Hotpoint: An Analysis of Operations and Continuous Improvement

This report analyzes the operations management of Hotpoint, a home appliance company, focusing on its expansion into Tanzania. It begins with an introduction to Hotpoint, outlining its background and product offerings. The report then differentiates between operation and operations manag...Read More

Operations and Project
Management

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is an arena of management which is obsessed with production,
controlling as well as planning of services as well as goods (Alexander, 2013). It is an essential
part of an organisation as it helps in increasing efficiency and effectiveness of a firm. This report
is based on Hotpoint organisation which is private subsidiary and belongs to industry of home
appliances. This company was founded by Earl Richardson in 1911. Its headquarter is located in
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, United States. This company serve its goods and services in
Europe. The report explains about implementation of operation management in terms of
organisation. Along with this, a CIP is preparation in order to review the operation management
activities.
PROJECT 1
1. An introduction to your chosen organisation.
Organisation selected for this report is Hotpoint which is deals in the products of home
appliances. This company is a American brand of domestic appliances and belong to home
widgets industry. Hotpoint was founded in 1911 by Earl Richardson and its headquarter is
situated at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, United States. This company sell its produces in
Europe and there are various products it deals in such as washing machines, refrigerators,
cookers and many more. Its parent company is Haier and Whirlpool corporation.
2. Operation vs operations management
Basis Operation Operation Management
Meaning It is define as a process which are used for
production of products and services and
distribute them to targeted customers.
It is refered to the plan, operation as well
as improvement of systems which are
developed in order to develop
company's goods and services.
Objective The main objective of operation is to
achieve short term goals which will help
organisation to move closer to their long
term goals (Bahn, 2013)
The primary objective of operation
management is to produce products as
well as services as per the need to
customers to make them happy and
satisfied.

3. Review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles
Case Study: Management of Hotpoint is going to grow its business operation in
Tanzania through its current goods (Burke, 2013). To aware potential customers about offers of
company’s product, they need to formulate actual marketing and promotional practices. This will
aid them to strengthen their customer base and will also increase their sales as well as
profitability ratio. To determine customer demands as well as preferences, respective company
need to conduct market analysis in proper manner so that they can produce their products as well
as services accordingly.
Principles of operation management is designed in order to enhance knowledge and skills
of worker that assist them to perform well for their responsibilities. Along with this, it also
improve their decision making ability and their performance which act as a source of motivation
and boost confidence in their personality. There are some effective lea principles which
respective firm must know:
Reality: This principle of operation management explains that organisation must not
focus on the tool rather they should put emphasis on the problem. The purpose is that there is no
tool that can give a universal solution to the issue that has been arise. In respect of Hotpoint
organisation, manager should consider the overall issue and formulate strategies accordingly. It
is because, focus just on the tools such as advance technology, they will only able to satisfy their
customer not employees of company. So, it is essential for manager of respective organisation to
analyse the issue effectively and develop solution which will beneficial for both employees as
well as targeted audience. Through this, it will help in firm growth and development.
Organisation: In this principle it describes about there is interconnection between the
production facility and operation of the organisation (What are the Principles of Operations
Management?, 2019). In respect of respective organisation, manager need to maintain a working
environment so that employee can work with fresh mind and complete their task in effective
manner. This will lead in increase satisfaction of employees and will help the company to retain
their talented and skilled workforce.
Accountability: As per this principle, manager delegate roles as well as responsibilities
as per the abilities and skills of workers so that they can perform their task in properly. In
reference of respective organisation, to expand the business at Tanzania, manager of the

company need to delegate work to all department so that targets can be attained at a given time
period.
4. Analyse the extent to which the operations management of the organisation in the case study
meets the requirements of the organisation
By applying principles of operation management in Hotpoint organisation in appropriate
manner, it will aid them to achieve aims and objectives in order to expand business operation in
Tanzania (Chen, 2016). The principle of operation management which is most suitable for
respective firm is Reality, Organisation and Accountability. In accordance to it, company
examine market to determine capabilities and power for accomplishing target successfully. As
the Hotpoint firm has a strong brand image, it helps them to attract customers so that they can
influence them to buy product from their store. Having adequate amount of funds, company is
able to adopt latest technology which help to enhance quality of their goods and services and
make it not more enhanced and attractive.
5. Discuss continuous improvement as a philosophy and describe the lean principles.
Lean principles- In an organisation Lean principle works as a culture in which people
use different ways to solve problems constantly. Its first priority is to deliver to its customers and
fulfil all needs of customers by providing products or services according to their requirements. In
context to Hotpoint, Lean principles helps to reduce waste caused by variations in their activities
and transform entire organisation by improving its processes continuously. Key Lean principles
are such as: Define Value: It is essential for an enterprise to define its customer's value. It can be
price or anything that a service user is ready to pay. Hotpoint has to identify actual or
potential needs of customer in Tanzania by using different research techniques. It also
helps to determine needs or wants of customers, affordable price for a product and many
other factors which helps to expand their business in Tanzania. Map Value Stream: This Lean principle is used to identify and analyse activities that are
creating value for respective organisation and reducing activities as a waste which do not
create value. Similarly while expanding business in Tanzania, Hotpoint should identify
activities to be performed and eliminate those do not add value to end customer (Flouris
and Lock, 2016). Through this respective company is able to analyse wastage of time,

