Project Background
Meta is preparing to launch a new Meta Quest hardware accessory tied to a major Connect announcement, with a public launch date that cannot move. You are the Operations Manager responsible for designing the supply chain process from final build readiness through retail and direct-to-consumer fulfillment. The program includes 18 core team members across Operations, Hardware Engineering, Sourcing, Quality, Finance, Marketing, and Regional Sales, plus external manufacturing and logistics partners.
The launch matters because the accessory is expected to attach to Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S demand during the holiday window, and leadership has already aligned paid marketing, Meta Store merchandising, and channel partner commitments around the date. Missing the launch would create revenue loss, excess marketing spend, and credibility issues with retail partners.
Key Stakeholders
Key stakeholders include the Director of Hardware Operations, Quest Product Marketing, Sourcing, Quality Engineering, Finance, Meta Store eCommerce, and regional retail sales leads. Their priorities conflict: Marketing wants maximum launch volume, Finance wants minimal inventory risk, and Quality will not approve shipment without passing reliability thresholds.
Constraints
- Fixed public launch date: 16 weeks from today
- Forecasted first-90-day demand: 420,000 units
- Approved launch budget remaining: $6.5M for tooling, expedite freight, and buffer inventory
- Manufacturing: 2 contract manufacturers in Vietnam and Mexico
- Long-lead component: custom sensor module with 10-week lead time
- Channel split at launch: 45% Meta Store, 35% North America retail, 20% EU/APAC retail
Complications
- The sensor supplier is signaling a possible 3-week delay on first mass-production lots.
- Reliability testing has a 6% failure rate versus a 2% target, and design engineering wants 2 more weeks to tune the build.
- Marketing has committed to launch-day availability in 8 countries, but customs clearance is only validated for 5.
Your Task
- Build an end-to-end launch execution plan for the supply chain process through launch day.
- Define how you would allocate inventory, lock milestones, and manage trade-offs if supply is constrained.
- Identify the critical path, top risks, and escalation triggers.
- Propose launch readiness metrics and a contingency plan if quality or component supply slips.
- Recommend whether to keep full geographic scope or phase the rollout while preserving the fixed date.
