Operation Management Practices at Unilever plc: Efficiency, Tech

This report delves into Unilever plc's operation management practices, focusing on how these practices impact organizational efficiency. It identifies key areas such as quality management, process and capacity design, location strategy, job design and human resources, and supply chain management. The analysis critically examines how these practices contribute to increased product quality, productivity, customer satisfaction, and efficient supply chain management, while minimizing operation costs. Furthermore, the report evaluates the integration of technology, including automation, computer-aided manufacturing, digital marketing, and geo-technology for sustainable palm oil supply chains. Finally, it highlights the supporting functions, such as sales, and their crucial role in ensuring Unilever's overall success. Desklib provides solved assignments and past papers for students.

Operations
Management and
Service

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
1. Identify one operation management practice within a chosen organisation............................3
2. Critically analyse how this operation management practice impacts the organisation in
regards to efficiency....................................................................................................................5
3. Evaluate how technology could be embedded in this process or evaluate how this has
already been achieved..................................................................................................................7
4. What supporting functions are linked to this operation management practice and evaluate
how can they assist with ensuring organisational success?.........................................................8
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Operation management practice is related to those practice under which the managers of the
organisation develop the highest level of efficiency in the organisation at possible level. It is very
important for the success of business operation and to achieve the cost advantage in business
activities that all the activities are performed effectively and efficiently. operation management is
also related to the conversion of labour and material into finished goods and services efficiently
with the help of effective techniques and technology (Mehra, 2018). The organisation which is
chosen here to demonstrate this report is the Unilever plc. This report states operation practice
use by the management of Unilever plc which helps them to establish the efficiency in their
business. The impact of operation practice on the organisation efficiency are stated in this report.
This report also involves the impact of technology in this aspect and various supporting function
are linked with this operation practise are also describes in this report.
About the company
Unilever plc is a British multinational organisation which deals in a retail industry of the United
Kingdom. The main decision related to the operation of business are taken from their
headquarter which is located in the London, United Kingdom. Company deals in multiple
product range such as skin care products, home care products and health care product. Currently
the organisation manage 200 brand in more than 150 countries of the world.
TASK
1. Identify one operation management practice within a chosen organisation
It is very important for the organisation to achieve the efficiency in the business and the
management of Unilever has operation practice in their productivity department. To achieve the
efficiency in the productivity management takes several decision which are described below.
Quality management
One of the most important aspect which is considered to achieve the efficiency in the
production department of the organisation is the quality of the product. The quality of the
product should be developed on the basis of the needs and preference of the customers and also
price of the product. It is the duty of the managers of the organisation to use those measures and
technique in the process of production which increases the efficiency of labour so that the cost
become minimised and the company is able to provide the quality product at reasonable price

which enables the company to increase their customer base. The managers of Unilever utilises all
the resources effectively to achieve the efficiency in the department.
Process and capacity design
The objective of the operation manager in this aspect is to use those process in the
process of production which gives higher return and efficiency in the work. The production
department of the Unilever is very huge because the company manage multiple product range so
it is required for the managers of the organisation to achieve efficiency in their operation to
produce the adequate capacity of the product. Unilever applies the automation and robotics in
most of their production process which helps the company to achieve the efficiency and be able
to provide the product to their huge customer’s base. The managers of Unilever regularly
evaluate the process and capacity of the production process so that the product are developed on
specified quality on time
Location strategy
This aspect is related to the cost efficiency in the transportation of company’s goods from
one place to another. It is very important for the organisation to become success in their business
that it successfully evaluates the cost bear by the company in transportation and location of the
factory. To reduce the location cost unclever is set all their factories and production hubs near
the supply areas which helps the company to achieve cost efficiency. Another decision which the
company is taken in this aspect to find those location for the production hub where the
availability of cheap labour is high.
Job design and human resource
Under this aspect the management of the organisation has to take decision related to the demand
of the workforce in the process of production. It is very important for the human resource
department of the organisation to employee the skilful and hard-working employees in the
production department because it impacts the efficiency of the production very strongly. It is the
duty of the human resource manager of Unilever to develop effective pay structure and timing of
job which attracts the workforce from the market towards the organisation and provides them
proper training to them so that they work in the production department of the organisation
efficiently.
Supply chain management

