Review and Critique of Operations Management in H&M: A Business Report

This report provides a comprehensive review and critique of H&M's operations management. It begins with an introduction to H&M, followed by an explanation of the difference between operation and operations management. The report reviews and critiques the implementation of operations management principles within H&M, analyzing how well the organization meets its operational requirements. It discusses continuous improvement as a philosophy, describes Lean principles, and presents a continuous improvement plan with justified recommendations based on the review and critique. The analysis covers key aspects such as organizational structure, accountability, quality control, and understanding competition, concluding with a plan for continuous development using methods like Kaizen and Six Sigma to enhance efficiency and productivity. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study tools and solved assignments for students.

ID
Unit Number and Title Unit 187 – Operations and Project Management
Title Review and Critique of Operations Management (Part 1)
Project Life Cycle (Part 2)
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Table of Content
Part 1: Business Report
1. An introduction to chosen organization p
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management p
3. A review and critique of the implementation of operations
management principles within the chosen organization p
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations management of
the organisation in the case study meets the requirements of the
organization p
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy and
describe the Lean principles p
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified
recommendations for improvement, based on your review and
critique of operations management principles within your
organization p
7. Conclusion p
References p
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INTRODUCTION
Operation management is defined as a process which will helps businesses to deal on
day to day business related issues with the specific strategy. Whereas, the project
management simply uses some kind of tools, skills and such techniques. The report will
include the overview about the organization which is H&M. More, the report will discuss the
operations and the operation management function as well. It will also include the basic
principles of lean and identifies its application to the business. Furthermore, it will include
the explanation on the operational management as which helps the company to properly
analysis the present requirements of the operations.
1. An introduction to chosen organization
H&M is the multinational brand of clothing, it is the biggest retailer. It is continuing on
expanding their business into Europe and counted as the largest online retailer. It is also
known as the fastest growing in fashion brand for the clothing of the children, teenagers, men
and women as well. It has its biggest competition Zara, H&M relies on with the higher value
of sales as well as the inexpensive cloths (Bamana, Lehoux and Cloutier, 2019). It shows that
the brand is making its profits by having a proper merchandise turnover which are supplying
the products as well.
Aims-
 To improving quality of their store in next two years.
 To have more job availability within another year.
 To spread the range of the online store in upcoming years.
Objectives-
 To producing the better quality of goods and services which are at the fair price.
 To offering such better and objective environment.
 To become a one of the best Britain's retailer which helps to satisfy the needs of the
customers.
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management
Definition of operations
Operations defined as a process for functioning and the working activity, which
simply refers to that managing some different kind of tasks as well as activities which are
operated inside the company.
Operation function
It is basically defined as the process who are the handler of all the activities and
several types of things which includes the production, manufacturing and selling of such
goods and services.
Operation management
It is defined as a tool which use for organization, staffing, planning as well as
controlling and supervisor of the particular team which are working together in the same
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production house and maintain the process which are in relation with the other management
services.
Apply to the H&M with specific example
Every department has its own manager likewise, operations department has its
operation manager which monitors all the activities which are conducting within the
organization. The business is taking a step ahead with the many new technologies which are
implementation in their business and proper use for the data related problems which are
helping for running the proper operational management activities.
3. A review and critique of the implementation of
operations management principles within the chosen
organization
H&M's operation department are specialized with handling such king of marketing
related issues and formulate some benefits which are having a positive impact on the sales of
the brand as well. The company offers the better range of products which having a proper
quality and the performance as well (Bonilla and et.al., 2019). The business would know the
better quality of clothing and the other products which may attract many customer base which
are in a favor of the organization.
There are the 10 operation management principles which are weakened by the
organization but this may still make it more profitable for the business and implemented by
H&M.
Organization- it clearly shows that all the principles are interrelated with each other
whereas, it shows a necessity to having a more consistency on to the process which are
attempting by the organization for having a proper and positive outcome as well. With the
operation's management H&M are specifically needs to undertake the production of which
helps in the planning and controlling the proper consistency into the different type of
processes.
Reality- in H&M the operation manager also be focused on such issues which instead
of just know about the problems and needs to be faced accordingly.'
