to market opportunities These comprehensive processes span all aspects of the company, including staff management, production systems, product design, and sales, ensuring agility and efficiency across the organization.
When assembling physical components abroad, it's crucial to choose scalable platforms that can grow rapidly to accommodate increasing workloads Lego leverages its dual-system architecture to maximize capacity and efficiency Planned service reductions dynamically reallocate resources between development, testing, simulation, and production environments, ensuring seamless operation even if a data center goes offline Additionally, IBM provides dedicated technical support with experts assigned to each hardware and software platform, along with specialized account advocates knowledgeable about Lego’s installations, ensuring robust and reliable system management.
Lego efficiently manages its compute capability by allocating resources based on workload demands to fulfill contractual obligations To enhance supply chain operations, Lego utilizes SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO), which benefits from being assigned spare computing capacity during weekends when primary systems are typically offline This strategy ensures that APO processes run quickly and reliably, allowing sufficient time for reruns if needed, thereby improving overall supply chain effectiveness.
Lego manufactures approximately 19 billion components annually, with some stored in centralized high-bay warehouses across Denmark, Eastern Europe, and Mexico To ensure efficient expansion, they require a dependable and easily replicable warehouse solution Since existing warehouses use proprietary systems, Lego could not rely on vendor assistance and aimed to develop a standardized template using SAP Warehouse Management This approach allows quick replication of the warehouse setup for new operations, reducing business risk and ensuring a consistent operating model Additionally, leveraging SAP provides access to comprehensive support and development resources for future expansion.
Lego has consolidated its data storage by implementing IBM System Storage DS8700 systems, each equipped with 1.5TB of production data, with one system deployed in each data center to ensure redundancy The company also stores desktop application data on these systems, granting full access to all corporate information To effectively manage various aspects of its complex information infrastructure—including network and system health monitoring, performance visualization, and incident management—Lego has adopted a comprehensive suite of Tivoli products, such as IBM Tivoli Netcool/Webtop These solutions standardize administration across its global, heterogeneous environment, improving control and helping to reduce infrastructure management costs.
IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager (ITCAM) for Applications provides a unified, user-friendly interface for connecting various components and integrating critical application data, enabling comprehensive monitoring, analysis, and control of SAP applications across the enterprise This solution facilitates seamless integration of external applications with SAP systems, granting Lego complete visibility and management of their entire application landscape Additionally, IBM Tivoli Network Manager helps reduce costs by optimizing network asset utilization and 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 a versatile 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 modes to enhance question mixing: question permutation testing, answer permutation testing, and combined question and answer permutation testing This tool streamlines the process of producing varied assessments, making it ideal for educators and exam administrators seeking flexible testing solutions.
Young Mix Online swiftly combines multiple-choice questions within just 3 seconds for 24 codes, and only 1 second if you need 4 codes This innovative tool transforms original, potentially unstructured exam questions into well-aligned, visually appealing, and information-rich formats Perfect for optimizing exam preparation, it ensures questions are properly organized and standardized for better readability and effectiveness.
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 The original exam questions have been standardized and reformatted to ensure a more polished and visually appealing presentation, enhancing both clarity and professionalism.
WHY WE CHOOSE YOUNGMIX?
Since 2017, multiple-choice tests have become the standard for most exams, leading to increased instances of answer copying among students To address this, teachers have started mixing exam questions by creating multiple different exam codes and shuffling questions, either manually or through computer software However, using computers for question mixing can slow down weaker machines, and manual methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive To enhance exam security and efficiency, teachers need reliable, fast, and easy-to-use software that can accurately shuffle multiple-choice questions across various subjects and is free of charge As a solution, multiple-choice mixing software like YoungMix has been developed, becoming the most popular online tool for teachers to create secure, randomized exams efficiently.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF YOUNGMIX
Using Young Mix online quizzes software brings a lot of benefits, including:
Themes with many different bridges
Young Mix allows educators to create versatile exams featuring 100% multiple-choice questions or a mix of multiple choice and essay questions It offers the flexibility to group questions, such as matching or group questions, and organize these groups in a specific sequence to enhance the assessment structure This comprehensive exam platform supports diverse question formats and organized grouping for efficient exam creation.
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 accurate answers for each question, streamlining the grading process This file can be easily imported into the QM multiple choice test app on your phone for quick and efficient marking Additionally, it offers a collection of exam questions and question banks compatible with Word, with the original question files reformatted for a more standardized and visually appealing presentation.
Easy to use and no installation required
Young Mix offers a user-friendly solution that requires no learning curve or installation of complex mixing software, making it accessible to all users This free online tool, available at youngmix.vn, is developed by ChamThi, the renowned provider of the QM exam marking application for mobile devices Simply visit youngmix.vn, upload your Word exam file, specify the number of versions to generate, and easily download the mixed exams.
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 more, regardless of brand or model It also supports a wide range of phones such as iPhones, Samsung, Oppo, and others Since Young Mix does not rely on any resources from the user's machine, it can operate smoothly even on low-performance computers, ensuring accessible and hassle-free usage for all users.
Young Mix is 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 It is widely used by educators at all academic levels—from primary and secondary schools to high schools and universities—to efficiently create diverse exam questions Perfect for teachers seeking an effective tool to mix and manage test content across various educational codes, Young Mix enhances assessment preparation and variety.
• 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, it cannot be edited To modify the exam, you need to re-upload the updated version to replace or mix it within the system Implementing this process ensures accurate exam management and seamless updates.
RIVALS
Several software options are now available to assist users in mixing exams, each offering unique advantages and disadvantages Alongside YoungMix, various platforms provide different features to enhance exam preparation and testing A detailed comparison of these software tools is presented in the table below, highlighting their specific strengths and limitations for users seeking the most suitable solution.
• 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 entire exam from a Word document or add questions individually into the software The process for swapping questions and answers is quick, straightforward, and user-friendly, streamlining your exam creation workflow.
• 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 layout to ensure questions are organized logically and aesthetically The platform allows for flexible arrangement and permutation of questions and answers, enabling the generated exams to be used directly without additional modifications This streamlined process enhances exam preparation efficiency and maintains a professional appearance.
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 conveniently mix exams online without the need to download any software to their computers Completely free to use, Young Mix does not require users to log in or register an account, making the process seamless Its user-friendly interface is simple, intuitive, and ideal for newcomers, ensuring a smooth experience in exam creation.
With the rising demand for mixing exams, specialized software has been developed to support teachers' needs Choosing the right software depends on specific usage requirements, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness The Young Mix application stands out as a solution that effectively meets these needs, providing users with a reliable tool for exam mixing tasks.
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 )
When including questions and answers with images, ensure that images are embedded inline with text mode This approach keeps images stable and prevents them from shifting during future content rearrangements, maintaining the overall coherence and readability of your article Proper inline image integration also enhances SEO by improving user experience and ensuring consistent visual flow throughout the content.
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
In Step 3, at the exam mixing options interface, you can customize parameters like the number of exams, sorting short answers, selecting English exams, and unifying the font Once you've adjusted your settings, simply click "Mix Theme" to generate your exam mixture efficiently.
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 containing 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 the Excel answer file The system will then generate a QR Code that encodes the answers, providing an easy way to share and access test results efficiently.