BUS515 Operation Management

BUS515 Operation Management

Research paper

Part 1: Vice President of Operations

Due July 19 and worth 200 points

Scenario: Imagine that you are the vice president of operations at a production or service organization. You have noticed that your organization’s current operations strategy is not supporting the challenges that the organization is presently facing. In order to maintain a competitive edge, you must address these challenges with your Chief Executive Officer immediately.

Select an existing production organization. Analyze the organization’s current vision, mission, business strategy, operation strategy, supply chain, total quality management, just-in-time philosophy, forecasting method, statistical technique, facility location, work design, project life cycle, and project management. Note: You will need this information in order to complete this and subsequent assignments.

As you collect the information for Assignment 1 and Assignment 2, remember that in Assignment 3 you must prepare a presentation for your Chief Executive Officer.

Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:

1. Evaluate key elements of the selected production or service organization’s operational efficiency with its operational strategy. Determine three (3) tasks that do not align with the operational strategy. Determine the weaknesses that are evident in each task.

2. Formulate a new operations strategy for the selected organization based on the four (4) competitive priorities (i.e., cost, quality, time, and flexibility).

3. Analyze both the structure of the competitive priorities and infrastructure of the production process. Develop three (3) new enablers that are aligned with the long-term plan of the selected organization. Evaluate three (3) pros and three (3) cons of the new enablers.

4. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not quality as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format.

• The reference pages are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Analyze the differences between service and manufacturing operations management to identify planning considerations.

• Formulate an operations strategy to conduct production or service operations.

• Explain how an operations strategy impacts product design and process selection.

• Use technology and information resources to research issues in operations management.

• Write clearly and concisely about operations management using proper writing mechanics.

Vice President of Operations, Part 2

Due July 26 and worth 280 points

Refer to the scenario from Assignment 1.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Evaluate two to four (2-4) weaknesses that are evident in the selected organization’s product life cycle. Generate a new product design and product selection, and then determine three (3) strategies that the organization needs in order to strengthen the operation. Provide support for the rationale.

2. Determine the key components of supply chain management for the company you have selected. Determine three (3) major issues that could affect the structuring, sourcing, purchasing, and the supply chain of your organization. Provide a solution to each issue.

3. Develop a total quality management tool that identifies and analyzes any future issues. Provide a rationale for developing the selected tool.

4. Analyze three (3) advantages in employing the just-in-time philosophy in your organization. Evaluate three to five (3-5) means in which the philosophy could potentially impact quality assurance. Provide specific examples to support your response.

5. Determine a qualitative and quantitative forecasting method for your operation. Next, create a table in which you identify the characteristics of the operation that relate to each method. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each method.

6. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not quality as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format.

• The reference pages are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Determine the key components of supply chain management including structuring, sourcing, purchasing, and managing the supply chain.

• Examine how the total quality management process is a strategy for a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

• Identify the key elements of just-in-time manufacturing and its impact on quality assurances.

• Develop a forecasting method appropriate to a production or service operation.

• Use technology and information resources to research issues in operations management.

• Write clearly and concisely about operations management using proper writing mechanics.

Vice President of Operations, Part 3

Due August 2 and worth 320 points

Using the same scenario from Assignment 1, present the following findings to your Chief Executive Officer. 3 pages.

1. Determine which statistical technique you will employ to measure the quality characteristics of your organization. Provide examples to support the rationale.

2. Analyze the current facility location, and then use the three-step procedure to determine a new location.

3. Analyze the key concepts related to capacity planning and facility location for the new location.

4. Examine the current work system design, and determine your organization’s selected feasibility in the job design (i.e., technical, economic, behavioral). Assess key elements of the rationale in the work design competitive advantage.

5. Using the method analysis described in the textbook, defend the new change implementation process and the rationale for the change of method.

6. Develop a diagram showing network planning techniques, in which you use the program evaluation and review technique (PERT) and the critical path method (CPM).

7. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not quality as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format.

• The reference pages are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Apply descriptive statistics to measure quality characteristics.

• Analyze the key concepts related to capacity planning and facility location.

• Examine the key elements of work system design, the project life cycle, and project management.

• Use technology and information resources to research issues in operations management.

• Write clearly and concisely about operations management using proper writing mechanics.