Accountability- it basically shows that the people who are working with the
organization or within in the organization it will need to put the specif roles and
responsibilities which should be maintained by the operation manager and increases the
profitability through making every employee a part of particular duties as well.
Humility- it shows that the company needs to be understands the situation and respect
for the employees must be allowed which leads to avoid any kind of cost related errors as
well as the trial. It refers to the both time and money as well which are simply be saved form
the positive outcome in the future.
Quality control- it refers to the process which are appropriate for maintain the quality
related to the management which are at the place of such products and the other services
which ensuring about the control over the quality as well (Chawla and et.al., 2021). It is
basically involves the monitoring the facilities which are related to the raw materials and to
helps in the logistics which are related to the supply chain as well.
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Success- for the better success it is necessary to have a most achievable operation in
which it helps the customer to be more specified with their choice as well.
Know the competition- it is basically optimized the operation for the important
operations which are mostly happy with their products and services which are received by the
customers.
Causality- it shows the report which helps to identify the proper status of the reports
which are properly helps to identify such problems which are related to the business and
creating the issue between the work.
Consumer collaboration- in the next principle it shows that the organization is more
willing to understand the customer's satisfaction level which shows that it is within the
organization and how it is showing to the company.
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations
management of the organisation in the case study
meets the requirements of the organization
There are some objectives which are used in such cost reduction and in the productivity as
well.
 To reduce the unnecessary cost of the production within some months.
 To increase a proper quality in the next year.
 To increase the business productivity within this year.
Operation management helps to fulfilling the current requirement of the business
It shows that the operation management always helps the businesses to fulfil its
requirements related to the resources or equipments which are probably in the use of such
services as well. There is a different kind of operations functions which are probably counted
as the focussed factor of the business for the perfect marketing strategies (de Oliveira and
et.al., 2020). When it usually helps to measure the technologies which helps to figuring out
such situations and decreases the costs as well as the helps to increases such kind of
productivity as well.
It is specifically helps to identify that the operations' management of H&M always
allows to get the basic requirements which will help such stakeholders to make and effective
decision regarding the requirements and increases the better quality. It shows that the another
aspect will easily help to determine such developing and selling needs of the customers in the
market. There are some essential parts which helps to create a better environment through the
operations' management. It shows that this management is necessary for the improvement
which are having with the proper taste and preferences of the customers as well.
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy and
describe the Lean principles
The continuous improvement helps to identifying many opportunities which are
always helps to reducing the waste which helps in a continuity of the work as well. It is also
basically known as the continuing process which are simply helps to have a proper
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improvement in the product as well as the quality of their service as well. There are five lean
principles:
Identify value- it is a must needed function which helps to identify the value of the
team work of the company.
Map value stream- it helps to visualize the correct part in which it helps to create a
proper customer base.
Create flow- this includes the task which are properly and systematically completing
by the employees.
Establish pull- it always ensures that the tasks assignments are completing on its
given time.
Seek constant improvement- it shows that there is a continuous plan in which it
helps to relate with the proper management as well.
Methods used in a lean production
kaizen- it is called as a simple approach which used to help in a continuous
improvement in which it basically shows the different type of ideas as well.
Just in time- it shows that the inventory system which are in the use of the
management strategy for aligning such raw materials which are ordered directly by the
retailers.
Kanban- it is basically as inventory control system which used to have in a just in
time for tracking out the production as well as the shipments as well.
Andon- It is called as a system in which it helps to alert the operators by which if they
see any kind of issues or problems with their operations.
H&M is using the and applying the Kaizen model which helps them in their operation
management for having a proper continuous improvement in their organization (Fettermann
and et.al., 2018). It basically shows to applying the for reducing such wastes and helps to
enhance the productivity level which are not interrupted as well and helps for the continuous
improvement as well.
Stock control- it is basically refers to the marketing in which it helps to know about
the process for measuring the stock which are basically helps to know the exact amount of the
stock left and which is going to be use in effective manner.
SIX SIGMA
Define- it refers to the problems which are always related to the requirements on such
expectations which helps to fulfil with the customer's need as well.
Measure- it is simply used to help the H&M to measures the process which helps in a
collection of data.
Analyse- it is basically called that such process which is using by the H&M and
identify the problems.
Improve- it is basically used for the elimination of such problems which are analysed.
