Firefighting Industry Analysis
Industry Analysis - A review of Firefighting Segments in the United States
Firefighters
The NFPA estimates that there is 1,148,100 firefighters in the United States, of these 29% or 332,949 are professional/full time firefighters and 71% or 815,151 are volunteer firefighters. (Source: US Fire Department Profile Through 2009, Michael J. Karter, Jr., NFPA, Quincy, MA, October 2010). In the training/education industry as it pertains to firefighters we can assume that our customer market is comprised of 1.1 million potential customers. Our primary focus for our product/service is geared towards the Volunteer Fire Departments and their internal training systems.
Analysis of Porters Five Forces
Threat of New Entry
Our strategy …show more content…
will need to include a means to manage the threat of new entry. Though we have not been able to find companies that provide a comprehensive training solution it will not be difficult for existing training and education companies to devise programs similar to the one we are proposing. Our strategy will require us to quickly enter the market place and secure customers.
Within the training and education industry for firefighting there are not any competitors that provide a program geared specifically to the volunteer fire service.
Technology is the driving force behind the growth of the firefighting industry. As new techniques and new equipment is developed the training most also be developed to ensure that proper techniques be utilized for safety purposes. The product we are proposing provides industry differention because of the unique way the program is packaged.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
Our dependency of suppliers is regulated to our DVD sales portion and their distribution to those ordering. However there are many DVD producers in the United States as well as globally that can maintain a competitive price and reliability to make sure our products would be provided when required.
The Industry – Jockeying for Position Among Current Competitors
An analysis of the training and education industry shows the following current educators in the firefighting educational …show more content…
system:
• State Colleges and Academies (Normally run through Community Colleges)
• Fire House and Fire Engineering Magazines
• NFPA
• Manufacturers of Various Firefighting Gear and Equipment
• You Tube and Social Firefighting Networks (i.e. Facebook)
Bargaining Power of Customers
What we are selling is the convenience of having an entire years training program completely mapped out for the busy volunteer training officer. Our customers will have the opportunity to cater the program anyway they want. Within the industry the firefighters that select these types of programs normally control finite public budgets and therefore will have much control over which training tools they wanted represented at their respective fire halls. These individuals have much to choose from in the way of training and can create their own programs from all of the materials available online and through manufacturers.
Threat of Substitute Products or Services The industry has many options for training but no comprehensive program. However when our program is developed and marketed other companies that are already established in the market place will have an easy time to copy our program. Any strategy that our company has will address this threat through a swift marketing strategy and specific training program that is professional, comprehensive and convenient. Review of the Value Chain
Primary Activities Inbound Logistics
There will be two major means of delivery for our products: the World Wide Web and delivery of a training package that includes DVD’s. The production of the video, the educational tools (paper products to support the videos) and the assembly of the package will need to be completed utilizing the most value and cost efficient manner.
Operations
In order to keep overhead costs low our operations team will be focused on securing educational materials, producing and editing instructional videos, creating and packaging materials, servicing the web site, sales and product delivery.
Outbound Logistics
Our product service is not limited to only one means of delivery. However our client group is located throughout the United Sates so a solid delivery strategy will need to be created to address how our product is delivered. Our other means of web delivery will also need to adapt to varying degrees of fire hall infrastructure and their own technological limitations.
Marketing and Sales
As an industry the client group we are attempting to reach is bombarded with new products.
Our marketing strategy will need to focus on the convenience of having a complete program catered to their specific needs and a reasonable cost.
Service
Our success is predicated to creating life long relationships with our customers. It is critical to show compassion, loyalty and determination to make the firefighter we are training continuously successful in their educational program. The industry can be extremely loyal to products but the company must earn trust.
Support Activities
Firm Infrastructure
Our company will be led by five MBA’s from the Syracuse University. Ach will have a different role and responsibility in making sure that the tasks required to be completed will be done so to maximize profits and keep overhead costs low.
Human Resource Management
We will be required to manage our own company as well as subcontractors that assist us in developing our products.
Technology
Our dependence on the latest in video technology will be a key differentiator between us and any of our competitors. By utilizing the latest in low cost high result video technology we will be able to create professional looking videos and marketing material with low over all
costs.
Procurement
Our own strategy for developing our product will require us to develop relationships with industry professionals as well as suppliers of our educational materials.
Industry Budgets
As an industry it is difficult to gage how volunteer firefighter budgets are developed and sustained due to the varied amount of volunteer fire departments through out the country. Depending on the size of the community they train and their own dedication to training and education their annual budget could range in the hundreds of thousands of dollar to just a couple hundred dollars. Our marketing strategy must address these varied costs.
