Operations Improvements

The Brief Compile and write a formal technical report, using an appropriate format and Harvard referencing as indicated in the corresponding tutorial lecture, covering the following:
1. From a company of your choice , identify its operations performance objectives , and then discuss the internal and external benefits that derive from excelling in each performance objective. ( You may need to infer these by assessing its performance in the five operations performance objectives (e.g. cost, quality, speed, dependability and flexibility) (15%)
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2. SPAD Ltd is a company specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of signalling equipment for use in th e rail industry. Unfortunately, SPAD has noticed a significant downturn in demand for its products and services in recent years. This seemed to be due to a significant increase in competition in this area of the industry. As a result, senior management initiated a benchmarking study of its competitors and the results were quite alarming. The findings were as follows:
? Cost – Although few direct details of cost were revealed it was clear that competitors had lower costs. They were installing their equipment at a cost to the customer which was lower than the cost of manufacture at SPAD Ltd for similar equipment.
? Quality – The manufacturing and installation process at SPAD Ltd was producing ten times as many mistakes as that of its competitors. ? Late deliveries – SPAD Ltd noticed a decline in delivery reliability and increased levels of inventory whereas its competitors deliver their goods and services on time.
? Manufacturing Processes – The loopholes in SPAD’s manufacturing processes turned into major problems such as raw materials shortage, part shortage and productivity inefficiencies associated with the recent recruitment of new employees. This resulted in a serious disruption of process flows leading to late deliveries of their products.
? Poor maintenance – The Company identified there was poor communication between the various department and job grades. For example, maintenance staff believed that production hold ups were caused by operating errors, while operators were of the opinion that poor maintenance was the root cause. Discuss the applicability for Lean manufacturing for the SPAD Ltd.(20%)
3. From a company of your choice , investigate a particular challenge, issue and /or problem that it is currently facing (or has recently faced in the past) in terms of the quality of its p rocess, product or service. Critically discuss what quality improvement philosophy, methodology or tool ( e.g. SPC, ISO 9000, TQM, Six Sigma, etc.) may help your selected organisation to overcome it or to avoid similar quality issues in the future – explain why. In addition, co mment on how the recommended quality improvement philosophy, methodology or tool may help your organisation to enhance its quality strategy and market position in the long term. (25%)
4. Using any ca se study example to illustrate good supply chain operations and explain “ How does your case firm achieve success through good supply chain management? (25%)
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