Operations and Project Management Analysis at Bown Manufacturing

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of operations and project management within Bown Manufacturing. It begins with an introduction to the company, detailing its history and evolution. The report then explores the differences between operations and operation management, followed by a review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles within the company, including discussions on reality, organization, accountability, and causality. It assesses the extent to which the firm's operations management meets its needs, highlighting the application of lean principles and the Six Sigma approach. The report also examines continuous improvement as a philosophy, detailing lean principles and presenting a continuous improvement plan based on the review and critique of operations management principles. Furthermore, it delves into the project lifecycle (PLC) and its application within the company, offering supporting documentation and evaluating its effectiveness. The report concludes with recommendations for improving the operation function of the case study.

Operations and Project
Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1 & LO 2 ...................................................................................................................................1
1. Introduction to selected company ...........................................................................................1
2. Explain the operation vs operation management ....................................................................1
3. Review and critique of implementation of principles of operations management within
company ......................................................................................................................................2
4. Extent to which the operation management of the firm in case study meet the needs of firm.
......................................................................................................................................................3
5. Continuous improvement as philosophy and describe the lean principles..............................3
6. Continuous improvement plan based on review and critique of principles of operation
management.................................................................................................................................5
7. Recommendation for improving the operation function of case study ...................................7
LO 3 & LO 4 ...................................................................................................................................7
1. Overview of case study............................................................................................................7
2. Description of PLC and explain each steps ............................................................................7
3. Through supporting documentation for each stages in terms of applying the PLC to project
....................................................................................................................................................10
4. Effectiveness of the PLC in implementation of project utilizing appropriate theories and
concepts. ....................................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Project management is activity of initiating, planning, execution, controlling and closing
the work of group to accomplish particular objectives and meet specific success criteria at the
particular time. On other side, operation management is the direction of activities of business to
make the largest level of potential skilfulness within the company (Meredith, Mantel and Shafer,
2017). Study is based on Bown Manufacturing company. Firm has different patented mechanical
parts. The name Aeolus had been utilized as trademark and specially for cycle parts. Report will
introduce the chosen company and example the operation vs operation management. It will
conduct the review and critique and of the implementation of operation management principles
within the selected firm.
LO 1 & LO 2
1. Introduction to selected company
The selected firm is Bown Manufacturing Organization was set up in 1862 in
Birmingham through localized machinist, William Bown that made variety of patented
mechanical parts. The name Aeolus had been utilized as trademark since 1877 and specially for
cycle parts. At first, firm manufactured different articles such as parts of sewing machines, horse
clippers, roller skate wheels. Many of these instruments were the dependent of patents filed
through William Bown. Also, firm offered instruments for other makes of bikes such as motor
cycle, hubs, rim brakes, ball-bearing clutches and so on.
Through 1892, firm had over 1000 workers in many workshops. William converted
business to limited firm in 1893 after approaching their retirement. Now, company has estimated
2300 employees working the organization. Company was capable to earn significant royalties by
operating patent for the popular Aeolus ball bearing between other goods in terms of sales from
their manufactured goods.
2. Explain the operation vs operation management
Operation:
Any kind of jobs or activities comprising one or more factors that can be performed in
one location which is called as operation. It changes resources or data inputs into desired
products, facilities or outcome, make as well as deliver value to the consumers (Kerzner, 2017).
There are two or more linked operations constitute procedure and are normally divided into
different classes processing, transport, storage and inspection.
1

Operation Management:
Operation management is the field of arrangement obsessed with designing and
controlling the procedure of production as well as remaking operations of business in the
manufacturing of products or services (Matějka and et.al., 2016). It is taken up with handling
whole manufacturing system that is procedure of converting inputs into outputs or deliver goods
or services. For managing operation, company needs to follow the various approaches like six
sigma.
Six Sigma Approach:
It is controlled and data driven concept as well as method of continuous improvement in
terms of removing defects in goods, procedures or service. The strategies of Six Sigma try to
develop the quality of procedure of output through determining and eliminating the reason of
faults and reducing variability in production and business procedures (Nicholas and Steyn,
2017). There are two methods involving Six Sigma such as DMAIC and DMADV.
DMAIC: It stands for define, measure, analyse, improve and control of existent procedure of the
business. This can aid to improve and manage the operation of firm in effective manner.
DMADV: It stand for define, measure, analyse, design and verify in terms of making new design
of goods and procedures. This can help to improve and manage the operation of firm in effective
manner.
3. Review and critique of implementation of principles of operations management within
company
There are various key modifications which are created to support in accomplishing
objective strategically of firm when operation management is applied. The strategic objectives
are met through knowing the most essential principles of handling the operation and give through
visibility into the operations (Albrecht and Dasigi, 2016) There are various principles of
operation management which involve reality, humility, success, organization, responsibility,
causality, quality control, knowing the competition and collaborating with consumers in the
Bown Manufacturing Company.
Reality and Organization:
Operation management required to concentrate on the whole problems rather than just
technique. This is because no technique in itself which can be capable to present universal
solution. Also, everything within operation is inter-affiliated within production services (Apaza
2

