You will need to choose a manufacturing or service operation other than McDonald’s and analyse it by applying appropriate operations management tools and techniques. You must, thereafter, provide a written report featuring data and analysis based around three (3) key concepts from the module, followed by a summary section, which provides a critical and reflective perspective on these.
The task involves critically reviewing established principles of operations management in various contexts, encompassing both private and public sectors, as well as manufacturing and service-based organizations. The objective is to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within these organizations.
The evaluation should focus on the appropriateness of different approaches for improving operations management, considering the suitability of quality management techniques. Furthermore, the report should defend operations management decisions and approaches using management science analytical techniques and tools suitable for both manufacturing and service-based operations.
This is not an essay assignment, and you should not describe or analyse theory and models in isolation. You will be assessed primarily on how you apply the concepts and models from this module to a real operation, evaluate its effectiveness, and identify and recommend improvements that could be made. However, you should include academic references where relevant e.g. the source of models used in your report. Any quotations from such sources should be properly referenced including page numbers, with full details included in the references section.
The task involves creating a report that analyzes a chosen organization and its operations. The report should use relevant concepts and models from the module, such as the 4Vs/ITO, service concept, and process mapping analysis. Additional topics can be included, such as Capacity Management and Lean Management, to demonstrate various ways of managing demand and eliminating waste.
The report is allowed to contain diagrams and tables, which are not counted towards the overall word count. However, these visual elements should be used appropriately, such as presenting steps in a process or displaying data. The report should also consider external factors like COVID-19 and technology, evaluating their impact on the organization’s operations.
Emphasis should be placed on the clarity of models, diagrams, and tables, along with the quality of analysis. To present the portfolio professionally, a contents page can be included. Tables and figures must be labeled with captions like “Figure 1: Diagram of…” and referenced in the text as Figure 1, etc.
Report Structure
·Introduction, which should include a summary of the organisation’s strategic position and subsequent performance objectives (keep this focused upon how such positioning influences the nature of its operations – this should not be a general overview of the organisation)
·Analysis Sections: Choose 3 from the following individually graded sections:
o ITO and 4V analysis (together these constitute one topic in the report)
o Service concept (and the operational implications of this)
o Layout plan
o Process map
o Capacity management analysis (queues)
o Quality management
o Inventory analysis
· Conclusion: This is a discussion of the analysis in your portfolio. This should take a critical approach e.g. evaluating the overall effectiveness of the operation, recommendations for improvements that could be made. You will be marked highly for work that also includes deeper critical evaluation and consideration of issues such as balancing competing criteria (trade-offs) and awareness of constraints
· References: please use Harvard referencing throughout.
·Appendix: This can contain supplementary information that does not belong in the main report (e.g. tables of extra data, photographs of location) – however, it is not a requirement of your portfolio. Anything contained in the appendix will be read by marker (to contribute to overall understanding of your portfolio and chosen operation) but does not contribute to your grade. The appendix does not contribute to the overall wordcount. Please decide carefully whether you need to include an appendix or not – if it does not meaningfully contribute to the report, do not include one.