Grantham University Managing Production and Operations Reflection Paper Chapters 7, 8, and 9 ReflectionWhat do you feel was the most challenging concept th

Grantham University Managing Production and Operations Reflection Paper Chapters 7, 8, and 9 ReflectionWhat do you feel was the most challenging concept that you learned over the last three chapters? What was the most interesting concept? 4:14 CMC
Producing Quality Goods and Services
Lecture Materials
Managing Production and
Operations To Produce Quality
Goods and Services
America ?s Evolving Manufacturing
and Services Base
In the 1970s and 1980s, foreign manufactures
captured huge chunks of the U. S. market such
as steel, cement, machinery, and farm
equipment using the latest in production
techniques. This competition forced U.S.
companies to alter their production techniques
and management style. Many American
manufacturers are now as good as or better
than competitors anywhere.
To regain its competitive edge, U. S. industry
has implemented many changes, including a
customer focus, cost savings through site
selection, total quality management using ISO
9000 and ISO 14000 standards, new
manufacturing techniques, and reliance on the
Internet to unite companies. Other important
issues that will need to be debated include the
merits of moving production facilities to
foreign countries, replacing workers with
robots and other machinery, and protecting
American manufacturers through quotas and
other restrictions of free trade.
The service sector has become a larger and
larger part of the overall economy. Tomorrow?s
college graduates will face tremendous
challenges and opportunities in redesigning
and rebuilding America ?s manufacturing base.
III
< 4:14 CMC and rebuilding America ?s manufacturing base From Production to Operations Management Production is the creation of finished goods and services using the factors of production. The factors of production are land, labor, capital, entrepreneurship, and knowledge. Production management is the term used to describe the creation of goods. Production has historically been associated with manufacturing, but this is changing significantly. The service sector has grown dramatically. In fact, the U. S. now has a service economy, one which is dominated by the service sector. Because of the change from manufacturing to service, the term production often is replaced by operations. Operations management is a specialized area in management that converts or transforms resources into goods and services. However, some organizations produce mostly goods; others produce mostly services; some produce both. Manufacturers have turned to services and a customer orientation for profit. Companies that have prospered in the last decade have expanded operations management and moved it closer to the customer. For example, car companies increase revenue by providing parts and servicing used cars. IBM has lessened its reliance on selling computer hardware by expanding the sale of computer services. There are companies that provide software services online, so companies do not have to buy their own software. Operations Management Functions Facility location is the process of selecting a geographical location for a company?s operations. One strategy is to make it easy for consumers to access your service. The III < 4:14 CMC nontcc.blackboard.com 4 : Our viucu vART, OU vurmpumcu u TIUL Tur tu buy their own software. Operations Management Functions Facility location is the process of selecting a geographical location for a company? operations. One strategy is to make it easy for consumers to access your service. The ultimate convenience is shopping through the Internet. The most successful service-sector businesses are conveniently located. The shift of manufacturing and service organizations sometimes results in pockets of unemployment and tremendous growth in others. Entrepreneurs move their facilities from one location to another for several reasons: Manufacturers often choose sites that are close to the right kind of labor or cheap labor. TH less technologically advanced manufacturers are especially concerned with cheap labor. It is important for firms to maintain the same quality standards and fair labor practices wherever they produce. Inexpensive resources are another reason for moving facilities. The most important resource is people, so companies tend to cluster where smart and talented people are. Reducing time to market is critical to successful global competition. One key to reducing time-to- market involves seeking countries with the most advanced information systems. Many businesses are building factories in foreign countries to get closer to international customers. Some of the factors that firms might consider for facility selection in the future are the following: New developments in information III < 4:14 CMC Some of the factors that firms might consider for facility selection in the future are the following: New developments in information, technology are enabling firms and employee more flexibility in choosing locations. Telecommuting, working from home via computer and modem, is a major trend in business. The tax situation and degree of government support are big incentives to locate in a particular location. Facility layout is the physical arrangement of resources in the production process. The layout depends on the processes that are to be performed. For services, the layout is usually designed to help the consumer find and buy things. Many stores are adding kiosks that help customers find things on the Internet. For manufacturing plants, efficient layout can result in cost savings as a result of increased productivity. Many companies are outsourcing the production functions to specialists. With an Internet-based layout, the customer is tied into the process. Many companies are taking operations management to the Internet by outsourcing many tasks. Quality control is the measurement of products and services against set standards. Quality means satisfying customers by building in quality from product planning to sales and service. Total quality management (TQM) programs begin by analyzing the consumer to see what quality standards need to be established. Operations management in the service industry is about creating a good experience for those who use the service. Delighting customers has become the quality standard for luxury hotels and other service businesses. Productivity in the Service Sector The greatest productivity problem in the U.S. is III 4:14 CMC Productivity in the Service Sector The greatest productivity problem in the U.S. is in the service economy. It is difficult to measure productivity in the service sector. Productivity measures do not capture improvement in quality. When new systems are developed to measure the quality improvement of services, productivity will go up dramatically. Computers are improving service sector productivity, but productivity increases in the service sector still have a long way to go. The service industry has always taken advantage of new technology to increase customer satisfaction. Now interactive computer networks are revolutionizing services. Process Planning Process planning is choosing the best means for turning resources into useful goods and services. The three basic requirements of production are to build and deliver products in response to the demands of the customer at a scheduled delivery time, to provide an acceptable quality level, and to provide everything at the lowest possible cost. Two types of production operations are process manufacturing and assembly process. Process manufacturing is an activity that physically or chemically changes material. Assembly process is an activity in which components are put together to constitute a new entity. Continuous process is one in which long production runs turn out finished goods over time. An intermittent process is an operation where the production run is short, and the machines are changed frequently to produce different products. Today, most new manufacturers use intermittent processes. Modern Production Techniques The goal of manufacturing and process management is to provide high-quality goods and services instantaneously in resnonse to III Purchase answer to see full attachment