Review and Critique of Operations Management and Project Life Cycle for Unilever

This article discusses the implementation of operations management principles and project life cycle for Unilever. It includes a review and critique of the principles, continuous improvement plan, and the use of appropriate theories and models. The article also covers the stages of the project life cycle for a given project.

Operations and Project
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Conduct a review and critical review of the implementation of operations management
principles in an organizational context...................................................................................1
M1 Reviewing and critique the implementation of operations management in context of Six
Sigma methodology and Lean principles...............................................................................3
P2 Make a continuous improvement plan based on the review and critique of operations
management principles in an organizational context.............................................................4
M2 Examine the effectiveness of a continuous improvement planning with the use of
appropriate theories, concepts and/or models........................................................................5
D1 Use proper theories, concepts and/or models to explain strategies of a continuous
improvement planning for accomplishing increased efficiency.............................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P3 Use all stages of the PLC to a given project, producing necessary supporting
documentation for completion of the task..............................................................................6
M3 Examine the principle for the project methodologies, tools and leadership within the PLC
for the given project..............................................................................................................10
P4 Review and critique the effectivity of the PLC in application to the chosen task utilising
proper theories, concepts and models...................................................................................10
M4 Critically examine how the utilization of appropriate theories, concepts and models in the
PLC will distinguish among large and small-scale projects.................................................11
D2 Critically measure the PLC by a practical and theoretical consideration of its effectiveness
to draw valid conclusions and recommendations for a betterment......................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Operations management is dealing with the approach daily and also strategical business
problems in a systematic manner. It is a direction of patterns related to the firms to create an
upper level of efficient achievable inside a firm. Project management is all about the utilisation
of a particular knowledge, abilities and methods for the delivery of something which is for the
value to many of the persons. Unilever has been taken as a base firm which is a leading customer
commodities firm in the worldwide marketplace. It is founded in September, 1929 by Lever
Brothers which is operated in mostly 190 countries and has a quality in the rapid moving
customer commodities sector (Lavelle, 2018). This file has part 1 which covers principles of
operational management and concepts for the betterment in relation to the operations. This will
also cover project life cycle and applications related to the project life cycle utilised in the given
task for a selected organisation.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
P1 Conduct a review and critical review of the implementation of operations management
principles in an organizational context.
Operations means to the working of directing the interior work of the business so it is running as
effective as possible. It is all about a wide range of actions which are on the day to day basis for
making money. Operations management is a study of a firm related to the organization of a
business patterns to increase effectiveness in an administration. A manager of operations is
having a task to make sure that an administration is converting all the inputs like labor or
technologies into output in an effective and successful way. When operations management is
enforced that are created to assist the firm for reaching all the objectives in a strategical manner.
These objectives met by knowing the most essential principles of the operations management
which us very crucial for any of the firm to meet all the objectives (Babich and Hilary, 2020).
Some of the principles of operations management in the relation of selected firm are:
Organization: As all the things are connected in the procedure of productivity, all the factors
must be in the prediction and constant. In case of Unilever, their operational activity is different
as it is having a work of operations from its creation of products to the delivering of its
commodities.
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Variance: the variance which is related to the demanding of signals can be a full part of all the
issues for making of all the facilities. As variance in case of the methods and procedures put in
the position should be inspired in fostering creativeness and permit for a good outcome to other
resources of modification. In context of Unilever, they are concentrating on the designing of its
commodities and services and mostly concentrating on the quality of its products deliver by the
firm.
Casuality: Issues are very same to all the evidences, in which these two parts usually having
underlying causes (Haurinen, 2018). To rid from all the issues for a great period of time, people
also has to remove the underlying issues. In relation to Unilever, there is a strategical decision
area to make sure for the perfect sources to make a commodity as it has a good level of
productivity from the commodities used for home caring with the proper layout designing and
various strategies.
Change: It is all about the welcoming in all the problems related to the operations and with that
all the solutions which are new for a regular operational betterment to be possible. It is very good
for the theories present to create all the operations to change will make sure to manage stability.
In case of Unilever, it is very crucial for the introduction of different theories and model for all
the work like inventory management, maintaining all the things and many more.
When the system is under performance they need to consider that what technology a firm require
in adopting in meeting all the outcomes and goals so that efficient consequences can be
accomplished. Firms are trying to enforcing the rules of operations management so that the
requirement which are important in meeting all the objectives for its production.
 Companies require to improvement in delivering of products by concentrating on the
supply chain management department as they are making and they require to concentrate
on the delivering. They require to lessen the productivity and concentrate on the
profitability to be earned.