activities that create value or not and this can create opportunity for improvement in
activities. Create Flow: This principle shows that respective company should ensure smooth
delivery of products or services to its customers (Handschin and Petroianu, 2012). To
create effective and smooth flow of activities in Tanzania which can add value includes
breaking down steps, balancing workload and provide training to employees to be skilled.
This can guide Hotpoint to create fast and effective flow of activities to grow business at
new place.
 Establish Pull: The objective of the principle is to create inventory and work-in progress
items in a limit which doesn't change into wastage. Hotpoint must ensure pull-system as
it created from needs of customers. It should focus on manufacturing process of product
as per quantity needed by customers of Tanzania. This respective company ensure that
their products and services can provide higher satisfaction to customers easily.
 Seek Perfection: As Hotpoint will be a learning organisation in Tanzania during
expansion process, it can put maximum efforts to get better each and every day. It can
focus on enhancing activities that create value for this respective organisation without
waste activities.
6. Prepare a continuous improvement plan based on your review and critique of operations
management principles within your organisation
Continuous improvement plan:
It is define as set of activities which is designed to for continuous improvement in
product as well as services for conducting constant feedback, measurement and action plan. This
will assist in improving business outcomes, strategies and bond between superior as well as
subordinates (Lindström and et.al., 2012). In terms of Hotpoint firm, manager developed a
continuous improvement plan so that they can grow their business in Tanzania successfully. It is
explained as follows:
Plan Do Check Act
Market analysis This will help
respective company to
determine taste and
In order to conduct
effective market
research, Hotpoint
Respective company
need to produce goods
and services as per

demand of customers of
Tanzania through
which this they will
able to produce their
products accordingly.
For this, company must
adopt reality principle
of operation
management.
company need to hire
talented and skilled
employees so that they
can determine customer
demand and produce
their goods as per the
need.
customer requirement
so that they can retain
them for long duration.
After sales services In order to implement
after sales services,
respective firm must
adopt accountability
principle of operation
management (Luo and
et.al., 2016). This is
because addressing
customer issues in
proper manner,
company is able their
trust and gain loyalty.
This helps in improving
brand image of the
company.
To handle customer
issue or problems,
respective firm will
provide effective
training and
development to their
employees so that they
can deal with their
targeted audience in
proper manner.
Employees of
respective organisation
will be able to handle
customer problems
effectively so that they
can faith in the
company's product
which will increase
chances of product
sustainability.
7. Using continuous improvement principles, make at least two justified recommendations which
could improve the operations function detailed in the case study.
As per the examination of the scenario, it can be recommended that Hotpoint company
need to conduct effective market analysis so that they can prepare strategies so that they can
perform organisation activities effectively (Ming and et.al., 2013). In addition to this, by

conducting market analysis in effective manner, manager of respective organisation will be able
to determine customer need and preferences so that they can produce their goods as well as
services as per the requirement. They can also adopt effective promotional tools such as
advertisement, social media and so on. This will aid them to acquire customers and retain
existing customers for long duration. Through this, respective organisation will able to enhance
their position at competitive marketplace and will also give cut throat competition to
competitors.
INTRODUCTION
Operation and project management is essential for a firm so that they can perform their
day to day activities in appropriate manner (Morris, Pinto and Söderlund, 2012). It will also
assist them expand their business which will aid in their growth and development. This report is
based on Thermotec plastic Limited which deals in the products of HDPC, polycarbonate and so
on. It was founded in the year 1968. This report explains about project life cycle with assistance
of various theories and models.
PROJECT 2
1. An overview of the case study you have been given.
Case Study: Thermotec Plastics Ltd. management examine as well as generate an
objective that they will be achieving in coming year. Their aim is to reduce hustle of workers at
break time period from premises of workplace because it creates disruption to other people
working at same premises. Along with this, they also want to develop and promote healthy life
style at their workplace through which they will be able to reduce staff turnover as well as
absenteeism. For this, respective company will formulate project life cycle so that they can create
appropriate plan for attaining objective and targets.
2. A description of the PLC and an explanation of each stage.
A project management life cycle consist of four phases i.e. initiation, planing, execution
as well as closure. These phrases helps an organisation to manage any kind of product in
effective and efficient manner. In respect of Thermotec Plastics Ltd. project life cycle is
describes as follows:
Project Initiation: In the first of project life cycle, it explains about authorization of the
project (Muturi and et.al., 2015). At this stage project manager gather data and creates a project

