CASE STUDY [30 Marks] Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow Improving Operations Performance w
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 3:05 pm
CASE STUDY
[30
Marks]
Read the case study below and answer the questions that
follow
Improving Operations Performance with World Class Manufacturing
Technique: A Case in Automotive Industry
Global competition has caused fundamental changes in the
competitive environment of manufacturing industries.
Manufacturers must provide high-quality products with leading-edge
performance capabilities to survive, much less prosper. The
automotive industry is no exception. There is intense pressure
to produce high-performance at minimum-costs. Firms must develop
strategic objectives which, upon achievement, result in a
competitive advantage in the market place. However, for almost
all manufacturing industries, an increased productivity and better
overall efficiency of the production line are the most
important goals. Most industries would like to find the
formula for the ultimate productivity improvement strategy.
Industries often suffer from the lack of a systematic and
consistent methodology. In particular, the manufacturing world has
faced many changes throughout the years and as a result, the
manufacturing industry is constantly evolving in order to stay
ahead of competition. Innovation is a necessary process for the
continuous changes in
order to contribute to the economic growth in the manufacturing
industry, especially to compete in the global market. In
addition to innovation as a mode for continued growth and change,
there are many other vehicles for growth in the manufacturing
industry. One in particular that has been gaining momentum is
the idea of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) developed by Richard J.
Schonberger (in the 80s) who collected several cases,
experiences and testimonies of companies that had embarked on
the path of continuous “Kaizen” improvement for excellence in
production, trying to give a systematic conception to the
various practices and methodologies examined. Some of
the benefits of integrating WCM include increased
competitiveness, development of new and improved
technology and innovation, increased flexibility, increased
communication between management and production employees, and
an increase in work quality and workforce empowerment.
Companies attempting to adopt WCM have developed a statement
of corporate philosophy or mission to which operating
objectives are closely tied. The aim of this is to establish the
basic model of WCM quality management for the production
system in the automotive industry in order to make products of
the highest quality eliminating losses in all the factory fields an
improvement of work standards.
Answer ALL the questions in this section.
Question 1
(15 Marks)
Discuss the Operations Managers’ main responsibilities with
regard to Human Capital, Asset Management and Cost
Management.
Question 2
(15 Marks)
Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over
the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organisation
through its configuration of resources within a challenging
environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil
stakeholder expectations Strategies exist at several levels in
any organisation - ranging from the overall business (or group of
businesses) through to individuals working in it.
Apply your understanding of the following levels of strategies in
the case of an Automotive company
of your choice.
- Corporate Strategy
- Business Unit Strategy
- Operational Strategy
[30
Marks]
Read the case study below and answer the questions that
follow
Improving Operations Performance with World Class Manufacturing
Technique: A Case in Automotive Industry
Global competition has caused fundamental changes in the
competitive environment of manufacturing industries.
Manufacturers must provide high-quality products with leading-edge
performance capabilities to survive, much less prosper. The
automotive industry is no exception. There is intense pressure
to produce high-performance at minimum-costs. Firms must develop
strategic objectives which, upon achievement, result in a
competitive advantage in the market place. However, for almost
all manufacturing industries, an increased productivity and better
overall efficiency of the production line are the most
important goals. Most industries would like to find the
formula for the ultimate productivity improvement strategy.
Industries often suffer from the lack of a systematic and
consistent methodology. In particular, the manufacturing world has
faced many changes throughout the years and as a result, the
manufacturing industry is constantly evolving in order to stay
ahead of competition. Innovation is a necessary process for the
continuous changes in
order to contribute to the economic growth in the manufacturing
industry, especially to compete in the global market. In
addition to innovation as a mode for continued growth and change,
there are many other vehicles for growth in the manufacturing
industry. One in particular that has been gaining momentum is
the idea of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) developed by Richard J.
Schonberger (in the 80s) who collected several cases,
experiences and testimonies of companies that had embarked on
the path of continuous “Kaizen” improvement for excellence in
production, trying to give a systematic conception to the
various practices and methodologies examined. Some of
the benefits of integrating WCM include increased
competitiveness, development of new and improved
technology and innovation, increased flexibility, increased
communication between management and production employees, and
an increase in work quality and workforce empowerment.
Companies attempting to adopt WCM have developed a statement
of corporate philosophy or mission to which operating
objectives are closely tied. The aim of this is to establish the
basic model of WCM quality management for the production
system in the automotive industry in order to make products of
the highest quality eliminating losses in all the factory fields an
improvement of work standards.
Answer ALL the questions in this section.
Question 1
(15 Marks)
Discuss the Operations Managers’ main responsibilities with
regard to Human Capital, Asset Management and Cost
Management.
Question 2
(15 Marks)
Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over
the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organisation
through its configuration of resources within a challenging
environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil
stakeholder expectations Strategies exist at several levels in
any organisation - ranging from the overall business (or group of
businesses) through to individuals working in it.
Apply your understanding of the following levels of strategies in
the case of an Automotive company
of your choice.
- Corporate Strategy
- Business Unit Strategy
- Operational Strategy