 A firm should lessen its pricing of commodities as they need to concentrate on lessening
the total price by which profit can be gained.
 It is important for the firm that they must seek to direct their supply chain and for this it is
important that effective principle must be applied so that every area covered easily
(Fernandes, Spring and Tarafdar, 2018). Here, it is crucial that all the needs must be met
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to improve the quality which can impact organizational rules. Generally, it is essential
for the firm to study that the way they can execute the supply of consumers.
M1 Reviewing and critique the implementation of operations management in context of Six
Sigma methodology and Lean principles.
Operations management is permitting to sell more of the commodities and lessen the prices
results to a revenue increment that permits the continuous development of the firm. Lean
principles gives a total structure in relation to the Unilever to make an effective and economic
firm which permits the manager to find out and delivering all the service and a god value to the
consumers. This will inspire the creation of a good flow in working progression and growing a
regular betterment which is totally related to the Unilever for its better production.
Basis Current Methodology Proposed Methodology
Cost Principle of variance is used for the
variety of commodities for Unilever
which can direct the actual operations
other than directing the price and value
of the firm.
It is achievable to lessen the firm
among actual and standardized
outcomes (Erhun, Kraft and
Wijnsma, 2021). Firm can also
lessen price which can lessen the
workers cost.
Quality To increase the quality of products and
procedures, Unilever could utilise
rules of firm to meet the needs and
improve the quality.
To do better it is crucial for them
to ensure that they are able enough
to direct all the interior work and
directs wellness and good supplier
relationship so that delivery could
be done on proper duration
according to the needs of
consumers.
Delivery For delivering of the commodities,
Unilever utilises lean principles which
is considering the purchaser value and
analysing the progression in a project.
For a good and timely delivering,
firms are required to recognise the
worth stream and identify the
present trends and market
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requirements for its commodities.
Safety To make sure about security, Unilever
is adopting causality to use and grow
efficient security measures in the
making a procedure.
Six sigma methodology is perfect
for Unilever to accomplish the
required security standardisations.
This is due to the setting up
practices which would make and
evaluate safety surroundings.
Firms require to concentrate in
giving safe measures equally to its
section.
P2 Make a continuous improvement plan based on the review and critique of operations
management principles in an organizational context.
Continuous improvement is all about a continuous attempt which is used to increase
commodities, procedures or services by lessening the wastage or improving the quality
(Arellano, Meuer and Netland, 2021). In case of Unilever, it can take the assistance of a regular
betterment planning of the firm which is increased and they can delivering the commodities in
the particular industry and a duration.
Lean Principles: These are the principles which is mostly concentrating on the minimizing of
the production. Working of every source is taking into the considering and the total reason of this
is to see the increment in the value in productivity procedure and offer of a firm. Different lean
principles can be in the contribution in the increment of Unilever in a good way as:
 Value defining: This is considering the definition of a value of a purchaser as it is
something a consumer has a will to pay for a commodity. In context of Unilever, it must
examine the present trends and recent requirements of the marketplace which may
involves methodologies such as survey and many more which can be helped by the firm
that what a consumer is seeking and considering it valuable. To map a value stream: This is all about recognising the value stream. The reason of this
is to utilize the consumer's value and determine the actions which has the contribution to
these values. Unilever must see the purchaser value as the most crucial part and find out
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all the work and operations that execute these values (Holloway, 2021). Many projects
are separated out which neglect to give consumer value and limiting their reach. Create a flow: Each of the sources, materials and workers are related to this stage to find
out and set up a working rate related to completion of a project. Unilever require to take
an essential path are engraved out and with regulation are set in productivity stages which
has contribution in making of stream. Firms must train their workers efficiently related to
new techniques to increase their work. Pull Establishment: Production system is examined in an effective manner which is
crucial for the firm to lessen the working in progression sources (NAST and KOCH,
2021). This step is very important for the Unilever for the completion of the total growth
related to the designing till the delivering of commodities in the set time table and its
transportation according to the time.
 To pursue Perfection: This is totally related to make sure of the good standardization for
all the features of the growth in the commodities or working of the people in the firm.
Unilever should undertake the project towards flawlessness of its working that is
perfection while delivering commodities, related to the requirement of the people as firms
should finding more paths to get a good day.
M2 Examine the effectiveness of a continuous improvement planning with the use of appropriate
theories, concepts and/or models.
Continuous improvement is used to encourage all the engaging of workers and lessening of a
turnover rates. Workers who are participating in an active manner for the improvement of the
profit of a firm which gives sense of achievement for the Unilever. It is a continuous impact to
increase the procedures for all the commodities and services which gives as an outcome of
competence benefit for a firm as Unilever is also using the method of Lean principle to lessen the
wastage as much as possible by not sacrifice for the quality and production.