document so that they can determine the document which are required to complete the project.
This stage includes different information such as vision, mission, objective of project, name of
project sponsor and many more. In order to conduct project in effective manner, it is important
for manager of respective organisation to perform stakeholder analysis.
Project Planning: Second stage of project life cycle it helps in determining various
approaches which will be adopted for performing the project (The Project Life Cycle, 2019).
This phase of project planning is also known as scope management. It is because it outline the
task, activities, time period and dependencies. For this, project manager of respective firm need
to evaluate the budget in order to estimate the cost for material, labour and so on.
Project Execution: In third stage of project life cycle, manager of Thermotec Plastic
Limited need to carry out the activities which was planned at first of respective life cycle. It is a
stage where actual action take place on planned project by giving time, money and engaging
employees in it.
Project Closure: At last stage of respective life cycle, after verifying that criteria has
been met and preparation of closure report, the project get formally closed.
3. How each stage of the PLC applies to your given project, including supporting documentation
for each stage
There are several stages which help Thermotec Plastics Limited for conducting project
management plan in effective style. Some of them are explained as follows:
Business case: It is define as charter in which all the information is collected that is
related to project with the motive of achieving goals and objectives. Through this, they will be
able to provide necessary data to workers as well as targeted audience.
Executive Summary: Thermotec Plastic Ltd. create project management plan for
attaining aim and targets successfully. The objective of respective company is to minimize staff
turnover and maintain positive environment in organisation.
Goal: The primary goal of respective firm is to encourage employees and involve them in
decision making process so that they can gain confidence which will help them in improving
their overall performance.
Solution: For overcoming issues of organisation, respective company can build a
cafeteria where workers can have their lunch and can also arrange sessions which will enhance
their knowledge (Ruiz-Alvarez and et.al, 2012).

Cost as well as Execution time: For performing complete project, Thermotec Plastics
Limited required approx $4000 funds and nearly 1 years of time period (Rinke and et.al., 2012).
Project Plan: Through this, respective company will be able to determine all activities as
well as operation in proper mode that will assist them to achieve their goals effectively.
Scope: By this, respective company will be able to motivate superiors so that they can
understand the issues and complete their task in effective manner.
Risk: There are various risk that is related to project such as understanding level between
employees, co-ordination, cost and so on.
Resources: The resources which are required to conduct the project successfully are
skilled workforce, experts, budget, time duration and so on.
Cost benefit analysis: In this each situation is examined properly so that effective
decision can be taken.
Work Breakdown structure: It is refereed to those structure in which large project are
categorised in small parts so that task can be performed properly.
Gantt chart: It is define as a bar graph representation in project manager will be able to
determine time duration of completion of task.

4. Review and critique the effectiveness of the PLC in application to your project using the
appropriate theories models and concepts.
Thermotec Plastic Company must adopt waterfall model through which they will able to
determine the effectiveness of the project. The respective model is explained as follows:
 Requirements: In this stage respective firm need to examine the guidelines, requirement
of resource and other factors to conduct the project. This phase define and plan the task
without reference of particular procedure.
 Analysis: Next stage of waterfall model, respective company need to study the product
models and business logic in order to scrutinize feasibility of technical as well as
financial resources (Santos and Ferreira, 2013).
 Design: In this stage, Thermotec Plastic Limited need to create project document which
will include various requirement for project such as programming language, data sources
and so on.
 Coding: In this phase, source code is created with help of models, requirement as well as
logic which were described in prior stages of respective model.
 Testing: In this stage, respective organisation need to determine the quality, unit, system
of project conducted and examine the issues which are need to get resolved (waterfall
model, 2019). It is an important stage as if this stage is passed successfully, only then
firm will be able to continue its further process.
 Operation: In this stage of waterfall model, respective company need to support and
maintain the project in order to keep it organic as well as up to date.
 Maintenance: At last stage of waterfall model, respective firm need to effectively carry
out project in order to improve, modify as well as enhance final product.

CONCLUSION
Hence from the above report, it can be concluded that operation management is one of
the important approach of an organisation which help in conducting business activities as well as
function in effective as well as better manner. In addition to this, there are different types of
principles which is adopted by a company to perform operation management effectively by
applying theories such as six sigma, lean principles and many more. Along with this,
organisation also plan and develop continuous improvement plan to increase productivity of
company. Therefore, in order to conduct product life cycle in effective and efficient manner,
firm adopts various approaches which help them in accomplishing goals and objectives in given
period of time.

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