Examine the main benefits for a company such as General Motors of adapting a system of lean production.
A2 Business Lean Production Case Study GM adopts Lean Production Q: Examine the main benefits for a company such as General Motors of adapting a system of lean production. There is need for change with GM, in 1998 they took 50% more hours to produce a car than Toyota do, this has probably caused them to make a loss on all there products also in the modern era thus why they're struggling for survival while Toyota sell more cars than them. main benefits TGM could gain from adopting lean production are cost and the stock process One main benefit for GM of using lean production is the fall in costs which help to increase profits. Lean production uses less factory space overall, specifically because of the Just-in-time (JIT) process for stock. The JIT process is designed to give businesses stock for just when they need it, cutting out storage costs and insurance costs, which helps increase the profits GM can make. However, should GM choose to implement this process in all their 178 plants that are located across 12 countries, there are likely to be problems with supply of parts, especially if they require 300 suppliers per plant as Toyota do. Should GM switch to lean production, they're likely to require different needs from suppliers, possibly needs current suppliers can't fulfil because of technical differences or problems with transportation, meaning GM may have to seek for
The functions of an operations manager
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT MBA THE FUNCTION OF AN OPERATIONS MANAGER BY Suhaila Sinn THE FUNCTION OF AN OPERATIONS MANAGER INTRODUCTION 3 . PRODUCT PLANNING 4 .1 CAPACITY MANAGEMENT 6 .2 SCHEDULING 7 2. PROJECT MANAGEMENT 7 3. CONCLUSION 8 Introduction An operations manager is concerned with the ways of achieving the most effective and efficient use of an organisations resources, such as its financial and human resources, capital and materials. He/She is concerned with making a better product or service and with making it more efficient or at lower costs. They are generally trying to achieve the companies objectives and business success. They do not just deal with the manufacturing of products in an assembly line but the whole business processes. Operations management is valuable to any manager of any area. The APICS dictionary defines operations management as "the planning, scheduling, and control of the activities that transform inputs into finished goods and services. We can also define it as a field of study that focuses on the effective planning, scheduling, use and control of a manufacturing or service organisation through the study of concepts from design engineering, industrial engineering, management information systems, quality management, production manaegement, accounting, and other functions as they affect the operation."1 This means that an
"Mass production is the curse of management thinking and workers' lives"
"Mass production is the curse of management thinking and workers' lives" Introduction: The aim of this report is to critically examine the factors that have lead to the belief that mass production has had an adverse effect both on workers and on management thinking. This objective will be attained through the use of insights from the perspectives of reputable management theorists such as Fayol, Maslow, McGregor and Barnard and from the point of view of the workers. However, before exploring these perspectives it is first necessary to define the key characteristics of mass production and its origins. Mass production is the name given to the method of producing goods in large quantities at low cost per unit. This system consists of three elements: accuracy, continuity and speed. These three elements can be realised by the use of: mechanisation and automation, division of labour, specialisation of labour, interchangeability of parts and assembly lines. Although the ideas of mass production are over 400 years old, dating back to the first use of the printing press, it was Ford who in 1913 put theory into practice with the production of his famous "Model T". This new development in management meant that ten years later Ford would hold 50% of the world's total output and sell 1.7 million cars every year. Thus, mass production had made Ford's company a unique commercial
The intent of this paper is to briefly discuss ethics as it relates to the field of operations management. Ethics, Operations Management and ProfitabilityEveryday decisions are made that affect shareholders and employees
Ethics and Operations Management Parrish Monk University of Phoenix MGT -554 Operations Management Mr. Richard Sakelaris July 5, 2005 Operations Management In today's modern world of business, individuals in management constantly face critical decisions, ethical dilemmas, and other relevant issues that can affect a business, its employees, its shareholders and other associated stakeholders. Managers such as those responsible for operations management interpret the business' needs by helping to govern the processes by which a service is provided or product is produced. In essence, the field of operations management is centered on the proper management of all activities associated with the production of goods and services (Shim and Siegel, 2000). Respectively, implied in the "proper management" (regardless of the specific task or responsibility) there exists an implied sense of ethics and an expected adherence to certain acceptable business standards and practices. The intent of this paper is to briefly discuss ethics as it relates to the field of operations management. Ethics, Operations Management and Profitability Everyday decisions are made that affect shareholders and employees. Reducing costs may increase a shareholder's value and help sustain a company's employability. Consequently, with the loss of money come decisions on how to save money, reduce costs or
Provide a set of real live case studies for ourselves and for our fellow Operations Management students.
Contents Executive Summary of tasks Page 1 What is Capacity Management? Page 2 Capacity Management at Barratts Shoe Shop Page 3 Forecasting Capacity Management at Barratts Page 4 Forecasting Techniques used at Barratts Page 4 What is Just-In-Time? Pages 5 & 6 Just-In-Time at Rover Page 7 What is Inventory Management? Page 8 Inventory Management at Safeway PLC Pages 9 & 10 Conclusion Page 11 Appendices 1 - Meeting Log Page 12 Appendices 2 - Project Management using Critical Path Analysis Page 13 Closing Remarks Page 14 Bibliography Page 15 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF TASKS The aim of the project is to provide a set of real live case studies for ourselves and for our fellow Operations Management students. The task is to write an account of how the concepts and techniques associated with Capacity Management, Just-In-Time planning and control and Inventory Management are applied in a real situation. The three tasks were split between the three group members and then we based our study on the following organisations: * Capacity Management - Barratts Shoe Shop * Just-In-Time - Rover Group * Inventory Management - Safeway Stores PLC Capacity Management was looked at and researched by Amjid Rehman. Just-In-Time was
British Airways London Eye - The Millennium Wheel - Operations management.
