Aston Martin: Operation Management Principles, Improvements, and PLC

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Aston Martin's operation and project management. It begins with an introduction to the company and a comparison of operations versus operations management. The report explores the implementation of operation management principles within Aston Martin, discussing concepts like reality, organization, humility, and accountability. It then examines how operation management meets organizational requirements and the continuous improvement philosophy of lean principles, including identifying value, mapping the value stream, creating flow, and establishing pull. The report also evaluates an improvement plan using the PDCA cycle and provides recommendations for enhancing operation functions. Furthermore, the report includes an overview of a case study, a description of the project life cycle, supporting documents, and an analysis of the PLC's effectiveness using relevant theories, models, and concepts. The report concludes with a summary of findings and recommendations, referencing key sources.

Operation and
project
management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1 & LO2......................................................................................................................................4
1.Introduction of Company..........................................................................................................4
2. Operation vs operations management......................................................................................4
3. The implementation of operation management principles within the organisation.................5
4. Operation management for meeting the requirements of organisation....................................6
5. The continuous improvements as the philosophy of lean principles.......................................7
6.Improvement plan and critically evaluating the operation management principles of
organisation..................................................................................................................................8
7. Recommendations for improving the operation functions. .....................................................9
LO 3 & 4........................................................................................................................................10
1. An overview of the case study...............................................................................................10
2. Description of Project Life Cycle .........................................................................................10
3. Supporting documents...........................................................................................................11
4. Effectiveness of the PLC in application to your project using the appropriate.....................16
theories models and concepts....................................................................................................16
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
Operation management term refers to the administration of all the business practices that
has been created on of the highest level efficiency and effectiveness which has been possible
within the company. it is basically concerned with all the labours and covering materials into the
products and services where the efficiency is possible for resining the revenues of the
organisation. Aston Martin is one of the British independent manufacturing of all the luxury cars
of sports & grand tourers(Gray, R.M. and et.al., 2015). it was founded in by Lionel Martin in
1913. This report will study review and critical effectiveness of operation management principles
and concept of continues improvement in operational context. Further, it will examine the project
life cycle and application of PLC used in project.

LO1 & LO2
1.Introduction of Company
Aston Martin is public Ltd company and it is one of the British independent
manufacturing of all the luxury sports cars & grand tourers. it was generally founded by Robert
Bamford and Lionel Martin in 1913. It is one of the most expensive company of grand touring
cars. The products which has been sold by the Aston Martin is luxury goods & automobiles. The
total revenues of the company is 1,096.5 million in 2018 and the total area where the company
has been served is worldwide. The main headquarter & production site is in Gay-don, Warwick-
shire in England(Zhang, Shah and Papageorgiou, 2019). Their luxury sports cars regards with the
British Royal Warrant.
It has basically announced the plans for changing itself into worldwide luxuries brand &
it also raising the branching out. It is basically sold the original movie cars which has been used
by the Thunder-ball and Gold-finger.
2. Operation vs operations management.
Operation Operations management
Operations are basically relates to the daily
duties of the Aston Martin. It is generally
known about what is going in the business and
basically provided all the information to the
top level management.
It is generally the administration of all the
business practices for creating one of the
highest level of all the efficiency possible
within the Aston Martin. It is basically
concerned with all the labors and covering
materials into the products and services as the
all effective and efficient possible for raising
the revenues of the company.
it is related to all the regular business activities
and daily to daily information and data
gathered by management.
Operation management playing a vital role for
running any of the business project
successfully. It also involves all the business
functions which is responsible for managing
the process of creating the goods and services.
Operation has been done by the operation Operations management includes the

managers within the Aston Martin. It will
generally acquire of delivery of goods,
development to the customers and clients
which is totally based on the wants & demands
of the customers according to the ability of the
customers(Takahashi and et .al., 2016).
organizing, coordinating, controlling and
planning etc where all the resources has been
needed for producing the Aston Martin luxury
cars and goods.
In this all the operations and activities has been
managed by the operation managers and also
the production & manufacturing activities of
products and services.
The main aim and purpose of the operation
management is to timely deliver all the
products and services and also successfully
turn all the raw material into the polished
goods.
3. The implementation of operation management principles within the organisation
When all the operation's management has been implemented then all the keys has been
adjusted and also the Aston Martin for helping and supporting for achieving the strategic goals
and objectives. There are some principles of operation management which are as follows;
Reality
It is necessary for operation management for focusing on the overall conflicts, instead of
just the techniques(Gou and et.al., 2015). There are no tools for able to presenting the universal
solutions.
Organization
From having a production facility in the company, everything inside the operations has
interconnected. All these elements has to predicable and consistent. Without it, operation
managers are not able to achieve the outcomes for revenues.
Humility
Errors & trials are in procedures which is extremely costly, it is important for all the
managers to understand all the disadvantages and limitations. It will generally save the time and
money for helping the manufacturing in long term process(Hoshino and Sato, Fujitsu Ltd, 2017).
Success