and Marsden, 2019). All of these factors have to be agreeable and inevitable. The operation of
Bown Manufacturing Company can not be capable to accomplish result of profitability without
organizing the operation effectively.
Accountability and Causality:
Being responsible is key with operating manufacturing operations. Managers of Bown
Manufacturing Company are expected too capable to set regulations and metrics while checking
on rarely basis if these objectives are being met. Therefore, operation manager of firm must be
responsible for managing the operations in effective manner (Matějka and et.al., 2016). In order
to that, problems are very same to evidence in which these two things normally outlining causes.
In terms of rid of the problem forever and have to remove the outlining cause as well.
4. Extent to which the operation management of the firm in case study meet the needs of firm.
It is the necessary to follow all principles of operations management by which company
easily meet the needs of consumers and business. In order to that, company make efforts to fulfil
the accountability and collaboration with consumers in terms of managing the operations in
effective manner. Also, project manager of Bown Manufacturing Company follow the lean
principles for determining the values of consumer and their business (Di Nitto and et.al., 2017).
The manager of firm utilize the six sigma approach for improving the effectiveness and
efficiencies of the business in the manufacturing industry. The cases study defines the project
which translate business objectives which includes decreasing the movement of staff from
premises during lunch break, helping staff to develop lifestyle that firm believes is portion of
their corporate social responsibility and also will decrease staff absenteeism within the
organization.
5. Continuous improvement as philosophy and describe the lean principles.
Continuous improvement is the administration context refers to never ending efforts to
expose and remove the reasons of problems. It is the philosophy that tries to develop all elements
related to procedure of transformation on ongoing basis (Jensen, Rasmussen and Chatzilazarou,
2019). It includes labour, management, removing the waste in equipments, materials and
production methods. With the help of it, manager needs to focus on improve effectiveness and
Lean Principles:
In addition to that, there are other lean principles which can aid to improve the
effectiveness and efficiencies of operation of Bown Manufacturing Company. It includes:
3

Identify value: It is essential to identify and describing consumers value. It means consumer is
willing to pay for (The Five Principles of Lean, 2017). It is pro-amount to find the original and
possible wants of the consumers by the Bown Manufacturing Company.
Map value system: It is determining and mapping value flow. The objective is to utilize value of
consumer as mention element and determine all actions which contribute to these values by the
Bown Manufacturing Company.
Create Flow: It is the activity which ensure flow of remaining stages operate smoothly without
delays after removing wastes from value stream. Some of value-adding actions flow smoothly
involve breaking down stages, set up the production phase, making cross-functional division etc.
followed through Bown Manufacturing Company.
Establish pull: Stock is considered one of the largest wastes in any manufacturing system. The
objective of pull based system is to limit stock and work in process items while assuring that the
needed materials and data are available for smooth flow of work within the Bown Manufacturing
Company.
4
Illustration 1: The Five Principles of Lean
Source: (The Five Principles of Lean, 2017)

Seek Perfection: It is the most essential stage among all four steps which creates lean thinking
and constant procedure improvement that is part of culture of firm.
6. Continuous improvement plan based on review and critique of principles of operation
management.
Continuous improvement is ongoing betterment of goods, services and procedure through
incremental and break via improvement. These contributions can try incremental betterment over
time or break through improvement all at once (Estelles-Miguel and et.al., 2019)). Broadest
utilized continuous improvement model which involves four stages of quality assurance method
that is also called as Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. It give procedure for improvement since early
design step of any procedure, method, good and services.
Plan:
It establishes goals and procedures needed to deliver the desired outcome. Through this,
company identify chances and plan for changes. It is defined problems to be addressed, gathered
relevant information and ascertain the root cause of problem in the Bown Manufacturing
Company. It is normally consisted of small stages, so company can build appropriate plan with
fewer chances of failure (Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle, 2019). It is proper usage of techniques for
making and maintaining open feedbacks loops.
5