D1 Use proper theories, concepts and/or models to explain strategies of a continuous
improvement planning for accomplishing increased efficiency.
Operations management is assisting the firm in planning all the individual aspect of the firm
involves capacity plan, production analysis and betterment and assurity about the quality among
others (Wu, Olson and Wang, 2019). Unilever also has a variety of strategies in its firm which
includes various same management of every firm for the management of all the actions in the
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firm. Unilever also has the continuous improvement in the firm whether it is related to the
creation or designing of a product, its quality or its procedure to design a product, there is a
continuous improvement in the firm.
It is important for the Unilever to concentrate on the quality of commodities to grow confidence
in their consumers to work in a flexible manner or else to launch a commodity. A firm can also
use total quality management, this will enable a concentration on the productivity and improve
its total quality according to the standardisations.
TASK 2
Overview of the case
Sherwin Williams is a paint and coating manufacturing firm which is founded by Henry Sherwin
and Edward Williams 156 years ago. It is a worldwide lead in the growth, manufacture and
selling of coat and relatable commodities (Gemünden, Lehner and Kock, 2018). A firm has
secured work in the Midlands which has 1,250 workers on this tract. Business has engaged
faculty in a variety of roles involving office and factory people.
P3 Use all stages of the PLC to a given project, producing necessary supporting documentation
for completion of the task.
Presently firms are facing catering problems in the company and during the break period workers
will go outside. To pause the workers, firm will initiate a task of catering services named “Food
friendly”. To initiate this task, firm has a project life cycle which involves different levels which
aids the firm to achieve its goals.
Project Initiation:
It is the initial stage of project life cycle which is assistive in searching the goals, needs
and possibilities for the firm. This is a very important stage as with the assistance of the workers,
it will be easy for a firm to solve all the problems. In this, Sherwin Williams must take a feasible
study related to the task. For this firms are applying democratically lead as conclusions will be
taken by the engagement of every person (Saad, 2021). A firm is taking the assistance of six
sigma methodology so that their purpose can be increased and it lessens the price of the firm. Six
sigma is in the use to increase the quality and bringing down the increment into the procedures.
This is needed in the time period to arrange the sources and checking the dependability. Six
sigma is following a DMAIC procedure in which it describe the issues and possibilities,
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measuring the working, analysing the procedures, increase the working procedures and then
controlling the increased procedure of work.
 Business Case:
Vision The vision of Sherwin Williams by its new business task related to the catering
is to lessen the motion of faculties from sites which is a component of CSR.
Mission The mission of the firm is to use an effective, inventive and technical modern
methods to fulfil its workers as by this, production will get improve and assists
the firm to accomplish development and success.
Objectives The objective of Sherwin Williams is to lessen the move of faculty from the site
also lessen the absence (Ivanov, Tsipoulanidis and Schönberger, 2019). Firms
want to modify a consumer base and this can be done only when its workers are
totally in the satisfaction.
Strategies Sherwin Williams using different strategical ways like giving catering facility,
inspire them and many more as by using these strategies, procedures of an
administration will increase, plan and modern technology would be used in the
increment of commodities.
Project Planning:
In this, there is a need to plan about the task which aid the firm in growing a healthy
living standards of workers and lessen the absence. At this, upper management is needed to take
progressive engagement as they have elaborated data about the task and they will also play an
essential part in making the monetary fund of the task. For this, it is needed for the firm to utilise
lean principles to lessen the waste which will decrease the pricing also. The project planning of
Sherwin Williams: Project Plan:
Cost The price which a firm will have to receive is just about as maximum as
extrinsic sources are needed to grow a task.
Quality Firms are required to make sure that the choice of the food is better as they
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require to make sure that the hygienics should be maintained will make the
food.
Scope The Scope of the task is to grow a wellness work force which assists the firm
in retaining their workers and also accomplish the development and success in
the market place.
In this, a firm surely using the democratic will utilize democratic leading as the functions are
separated in it by the upper level of management (Zarghami, Gunawan and Schultmann, 2018).
Activity break down framework and Gantt chart are mentioned underneath:
 Work Breakdown Structure:
 Gantt Chart:
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Project Execution:
In this, it is very important for the firm to use the planning which is already decided for
the task and it is totally in relation with exterior directed plan. At this level, most of the time,
pricing and all the persons will be in use in the execution of the planning. In this relation, firms
are require to see and tracking the progression of the task during the execution. In this, Sherwin
Williams has the choice of democratic leaders as the carrying into action is not possible to
manage by one of the individual. For this, Sherwin Williams has the choice to choose total
quality management as it aids in the conformation of record of the sources utilised in the task.