There are so many explanations of success within the manufacturing facilities, interest if the
customers and clients that should be taken into the accounts. Aston Martin want to be successful
for keeping all their customers and clients happy & coming back.
Accountability
Being accountable is one of the key for ruining the production and manufacturing operation
management. Where all the managers has been expected to able for setting the metrics and rules
and also checking on the daily basis and also set the goals and objectives for meeting the task of
Aston Martin.
Causality
Conflicts are very similar to all the symptoms where things regularly underlying the causes and
conflicts. it is necessary for the Aston Martin to underlying and remove all the causes and
problems.
Change
lots of time change is good for the organization where the so many new concepts, solutions and
theories are available for the production and manufacturing of the operations and it is significant
change the things according to time and it will manage the stability for long term(Servi and
Tarlton, Motorola Solutions Inc, 2019 ).
Collaborating with customers
It is important to understand the clients and customers for what they buy and using. It basically
provides the views and insights for doing better with the luxuries' cars of sports and organizing
the production family accordingly.
Knowing the customers
it is necessary for Aston Martin for analyzing the competitors and understand the practices,
competitive edge, customers and products of the organisation.
Quality control
it is also important within the production operations because without the quality control
customers may be dissatisfied with the cars services and for Aston Martin quality and durable of
the cars matters and the manufacturing operation using the best materials and process(Moen,
and Norman, 2015).

4. Operation management for meeting the requirements of organisation.
Operation management well aid the implementing the strategies & objectives as well
such as strategic process, controlling and planning. It is basically focuses on the primary
activities which has been includes effective management of resources of Aston Martin and also
raising the potentiality of the all the products and services that has been offered by Aston Martin.
The main advantages of operation management is to correctly managing the areas of all the
operations such as production, human resources, inventory, material management, logistic and
purchasing. Operation management has the key factor where the operation managers takes their
manufacturing to the next and upper level(Johnson, 2015).
Along with all the operation management activities has already scheduling software &
advanced planning of the operation management where it can improve the facilities with the
ease. It also analysis the operating activities which enables for the corporate management and
also the heads of the division set the adequate for controlling the internal principles for
performing the task in proper and lawful manner.
5. The continuous improvements as the philosophy of lean principles
Identify the value
For understanding the values it has been considered analyzing the specific needs of customers for
the specific products and services.
Map the value stream
In this it involves all the steps where it takes the specific materials and delivering to the final and
last product to the clients and customers(Sobek and Smalley, 2017). Value mapping of streams is
basically a simple thing where the Aston Martin giving the best inexpert to their customers and
also find out the actions which has been taken in making the luxury cars and giving the services
to customers.
Creating flow
It is basically a concept where any type of waiting is waste, creating the flow for the values and
goals also ensure the smooth deliveries which has been received on order when t has been
delivered to the customers and clients.
Establish pull
When the flow has been created then it comes to the next step of the lean principle in Aston
Martin to establish the pull with the system and improve the flow and deliver the products timely

in the market. It generally means customers of the Aston Martin pull the products according to
the needs(Bierly amd et.al., 2019).
Perfection
After accomplishing the steps of lean principles it has been come to the step perfection where the
achievement is nothing for the sort but also reaching to the perfection where it has been make the
perfect values without any of waste.
6.Improvement plan and critically evaluating the operation management principles of
organisation.
PDCA cycle where the iterative 4 steps has been used for managing the business for continuous
improvements and control for the improvements of products and processes. It is basically known
as the Deming cycle.
Illustration 1: PDCA.2019
(Source: PDCA.2019 )

Plan
In this planing means recognizing the opportunities & also the plan for change. In this all the
planning has been made according to the evaluating of the operation management where it
generally establishes the goals and objectives and also there is process required where it has been
delivered the desirable results. It also helps in describing all the projects and task of the Aston
Martin with proper and clear specifications. Planning means developing the team which is a part
of the PDCA where it has been set the deadlines(Gupta, 2018).
Do
This is the second phase where it allows the plan from the earlier step to be done. Small changes
are generally tested & information and data has been gathered for seeing the effective changes in
the Aston Martin. Everyone has to perform all the task according to the implementation of the
plan. It keeps all the information of progression to stakeholders and also adhere the schedule for
highlighting the important concerns & variation of notes.
Check
During this step of Check, all the data and information which has been collected from the phase
has been evaluated. It is one of the activity where the activities has been performed, it validates
the outcomes which has been planned and intended. It also makes the notes where all the best
practices, defects, pain areas and variations and also facing so many challenges by Aston Martin.
It also finds out the causes of roots for the conflicts(Gray and et.al., 2015).
Act
It is also known as Adjust where this phase of act has been improved in Aston Martin. All the
records of check and do helps in find out the issues with the procedures. This type of issues has
been included the non-conformity, inefficiencies, opportunities for doing the improvements,
problems and so many other issues where the results come out with the evidently and less than
the optimal.
7. Recommendations for improving the operation functions.
There are so many recommendations which has been given for improving the operation
management. It is necessary to provide the security to the employees and consistent to access all
the information and data. They have to deliver all the time, anywhere and also access the mobile
of the employees. It also creates so much effectiveness and efficiency for the Aston Martin