Do:
It enables the plan from previous stage to be done. Small modification are normally
tested and information is collected to see the ways of changes are effective. In this, company
apply the changes on small scale. Also, it develops and apply solution, decide upon measuring to
standard their power. In order to that, standardization is emphatically aid team in terms of
implementing plan carefully. Thus, Bown Manufacturing Company needs to make ensure that
all team members understand their roles and accountabilities.
Check:
The outcome and information collected from previous stage which are necessary to be
evaluated during the check phase. In this, company utilize the information to analyse the
outcome of modification and define whether it creates differences (Lim and et.al., 2016). Also,
Bown Manufacturing Company confirms the outcome through before-and-after data comparison.
If firm want to clarify plan, avoid the continual mistakes and implement constant betterment
successfully, they need to pay enough attention to check stages.
Act:
Finally, company arrive at last stage. If every thing appears perfect and managed team to
accomplish the objectives, so that firm can proceed and implement initial plan. It can be proper
6
Illustration 2: Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle
Source: (Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle, 2019)

to follow entire plan if goals are met. Therefore, Bown Manufacturing Company prepare
document the outcome, inform others about modification of procedure and create suggestions for
problems to be assessed in PDCA cycle.
7. Recommendation for improving the operation function of case study
Operation manager of Bown Manufacturing Company should utilize continuous
improvement principles which can aid to improve the operation and function of firm. Principles
involve stop fixing and beginning improving, changing behaviour which should followed by
manager of company. Also, this can aid to improve the operation and activities of selected
organization (Matějka and et.al., 2016). This can help to improve the effectiveness and
efficiencies of operations of Bown Manufacturing Company. With the help of it, operation and
project managers are defined the objectives of project which includes decreasing the movement
of staff from premises during lunch break, helping staff to develop lifestyle that firm believes is
portion of their corporate social responsibility and also will decrease staff absenteeism within the
organization.
LO 3 & LO 4
1. Overview of case study
Bown Manufacturing Company is large manufacturing company which is situated in the
Midlands that has 1250 or more than workers on this site. The firm has employed staff in range
of different roles involving office staff and factory employees. In order to that, company translate
objectives of business into the identification of particular development projects and their
planning and completion (Fleming and Koppelman, 2016). Two relevant business objectives
which involves decreasing the movement of staff from premises during lunch break, helping staff
to develop lifestyle that firm believes is portion of their corporate social responsibility and also
will decrease staff absenteeism.
2. Description of PLC and explain each steps
Project Life Cycle:
It is defined high level procedure for delivering successful project. The project life cycle
is normally divided into four stages such as initiation, planning, execution and closure. These
create the way which takes project from the starting to the finish (4 Phases of project life cycle,
2017).
7

Project Initiation:
Project manager identify the needs, problems, chances which group of people can meet
this requirement, resolve the issues and seize the chances. Managers find out goal of project
during the project initiation. It involves different stages which are undertaking feasibility
research, determining scope, deliverables, project stakeholders and evolving business case. Thus,
project manager of Bown Manufacturing Company needs to follow all the stages for
accomplishing the objectives.
Project Planning:
Once the project is authorized to move forward dependent on business case of firm,
statement of work, document of project initiation and move into planning stage. In project
planning stage, project managers break down bigger project into small activities, build group of
people and make schedule for accomplishing project (Project Planning, 2017). In this stage,
manager of Bown Manufacturing Company making the project plan, workflow document,
collecting resources and evaluating risks like quality and timeline. These kinds of factors
influenced on achievement of objectives of project to the Bown Manufacturing Company.
8
Illustration 3: 4 Phases of project life cycle
Source: (4 Phases of project life cycle, 2017)

Project Execution:
Project manager have received business approval, grow the plan and build the group of
people. This stage turns plan into activity. The job of project manager is to keep work on path,
organize team members, handle timescale and make sure the work is done as actual plan (Project
Execution, 2017). It is involves different stages which are prepared tasks, conducting workflow,
informing team members on activities, interacting with group members, monitoring quality of
work and handling budget which can aid to accomplish the objectives of project to the Bown
Manufacturing Company.
9
Illustration 4: Project Planning
Source: (Project Planning, 2017)

Project Closure:
Project manager come in closure stage when group of people have completed work on
project. They give final deliverables, release resources of project, define success of the project. It
includes examining performance of project, team presentation, documenting the project closure,
financing utilized and unused budget and organizing post implementation review of project
(Binder, 2016). This can aid to accomplish the objectives of project to the Bown Manufacturing
Company.
3. Through supporting documentation for each stages in terms of applying the PLC to project
Business case:
10
Illustration 5: Project Execution
Source: (Project Execution, 2017)