Total Quality management is concentrating on making sure about the quality of substance would
be in the use (Tang, 2020). This is the concept of lessening the waste and price by applying this
method by the duration would be safe and also in use for the correct reason.
Project Closure:
It is the last stage and would be bounced by all the firms. This will concentrate on the
conceptualisation of taking and looking into all the task and get rid of any imperfections and
inconsistency from the total project. Sherwin Williams should take a great look into the task and
if there is any deviants they require to take disciplinary activities.
M3 Examine the principle for the project methodologies, tools and leadership within the PLC for
the given project.
Project methodologies are very important procedures that are concentrating on the assistance of
managers with the training to the full task. There are various methods which has a varierty of
strategies that help in the the management of problems should they are arising for the delivering
of all the tasks in the selected firm.
P4 Review and critique the effectivity of the PLC in application to the chosen task utilising
proper theories, concepts and models.
Project life cycle refers to the project which requires conducting of defining products and
further accomplishing goals and target. This is considered as a project of large scale in which the
valuable models and projects will be utilised in the waterfall model. The project officers are
often responsible for taking right set of decisions in order to complete the project successfully.
Requirement- This is the prime stage which helps in identifying the requirement of various
set of resources like manpower, technology and funds. The requirement of the project is the base
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on which further the project will develop in future (Shafiee, Piroozfar and Hvam, 2018). Sis
sigma is one of the most effective approach for Unilever which will help in decreasing the
resources so that the objective can be delivered.
Design- This stage is concerned with the development in the design and structure of the
company so that the ultimate purpose of the project can be delivered. This stage is concerned
with the planning stage where the company need to come up with a plan that supports their
current business model. Different roles should be assigned to the employees according to their
qualification, this will help in achieving the plan made by the organisation.
Development- This stage is concerned with the steps taken in development and executing
the project in a proper manner and structure. While implementing development plan, Unilever
should apply the TQM methodology so that the quality of project can increase. The organisation
should make development in the ways in which they currently execute their operations.
Maintenance- This is considered as the final stage in which the company makes
enhancement in their current business model and structure (Charpin, 2018). In order to do
maintenance in the project, Unilever is required to critically evaluate the areas in which they are
currently lacking. Further they can make strategies which will help the company in terms of
maintaining the operations.
M4 Critically examine how the utilization of appropriate theories, concepts and models in the
PLC will distinguish among large and small-scale projects.
Methodology Small-scale projects Large scale project
Total Quality Management Implementing this principle in
the current standards will help
in improving the small scale
projects.
This will help in establishing
clarity so that the overall
quality of project gets
improved by applying this
principle.
Six sigma Implementing this
methodology will help in
shaping out the policies that
are currently used in small
scale projects.
Implementing the
methodology will help in
terms of production and
further the large projects will
be attained within a specific
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time period.
Lean principle Implementing this principle
would assist Unilever will
help in terms of reviewing the
performance of manager so
that a set criteria can be
managed.
Large scale projects must
implement this principle in
order to ensure that only a
minimum set of resources are
wasted and maximum is being
utilised in the project
(Mingotto, Montaguti and
Tamma, 2021). This will
ultimately help in deriving
productivity and quality in the
project.
D2 Critically measure the PLC by a practical and theoretical consideration of its effectiveness to
draw valid conclusions and recommendations for a betterment.
Project life cycle is all about the manner to see the whole task that is establishing the steps to
accomplish a task and helping in the maintenance for the concentration and make a good
described high level of stages for the accomplishments. It is breaking down of a task into various
stages for a good management and its outcomes (Nabil, El Barkany and El Khalfi, 2018). It has a
net profit of increment in the quality over the last period of time as of the successful outcomes it
has been generated in case of the objectives, qualities and controlling on the price.
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CONCLUSION
It is concluded from the above report is that operations and project management is an efficient
procedure by which management of various actions can be performed. Project management is
helping to launch a new commodity in the marketplace. Moreover, it has been concluded that
regular betterment planning and six sigma is improving all the plan. It also gives a proper
training to all the administration to bring the modifications in the commodities and in the
satisfaction of all the requirements and wants of an individual in an efficient way. Additionally,
it is also seen that there are a variety of styles of leadership from which a perfect one is chosen
for the executing of the task. Furthermore, Project life cycle is observed to be an efficient manner
by which the successful implementing and executing of every stage can be make sure of the
leader of the chosen firm. Additionally, it is also examined that the way a variety of
methodologies are in use in small and large scale tasks.
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