Univar Quimica SA
Univar Quimica SA, the Brazilian subsidiary of Univar Fontenay SA (France), faces the changes produced by the opening of the Brazilian market, a new regional trade agreement-Mercosur, and increasing local competition. A drop in the 1996 profitability brings a new country manager, and with him an American consultant, Thomas Rich, to turn around the business. The central challenge is to reorganize factory operations, improve inventory management practices, and build up the operations staff.
The case is geared to MBA courses focusing on management of operation in developing countries. It offers an extensive base for the examination of business culture and practices, human resource management and development, process redesign, and organizational transformation.
