Author: vboboe
Date: 2007-04-15 00:01
As with all rosy financial estimates, there are other things that need to be evaluated in this entire fictitious operation -- here are my 2 bits worth
maybe it'll chain reaction to other important things you'd not taken into consideration
How long does it take to sharpen a knife, again, again? Not long, but it does increase the time needed for reed production. The actual cutting might only take 10 mins, but pre-soaking and sharpening, set-up & clean-up, etc. all need to be included in calculating overall labor time.
It's all-so-easy (and much too commonly done in small businesses) to write off the value of one's personal time doing all the itsy bitsy other stuff, but it ends up making you worn-out at the end of the day just the same, exhausted over months, and puts you in the box of 'have-to-do-it' instead of 'want-to' sooner or later
Replacement cost of worn-out knives at higher rate of use?
Human beings aren't machines, no matter how skilled they are. "Cruising speed" factor needs to be included in the production time. Work studies have shown that people pace themselves more slowly when doing umpteen repetitious movements over long periods of time. This conserves their energy for the time needed, and spares their muscles from undue fatique (repetitive strain injuries). If you can produce a day's quota to your estimates within muscle endurance time at sprint speed every day within your best mental concentration period, OK. But these glowing estimates are based on Weber's time ... now do the estimate on real-Matovich production time
Your estimate of only cutting for 12.5 hr/week is not the only time involved in reed-making. You're also splitting, gouging, shaping, drying? Is 10 months instead of 12 months enough slack to cover that (and all the other allowances you've already made) or would it be better to do the math at 9 months? Are you including or excluding both days of all weekends in your months?
Packaging? You haven't included overhead expenses for supplies of reed packaging in a suitable protective container ready for sale. What will you use, how much will that overhead be, and how long will it take you to secure the packaging? That's more labor time.
Managing & keeping track of orders and supplies? That's more labor time and overhead expense. Oboe players need speedy delivery of their reeds. Real-life orders come it thick and fast on the days you've got no time due to other commitments. Pay somebody else to cover for you?
When you're snow-bound, and the post/courier service accessible, not? -- how will you deliver to regular subscription customers in winter?
Does your mature bod, eyes, want to do the work? Will your vision be limited to best light of the day during the winter?
Ah, yes ... home business makes it or is broken ... on the details
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