+1 862 207 3288 i. Explains the issues in operations management that are discussed in the scenario.
ii. Discusses the problems and opportunities the organisation faces, and explain how the Risk Matrix and the WBS below will underpin project success and thus help create a better customer experience
iii. Develop a Risk Matrix for the project to relocate the factory,
iv. Create a Work Breakdown Structure(WBS) diagram for the project to relocate the factory.
Your work should draw on the concepts, systems and tools covered in the module and show evidence of academic and commercial research.
The following information is important when:
• Preparing for your assessment
• Checking your work before you submit it
• Interpreting feedback on your work after marking.
Assessment Criteria
The module Learning Outcomes tested by this assessment task are indicated on page 1. The precise criteria against which your work will be marked is as follows:
• Quality of identification and analysis of information management problems and opportunities in the organisation
• Quality of Evaluation and discussion of the contribution of managerial and operations systems, and project management for effective management
• Learning log shows clear use of reflective practice across a range of issues
• Structure and presentation of material, including: clarity in the use of formal English, and use of the Harvard Citation and Referencing system
Performance descriptors
Performance descriptors indicate how marks will be arrived at against each of the above criteria. The descriptors indicate the likely characteristics of work that is marked within the percentage bands indicated.
Scenario or case study details
Background
5IB002 – Assignment Scenario. “ Challinor’s” is a small manufacturing enterprise(SME) in the West Midlands which manufactures actuators for the aerospace industry. While they had suffered during the recession they did keep trading. Because they had a good reputation in the aerospace industry(where quality is a major safety issue) they have been offered a contract with a major automobile manufacturer within the region. If this works well it will mean a major increase in business and overall profit and it will mean that they are able to supply within a much broader market to reduce their dependence on just one sector.
Their existing premises are near Birmingham (near Edgbaston) and have some capacity to increase floor-loading but not a lot if they carry on working in the way they have traditionally worked. The CEO organised a directors’ meeting to look at the possible options for them. The Logistics Director suggested that they use one of his managers, who had just completed an MBA in a local university, to facilitate the meeting.
From the meeting a SWOT analysis was developed as figure 1 as a starting point for a follow up session to try and develop the company’s strategy.
Strengths Weaknesses
Produce a quality product.
Have a good workforce of experienced engineers
Centre of the country.
Have space to develop the new contract. Only work within Aerospace at the moment.
May over engineer products
We do not have an operations management based IT system to manage work flow, we only have manual systems.
Existing IT systems are standalone, for Finance/Pay, and Inventory and Logistics
If the new automobile contract works well that will use up all existing space in the factory, and already there is sign of the aerospace market increasing.
Opportunities Threats
The new I40 manufacturing and innovation site near Telford has good road access to our main aerospace customers and the new automobile manufacturer.
There is EU money available to develop businesses within the West Midlands If we cannot make the contract work it would weaken the company.
Increased traffic around the existing site is extending our lead times and associated costs.
If we relocate we cannot be sure that our workforce will want to move .
If we do not expand the business someone else is likely to expand into the market for us.
We cannot be sure about our existing market.
If we take out large loan from the bank they could interfere with the business or call the loan in.
If there was a general election the government might move out of the EU and grants might no longer be available in the UK .
At the next meeting the CEO explained that the automobile manufacturer had agreed to provide training to develop lean skills in the workforce. The local development board agreed to provide background information and videos to explain what is going on in the region for the workforce. The HR Director agreed to use one of his IT staff to outline the information needs for an integrated IT system, starting with understanding of the Information needed for the management information system, and to suggest options about more up to-date approaches such as cloud computing, and software as a service.
The Operations Director has agreed to get her transport co-ordinator to provide a brief about the supply chain issues around the existing site and the option for moving to Telford, this should include a view of supplier and customer issues. She said the information would be provided as a table, and asked if the MBA graduate could write the broader discussion piece around it She also thought it would be useful if the lean training was provided to all staff, not just operations.
The CEO decided that the MBA graduate provided such a useful report after the last meeting that they should continue and produce a draft report for the next meeting to cover : the use of lean concepts in manufacturing and administration(service); how the key tools were used: what the relevance was for the board of directors; and what are the quality standards. He also asked the MBA graduate to develop a work breakdown structure and a risk matrix for a project to re-locate the business as part of a report to discuss the feasibility of the project, and highlight the pros and cons involved.
Fig 2 The Transport –coordinators table
Relationship Location Distance to existing site Average journey time Distance to I40 Average journey time
Customer Hawarden
Customer I40
Supplier – components Shrewsbury
Supplier -castings Ironbridge
Supplier – seals Birmingham
3 Party Logistics Telford Logistics hub
Infra structure support Local various
Note from the Transport coordinator – 3PL is contacted out from us to deliver to customers. Suppliers use own transport to deliver to us. Infrastructure for the existing factory (facilities management, catering, cleaning , maintenance etc) assume will be provided by new contracts if moved to Telford so costs will be broadly the same.