CONTENTS Sr. No. TOPICS Page No. . Part A: Executive compensation and Agency theory 2 2. Stages of project London Eye 3 3. Project Environment 4 4. Project Definition 7 5. Typology of London Eye 13 6. Project Planning 16 7. Project Control 21 8. Critical evaluation of planning & control 22 9. Conclusion 24 0. Bibliography 25 1. Appendices 26 INTRODUCTION British Airways London Eye ('LE /The Millennium Wheel') is a remarkable piece of engineering in the heart of London offering visitors, a unique opportunity for a panoramic view of London. The concept of the wheel was an
The Nature and Importance of Operations & Quality.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . The Nature and Importance of Operations & Quality --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .1 Introduction This module will stimulate participants' awareness of the management of operations and their quality assurance within a wider business context. The relationships between design, control, strategic, human and other considerations will be stressed, the emphasis being that participants are aware of the "total" approach necessary in the design and management of "appropriate" operations systems. Particular importance will be attributed to the management of quality. The module will examine not only the traditional approaches to quality control, but also the contemporary philosophy of total quality management and the various programmes and techniques of quality improvement and assurance including quality circles and kaizen, quality accreditation, certification and awards, and business process reengineering. The practice of operations and quality management is accepted as a necessary function within any organization. When one talks of a theory or discipline of operations management, however, it has only been relatively recently that this has become accepted as a suitable
Case Study. Custom Fabricators Inc. From Lean Manufacturing to Contract Manufacturer
Operations Management Case Analysis: Custom Fabricators Inc. – From Lean Manufacturing to Contract Manufacturer Introduction This paper analyzes and examines the case article entitled “Custom Fabricators, Inc. – From Lean Manufacturing to Contract Manufacturer. It aims to identify the business challenges faced by Custom Fabricators, being led by Ben Lawson, and the solutions or strategies that can be implemented to maintain and enhance its position in Orleans Elevator’s business supply chain. Custom Fabricators Inc. Challenge: Orleans Elevators Materials Outsourcing The main business challenge that Ben Lawson is facing as Chief Executive Officer of Custom Fabricators Inc. is how to re-think or re-position its business in order to cope with Orleans Elevator’s action of outsourcing low-cost raw materials from Mexican suppliers through the use of an internet purchasing system. Custom Fabricators Inc. Strategies Utilizing the Comparative Advantages With its long working history with Orleans, Custom Fabricators Inc. has a well-established reputation as a reliable supplier. Custom Fabricators Inc. is already familiar with Orleans' requirements, while Orleans knows the quality of products to expect from . Moreover, this close partnership can lead to a differentiation strategy by sharing market research with Orleans and develop new options for the elevators.
Management Information Systems Postgirot Bank and Provment AB: Managing the Cost of IT Operations
Management Information Systems Postgirot Bank and Provment AB: Managing the Cost of IT Operations Problem Statement Rowland Roland is about to consolidate the 70 production NT servers and is contemplating installing the IM-System to provide capacity utilization numbers for the NT servers to more effectively manage and possibly reduce the number of NT servers required in production. Apart from this, he also wants to push management to make use of the numbers provided by IM-System to effectively identify and manage the cost drivers of the IT operations. Should the IM-System be installed and how should the numbers be used in the future? Analysis IM-System is trying to solve the problem of capacity utilization of IT resources (mainframes, UNIX servers, NT servers). The existing analytical tools are not adequate to provide a consistent measure across the various servers. Since the numbers from each machine are different, it is tedious and difficult to come up with accurate overall utilization of the IT resources. As a bank that is trying to bid up its acquisition price based on the seamlessness of its IT operations, a centralized management system is needed. IM-System provides for a consistent way to measure the utilization across all servers in a given IT system. IT facilities of small scale may be able to operate effectively without a system such as the Provment System.
Supply Chain Management.
Supply Chain Management Introduction Many researchers have pointed out the importance of Supply Chain ( SC ) and Supply Chain Management ( SCM ) in competitive environment. In this report, we will discuss about ( i ) Toyota Mortor Manufacturing North America ( TMMNA ) which is located in Erlanger, Kentucky, current supply chain position and one of its suppliers, TAC manufacturing, located in Jackson, Michigan, supplies steering wheels and air bags for TMMNA, current supply position by drawing supply chain diagram, ( ii ) the possible operational and supply chain strategies which could be used to enhance TMMNA's future performance to take competitive advantage over other firms and ( iii ) the technical and human resource ( HR ) changes that need to be made to support the implementation of these strategies. The reason why TMMNA is chosen is it is one of the leading automotive manufacturers in the world. Before we discuss it, we need to know what it SC and SCM. Supply Chain " Supply Chain is all the activities involved in delivering a product from raw materials through to the customer including sourcing raw materials and parts, manufacturing and assembly, warehousing and inventory tracking, order entry and order management, distribution across all channels, delivery to the customer and the information systems necessary to monitor all of the activities " ( Lummus and Vokurka,