It is related to the channels of distribution which is used by the company to deliver their product
and services from one place to another. It is very important for the organisation to develop
effective supply chain for the movement of their product and services to right place at right time.
One of the most important quality of the supply chain management of Unilever lever that all their
product are available at the right time on their right place. This management is developed by the
efforts of the company and their strong financial position. Effective supply chain management
required huge amount of funds to achieve efficiency and the balance sheet of the company
allows them for the same.
2. Critically analyse how this operation management practice impacts the organisation in regards
to efficiency
There are many impacts of these operation management practise on the efficiency of the
Unilever and the brief discussion related to these impacts are given below:
Increases product quality
One of the most impact of these operation management practise on the management of
the Unilever is that it enables the company to provide the quality product and services to their
customer. These operation management practise helps the company to make all their functions
effective which enables the company to product the quality product at low cost and attract the
customers towards them which increase the sales volume.
Increases productivity
The impact of operation management practise on the productivity department of the
Unilever is positive because it increases the productivity of the company. The operation
management helps the production department of the company to use effective production process
and techniques which enables efficiency in the process of production. The productivity of the
company are impacted though the skill worker used in the process of production which reduces
the cost of the production and ultimately increases the profit margins of the company.
Customer satisfaction

One of the most important duty of the managers of the organisation is to satisfy the needs and
preference of the customers. Under operation management practise the needs and preference of
the customers in relation to get the quality product at low price become fulfilled which increases
the loyalty of the customers towards the company which enables the organisation to gain
advantage in the long term.
Operation cost
Operation cost is related to those cost which is incurred by the company on their business
operation. In case of weak management in the organisation the operation cost become high
which impacts the profit margins of the company negatively. In case of Unilever plc the
operation management practise enables effective management of all the operation in the
organisation which minimise the operation cost and increases the profits margins of the
company.
Efficient supply chain
It is related to those frameworks in the organisation which enables the company to deliver
their product ands services from one place to another. The supply chain management of the
organisation should be effective because it enables the company to provide their customers at
right time and right place (Daradkeh, Moh'd Al-Dwairi, 2018). One major problem which every
organisation faces in their supply chain management which every organisation faces in them is
huge cost in them but in case of Unilever the cost becomes minimised due to operation
management practise.
3.Evaluate how technology could be embedded in this process or evaluate how this has already
been achieved
Technology is one of the most growing aspect in the present scenario it become the part of all the
business activities whether it is production, marketing, human resource, selling and many more.
Not a single business activity remains silent towards presence of technology. There are many
positive impacts of technology on the business because it helps the organisation achieve the
advantage in many areas such as it reduces the efforts of labour, provided different and new
methods of advertisement and many more. Technology also impacts on the operation practice of
Unilever and the brief discussion related to these impacts are given below
 One of the impacts on the technology bare seen in the quality department of the Unilever.
Under this department the managers of the company used many modern technologies

such as robots and many more to evaluate the quality of the product. The technical staff
of the organisation inputs the quality standards in the programmes of these robots and
those products which fails to achieve the standard quality will kick out from the
production line. This technology helps the organisation to achieve the efficiency in time
management.
 The management of the Unilever applied different modern technology in their process of
production such as computer aided manufacturing. This process of manufacturing is
related to the production of goods with help of machinery and computer. This technology
enables the organisation to achieve the efficiency in their process of production. This
technology reduces the efforts of human being and also reduces the time taken in the
process of production.
 There are many technologies are developed which the organisation can used in their
human resource department such as online interview and finding the employee for the
organisation with the help of internet. These technologies help the management of the
organisation to achieve the efficiency in business.
 One of the most important and attractive technology which Unilever used in their
business is recycling of plastic sachet into packing of their product and services. Under
this technology company used empty sachet of plastic and recycle them into new packing
material with the help of modern machines. This not only support the company cost
structure but make the company environment friendly in front of the world.
 Unilever used modern method of marketing such as digital marketing under which the
company used social media and other modern technological platforms to advertise their
product and services. The marketing department of the company develops page with the
name of the company and regularly updates the information related to the product and
services of the organisation which aware the customers about the new and innovative
product and services of the company.
 As we all know that Unilever is the biggest supplier of palm oil to the world and has large
number of countries to conduct their business operations so company develops geo
technology location which enables the supply chain of palm oil more sustainable and
efficient.