processor with the partners. It also makes so much easy to collaborate with others. operation
functions has to collaborate with the operation principles and approaches for improving the
operation management where they have to improve the communication and so on(Gou and et.al.,
2015).
LO 3 & 4
1. An overview of the case study
The case study is related to analysing Aston Martin objectives of reducing staff
movement during lurch time for eliminating congestion issues and assisting staff in developing a
healthy lifestyle as part of its CSR activities. Application of project life cycle in the concerned
project will be done for achieving those objectives.
2. Description of Project Life Cycle
A project life cycle can be defined as a sequence of activities through which a project a
passes through from its initiation of project to its completion. This cycle involves 4 stages that
are as follows:
Initiation :
This is the stage wherein the company identifies need, challenges and opportunities. After
which with the application of brainstorm technique, the project manager determine ways and
solutions for solving or meeting those needs (Pheng, 2018). In this phase, the project manager
determine the objective of concerned project which in this case is reducing staff movement
during lunchtime for avoiding congestion and helping employees in developing a healthy
lifestyle. Further, the feasibility and main deliverables for the project are ascertained.
Development of a business is included in this stage wherein cost benefit analysis is undertaken
for moving ahead with the project.
Planning:
When the project gets a green signal from initiation phase, project manager steps into
planning stage in which the entire project is break into smaller activities, a team is created,
scheduling is done for accomplishing the project. Each of the activity of project is assigned to
every team member based on their capabilities and skills. Breakdown of the project is done
because smaller goals are easier to achieve and have higher success rate as compared to larger
goals. For this purpose, project manager in Aston Martin created a team in which it assigned the
work between different people for systematically completion of project. In this planning stage,

the manager also anticipate the potential risks that could affect the effectiveness and success rate
of the concerned project (Muriana and Vizzini , 2017).
Execution:
In this stage, the actions which were planned in the second stage are implemented.
Project manager of Aston Martin creates workflows and tasks which are then assigned to the
team members. Briefs are given to members explaining how things are to be done and if
necessary training is provided. This stage also involves communication with the team members
and communicating updates to interested stakeholders at each level. Further, monitoring the
performance of team members for ensuring quality of work and for making sure that each of the
activity is completed on time. Lastly, managing the financial resources in relation to the project.
Project manager have to make sure that project activities does not cross the budgeted figures as
it will amount to reduced efficiency of concerned project (Costantino, Di Gravio and Nonino,
2015).
Closure:
Closure stage in project life cycle incudes the following steps: analysis of performance
i.e., finding whether goals have been met by preparing a checklist; analysis of performance of
team; documentation of closure of project; taking post implementation feedbacks; accounting for
resources. Aston Martin project manager undertakes all the required actions for ensuring that
work is closed within the time limit and budget set for it.
3. Supporting documents
Work breakdown structure:
It is defined as material project deliverable which is concerned with segmentation of
activities within the team members in an organized manner.
Cost benefit analysis:
It is described as a technique which is used for comparing benefits a project will yield
against the costs of completing a project. Project manager of Aston Martin applies this technique
in initiation stage where it determines the value which will be derived by undertaking the project
of developing a healthy lifestyle and reducing a staff movement during lunchtime for eliminating
the congestion at local area (Kerzner, 2017). Like for completing this project, £15000 and the
benefit that will be yielded is £30000. From this, cost benefit ratio 2 which is a profitable venture
for company.

Task Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Manually
Schedule
d
Initaitaion 12 days Mon 7/15/19 Tue 7/30/19
Auto
Schedule
d
Defining objectives 2 days Mon 7/15/19 Tue 7/16/19
Auto
Schedule
d
Feasibility study 4 days Wed 7/17/19 Mon 7/22/19 2
Auto
Schedule
d
Determining
deliverables 3 days Tue 7/23/19 Thu 7/25/19 2,3
Auto
Schedule
d
Development of busines
case 3 days Wed 7/17/19 Fri 7/19/19 2
Manually
Schedule
d
planning 9 days Mon 7/22/19 Thu 8/1/19
Auto Project plan 4 days Mon 7/22/19 Thu 7/25/19 5