Management Organisation chart
Key assignment components
Appendix – Information flow diagram(level 0 Context diagram) showing key sources and nature of information needed externally and internally for an MIS.
Main report – Operations and project management reports
Title page
Contents page
Introduction
Background
Operations management Issues
Lean Techniques
SCM
Project management
Relocation
Conclusions/Recommendations
References
Appendices
WBS Diagram
Risk Matrix Table
Analysis of increased / decreased logistics cost
Others as required
To help you further:
• Refer to the WOLF topic for contact details of your module leader/tutor, tutorial inputs, recommended reading and other sources, etc. Resit details will also appear on WOLF.
• The University’s Learning Information Services offer support and guidance to help you with your studies and develop your academic skills http://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/skills_for_learning/study_guides.aspx
grade Criteria 1 Criteria 2 Criteria 3 Criteria 4
70-100% Analysis of information needs is correct in all or most aspects, well argued supporting paragraphs explain the underlying principles, and analysis is supported by well constructed diagrams or models showing clear links with scenario and analysis Well developed evaluation of operations management(OM) within the context of the scenario, showing sound underpinning within the broader context; linked clearly to the use of ICT systems; and demonstrating clear appreciation of the role of project management through excellent analysis of the scenario and well developed application of appropriate tools and techniques through diagrams and/or tables. Reflective learning log covers a wide range of issues which have been critically discussed and clearly linked to current, broadly based relevant research , and personal learning. Very good to excellent structure and presentation, supported by a wide range of relevant references with no obvious errors in syntax. Grammar and spelling free of errors.
60-69% Analysis of information needs is largely correct, supporting paragraphs explain the underlying principles, and analysis is supported by well constructed diagrams or models showing clear links with scenario and analysis Very good evaluation of OM within the context of the scenario, showing good underpinning within the broader context; appropriate explanation of associated ICT systems; and demonstrating an appreciation of the role of project management through effective analysis of the scenario and well developed application of appropriate tools and techniques, through diagrams and or tables. Reflective learning log covers a range of issues which have been critically discussed and linked to, broadly based relevant research, and personal learning. Structure is well laid out and presentation to a good standard. Reasonable breadth of reference material and only occasional syntax, or spelling or grammar errors.
50-59% Analysis of information needs is mostly correct, ,supporting paragraphs outline the underlying principles, and analysis is supported by suitable diagrams or models based on the scenario. Satisfactory evaluation of OM within the context of the scenario, showing some underpinning within the broader context; appropriate explanation of associated ICT systems; and demonstrating an appreciation of the role of project management through some good analysis of the scenario and application of appropriate tools and techniques through diagrams and /or tables. Reflective learning log covers few issues which have been reasonably well discussed and linked to relevant research and personal learning. Some logic in structure and presentation satisfactory. Some repeated errors in spelling or grammar or reference syntax. Referencing goes beyond core texts.,
40-49% Analysis of information needs has some value although some aspects may be thinly covered or missing, supporting paragraphs cover some of the underlying principles, and analysis is supported by suitable diagrams or models based on the scenario. Some evaluation of OM within the context of the scenario, showing some underpinning within the broader context; description of associated ICT systems; and description of the role of project management , although application of appropriate tools and techniques is poorly executed.. Reflective learning log covers few issues which have been discussed and linked to relevant research. Subjects may have been narrowly selected and/or poorly linked to individual learning. Structure is not well developed and presentation weak. Few references used. Repeated errors in reference syntax, grammar and spelling
30-39% Analysis is poorly executed. Explanatory paragraphs are confusing or contain little relevant detail, and no diagrams or models are used to support the analysis or they are only present in a generic form Explanation of the role of OM is largely descriptive with poor or no links to the scenario. Relevance of different ICT systems is missing or too generic to be of value. Discussion around project management is missing, far too generic, or poorly executed. Supporting diagrams missing or very generic Reflective learning log covers few issues which have been described but not discussed, links to research poorly or not made.. Subjects may have been narrowly selected and/or poorly linked to individual learning. Lacks logical structure or presentation weak, with repeated errors in reference syntax, grammar and spelling. Little evidence of references outside the core text.
0-29% Analysis missing, only opinions are voiced with no supporting rational. Supporting paragraphs are not linked to scenario. Largely descriptive based mostly on the scenario with little or no attempt to link the scenario with the concepts. Discussion around ICT systems is missing or only generic with no supporting diagram or relevant tables. Project management issues ignored or only covered generically Reflective learning log very superficial and only descriptive. No links to research or personal learning Poor structure and/or presentation. Many errors in grammar, spelling and syntax. Little or no effort to provide references beyond poor web sources