Firefighters
The NFPA estimates that there is 1,148,100 firefighters in the United States, of these 29% or 332,949 are professional/full time firefighters and 71% or 815,151 are volunteer firefighters. (Source: US Fire Department Profile Through 2009, Michael J. Karter, Jr., NFPA, Quincy, MA, October 2010). In the training/education industry as it pertains to firefighters we can assume that our customer market is comprised of 1.1 million potential customers. Our primary focus for our product/service is geared towards the Volunteer Fire Departments and their internal training systems.
Analysis of Porters Five Forces
Threat of New Entry
Our strategy …show more content…
will need to include a means to manage the threat of new entry. Though we have not been able to find companies that provide a comprehensive training solution it will not be difficult for existing training and education companies to devise programs similar to the one we are proposing. Our strategy will require us to quickly enter the market place and secure customers.
Within the training and education industry for firefighting there are not any competitors that provide a program geared specifically to the volunteer fire service.
Technology is the driving force behind the growth of the firefighting industry. As new techniques and new equipment is developed the training most also be developed to ensure that proper techniques be utilized for safety purposes. The product we are proposing provides industry differention because of the unique way the program is packaged.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
Our dependency of suppliers is regulated to our DVD sales portion and their distribution to those ordering. However there are many DVD producers in the United States as well as globally that can maintain a competitive price and reliability to make sure our products would be provided when required.
The Industry – Jockeying for Position Among Current Competitors
An analysis of the training and education industry shows the following current educators in the firefighting educational …show more content…
system:
• State Colleges and Academies (Normally run through Community Colleges)
• Fire House and Fire Engineering Magazines
• NFPA
• Manufacturers of Various Firefighting Gear and Equipment
• You Tube and Social Firefighting Networks (i.e. Facebook)
Bargaining Power of Customers
What we are selling is the convenience of having an entire years training program completely mapped out for the busy volunteer training officer. Our customers will have the opportunity to cater the program anyway they want. Within the industry the firefighters that select these types of programs normally control finite public budgets and therefore will have much control over which training tools they wanted represented at their respective fire halls. These individuals have much to choose from in the way of training and can create their own programs from all of the materials available online and through manufacturers.
Threat of Substitute Products or Services The industry has many options for training but no comprehensive program. However when our program is developed and marketed other companies that are already established in the market place will have an easy time to copy our program. Any strategy that our company has will address this threat through a swift marketing strategy and specific training program that is professional, comprehensive and convenient. Review of the Value Chain
Primary Activities Inbound Logistics
There will be two major means of delivery for our products: the World Wide Web and delivery of a training package that includes DVD’s. The production of the video, the educational tools (paper products to support the videos) and the assembly of the package will need to be completed utilizing the most value and cost efficient manner.
Operations
In order to keep overhead costs low our operations team will be focused on securing educational materials, producing and editing instructional videos, creating and packaging materials, servicing the web site, sales and product delivery.
Outbound Logistics
Our product service is not limited to only one means of delivery. However our client group is located throughout the United Sates so a solid delivery strategy will need to be created to address how our product is delivered. Our other means of web delivery will also need to adapt to varying degrees of fire hall infrastructure and their own technological limitations.
Marketing and Sales
As an industry the client group we are attempting to reach is bombarded with new products.
Our marketing strategy will need to focus on the convenience of having a complete program catered to their specific needs and a reasonable cost.
Service
Our success is predicated to creating life long relationships with our customers. It is critical to show compassion, loyalty and determination to make the firefighter we are training continuously successful in their educational program. The industry can be extremely loyal to products but the company must earn trust.
Support Activities
Firm Infrastructure
Our company will be led by five MBA’s from the Syracuse University. Ach will have a different role and responsibility in making sure that the tasks required to be completed will be done so to maximize profits and keep overhead costs low.
Human Resource Management
We will be required to manage our own company as well as subcontractors that assist us in developing our products.
Technology
Our dependence on the latest in video technology will be a key differentiator between us and any of our competitors. By utilizing the latest in low cost high result video technology we will be able to create professional looking videos and marketing material with low over all
costs.
Procurement
Our own strategy for developing our product will require us to develop relationships with industry professionals as well as suppliers of our educational materials.
Industry Budgets
As an industry it is difficult to gage how volunteer firefighter budgets are developed and sustained due to the varied amount of volunteer fire departments through out the country. Depending on the size of the community they train and their own dedication to training and education their annual budget could range in the hundreds of thousands of dollar to just a couple hundred dollars. Our marketing strategy must address these varied costs.