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  • November 2005 (Revised March 2006)
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Genentech - Capacity Planning

By: Daniel C. Snow, Steven C. Wheelwright and Alison Berkley Wagonfeld
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:27
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Abstract

While facilitating a complex clinical approval process over the next two to three years for a family of new cancer drugs, Genentech must develop a long-term capacity plan for a major class of new cancer products. Adding to the complexity and uncertainty is the fact that the lead time for planning, building, and certifying a new $600 million plus production-scale facility is five years. In addition, ensuring that the best process technology is incorporated into such a new plant makes the task facing David Ebersman, the senior vice-president of products operations, and his management team a daunting one. Frames the issues Ebersman and his team face and outlines the approach to date.

Keywords

Factories, Labs, and Plants; Growth and Development Strategy; Management Style; Management Teams; Time Management; Product; Product Development; Business Processes; Performance Capacity; Planning; Risk and Uncertainty; Complexity; Pharmaceutical Industry

Citation

Snow, Daniel C., Steven C. Wheelwright, and Alison Berkley Wagonfeld. "Genentech - Capacity Planning." Harvard Business School Case 606-052, November 2005. (Revised March 2006.)
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About The Author

Steven C. Wheelwright

→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • November 2015
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    The Prius Approach: How Hybrid Technologies Help Companies Survive Disruption and Shape the Future

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    Cleaning House: The Impact of Information Technology on Employee Corruption and Performance

    By: Lamar Pierce, Daniel Snow and Andrew McAfee
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    Operations Management Reading: Forecasting

    By: Steven C. Wheelwright and Ann B. Winslow
More from the Authors
  • The Prius Approach: How Hybrid Technologies Help Companies Survive Disruption and Shape the Future By: Nathan Furr and Daniel Snow
  • Cleaning House: The Impact of Information Technology on Employee Corruption and Performance By: Lamar Pierce, Daniel Snow and Andrew McAfee
  • Operations Management Reading: Forecasting By: Steven C. Wheelwright and Ann B. Winslow
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