The objective of this study is to recommend a financially and operatively sound scope for sheet metal processing for the case company, Aste Finland Oy. Aste Finland Oy is in the business of assembling commercial display coolers. The company is planning an upstream in-house investment into sheet metal processing to reduce production costs. In order to carry on with the investment, the company needs insight for decision making concerning a financially and operatively sound scope of sheet metal processing.

This study consists of four stages that are performed based on the research design. The first stage comprises the literature review, during which the existing knowledge and best practices are used to develop a conceptual framework for the feasibility demonstration. The second stage includes the collection of necessary ground data for feasibility demonstration. The third stage incorporates the feasibility study of sheet metal processing alternatives and the development of the recommendations on a financially and operatively sound scope of sheet metal processing. The fourth stage contains validation and adjustment of the recommendations.

The outcome of this study is recommendations on a financially and operatively sound scope for sheet metal processing. This study revealed that in-house sheet metal bending is the only financially and operatively feasible alternative at the current state of Aste Finland Oy. Furthermore, recommendations address effectiveness, efficiency, risks, opportunities and strategic importance associated with the implementation of in-house bending. This study also provides the ideas for its further development and recommends corrective actions to address the existing challenges of Aste Finland Oy.

This study provides the decision-makers of Aste Finland Oy with a detailed insight needed to carry on with the upstream in-house investment by recommending the scope of processing, investments and actions.

The outcome of this study has received positive feedback from the decision-makers of Aste Finland Oy. It has been confirmed that further decision-making will incorporate developed recommendations.