4. What supporting functions are linked to this operation management practice and evaluate how
can they assist with ensuring organisational success?
There are also some functions are linked with the operation management practise of production
function of Unilever which helps the organisation to achieve success in the market and the brief
discussion related to these supporting functions are given below.
Sales function
The function of the sales department is to ensure the sale of company product and services and to
increase the sale of their product with the help of some effective measures. This function has
strong link with the production department because they get the product from the production
department for the achievement of organisational goals. The sales department of Unilever is one
of the most efficient and effective department which enables the company to earn huge revenue
from the sale of their product.
Marketing function
Marketing is one of the most important function of any organisation because it influences
the attitude and will of the customers to arise the demand of company’s goods and services. It is
important for the success of the organisation that the production and marketing department has
strong link because all the product which develops under production department are sale by the
efforts of marketing department. (Obwegeser and et.al., 2019)
Human resource functions
The human resource department of the organisation is responsible for the recruitment and
training of the workforce of the organisation. The main aim of this department is to employee the
tale3nted employees in the organisation which helps the organisation to achieve their goals and
objectives effectively and efficiently. human resource act as supportive function for the
production department of the Unilever because the workers needed for the process of production
are fulfilled by the human resource department.
Research and development function
The main function of research and development department of the organisation is to develop new
product and make innovation in the existing product of the organisation as per the need and
preference of the customers.

CONCLUSION
It is concluded from this report that operation management practice is not limited only
with the production department but it impacts all other functions of the organisation. This
report concludes operation practice use by the management of Unilever plc which helps
them to establish the efficiency in their business. The impact of operation practice on the
organisation efficiency are concludes in this report (Roels and Staats, 2021). This report also
concludes the impact of technology in this aspect and various supporting function are linked
with this operation practise are also concludes in this report.

ENCES
Books and Journals
Daradkeh, M. and Moh'd Al-Dwairi, R., 2018. Self-service business intelligence adoption in business
enterprises: the effects of information quality, system quality, and analysis quality. In Operations
and Service Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications (pp. 1096-1118).
IGI Global.
Helo, P. and Hao, Y., 2019. Blockchains in operations and supply chains: A model and reference
implementation. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 136, pp.242-251.
Kaiser, A.K., 2021. Practices to Manage Operations. In Become ITIL® 4 Foundation Certified in 7
Days (pp. 273-321). Apress, Berkeley, CA.
Karanja, S., Munyua, J. and Mutukaa, S.K., 2019. Influence of strategic operations on service delivery of
village banks in Nandi County, Kenya.
Kreye, M.E., 2019. Does a more complex service offering increase uncertainty in
operations?. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Li, M., Yin, D., Qiu, H. and Bai, B., 2021. A systematic review of AI technology-based service encounters:
Implications for hospitality and tourism operations. International Journal of Hospitality
Management, 95, p.102930.
Mehra, S., 2018. Using asset-based criterion to implement quality management philosophy in service
operations to enhance business performance. International Journal of Quality & Reliability
Management.
Obwegeser, N., T. Nielsen, D. and M. Spandet, N., 2019. Continual process improvement for ITIL service
operations: A lean perspective. Information Systems Management, 36(2), pp.141-167.
Roels, G. and Staats, B.R., 2021. Introduction to the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management
Special Issue on People-Centric Operations. Manufacturing & Service Operations
Management, 23(4), pp.758-760.
(Helo and Hao, 2019)
(Kaiser, 2021)
(Karanja and Mutukaa, 2019)
(Kreye, 2019)
(Li and et.al., 2021)