Control- this shows to correct the mistake and assure to not repeated the same.
Continuous development plan
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Kaizen- it is used by the H&M to make such improvements which helps to have more
beneficialor the employees and organization as well.
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Pros-
 To improve the quality of team work. To ensure about the group who are performing their task in effective manner.
Cons-
 It may create a difficulty sometimes. It may basically need a trained staff.
Quality circle- it shows that the team members are working on the same task with the
better quality of assignments.
Pros-
 to promote team work. To develop better attitude in the members.
Cons-
 Employees did not get the proper training. Management is not supportive.
Benchmarking- basically helps to improve and helps to establishing such baselines in
the H&M.
Pros-
 Helps to set up the high performance level. To monitors the proper performance.
Cons-
 Not have a proper training as well (Singh and et.al., 2021). Do not have any support from any department.
TQM- it has a clear objective which are involved in the H&M's improvement.
Pros-
 To providing the better customer satisfaction. To increasing the market which helps to increase the market image as well.
Cons-
 Sometimes it may create a problem which decreases the customer satisfaction. It consumes more time.
SCM- it counted as to know the proper process for the raw material as well as the
production.
Pros-
 To increase the revenue. Have a proper control over the costs.
Cons-
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 To increase the revenue. It creates an unnecessary issue.
ERP- it may create many opportunities for the increasing up the proper resource
planning for having a proper profit.
Pros-
 It has a proper management. To offer the better quality.
Cons-
 It is not worthy some times.
 Not have a proper quality as well.
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified recommendations
for improvement, based on your review and critique of operations
management principles within your organization
Pros Cons Recommendation
Taylor's scientific
management
 It helps to
enhancing the
production
(Javed and
et.al., 2020).
 It has an ability
to making the
quick decisions
 It needs a very
huge capital.
 It may create a
loss and
sometimes
unemployment
as well.
It can only be adopted
by H&M which needs
to improve the
productivity.
Mass customization  It starts the
responsive
process which
are use in such
productions as
well.
 To increase the
costs as per
maintains the
varied things
(Rosin, F. and
et.al., 2020).
 To having a
difficulty into
measuring the
stock before
time.
H&M needs to train
their staff for the
better and effective
environment at work
7. Conclusion
From the above discussion, it has been concluded that operation management helps
organization to achieve its aims and objectives. Furthermore, the report has been evaluated
such management principles who help the business to make a proper improvement. Also, it
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has been discussed the lean principles which helps to know the methods as well as its
advantages and disadvantages.
References
Bamana, F., Lehoux, N. and Cloutier, C., 2019. Simulation of a construction project:
assessing impact of just-in-time and lean principles. Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management. 145(5). p.05019005.
Bonilla, M.D.R. And et.al., 2019. The interaction of Instagram followers in the fast fashion
sector: The case of Hennes and Mauritz (H&M). Journal of Global Fashion
Marketing. 10(4). pp.342-357.
Chawla, V.K. and et.al., 2021. Evaluation of green operations management by fuzzy
analytical hierarchy process. Materials Today: Proceedings. 38. pp.274-279.
de Oliveira, F.B. and et.al., 2020. Lean principles in vertical farming: A case study. Procedia
CIRP. 93. pp.712-717.
Fettermann, D.C. and et.al., 2018. How does Industry 4.0 contribute to operations
management?. Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering. 35(4). pp.255-
268.
Javed, T. and et.al., 2020. The sustainability claims' impact on the consumer's green
perception and behavioral intention: A case study of H&M. Advances in
Management and Applied Economics. 10(2). pp.1-22.
Rosin, F. and et.al., 2020. Impacts of Industry 4.0 technologies on Lean
principles. International Journal of Production Research. 58(6). pp.1644-1661.
Singh, A.K. and et.al., 2021. AstroSat mission operations management. Journal of
Astrophysics and Astronomy. 42(2). pp.1-7.
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Table of Content
Part 2: Project Portfolio
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Project Title p
An overview of the case study you have been given p
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to your
selected project, including supporting documentation for each
stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-benefit analysis
and work breakdown structure):
 Project initiation p
 Project planning p
 Project execution p
 Project closure p
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used p
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC in
application to your project using the appropriate theories models
and concepts p
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