Unit 187: Operations and Project Management - HP Foods Analysis

This report provides a detailed review and critique of the operations management principles implemented at HP Foods. It begins with an introduction to the organization, followed by an explanation of operations versus operations management. The report then analyzes the implementation of operations management principles, focusing on lean management. A critical analysis assesses the extent to which the company's operations meet organizational requirements. The report also discusses continuous improvement as a philosophy and describes lean principles. Furthermore, it proposes a continuous improvement plan with justified recommendations for enhancing HP Foods' operations. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and recommendations. The assignment is based on the Higher Nationals Assignment Brief for BTEC (RQF) Higher National Diploma in Business Management, Unit 16: Operations and Project Management.

-me ID
Unit Number and Title Unit 187 – Operations and Project Management
Credit Value 15 Unit Level 5
PROJECT Title Review and Critique of Operations Management (Part 1)
Project Life Cycle (PLC) (Part 2)
Statement of Authenticity:
I certify that the work submitted for this unit is my own and the research sources are fully
acknowledged.
Learner Name: Date:
Table of Content
Part 1: Business Report
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1. An introduction to chosen organization
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Organization chosen for this assessment is HP foods. HP foods limited, is a private
organization in food and beverage industry. This organization was founded in 1875 in Aston,
Birmingham, UK. Its main headquarter is in Hayes, London, UK. It was a UK licensee, of Chinese food
and condiment brand, Amoy Food. They manufacture and sell products such as HP sauce, daddies’
sauces, tomato ketchup and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce. But in 27 their main factory at
Aston was demolished and production of HP and Daddies sauce brands was moved to
the Netherlands. During this time all the manufactured sauce that were manufactured but were not
bottled up but sent to Mainland Road side.
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management
Operations can be defined as work of managing inner working of a business operation so it
runs effectively and smoothly. These operations differ from industry to industry and business to
business. For management of business operations various strategies are developed that help
organizations in achieving their main goals and objectives in an effective and accurate manner. these
strategies are developed as a part of operation management that includes business practises
administration (Zhu and et. al., 2018). Operation management helps in development of effective
operational strategies so that productivity of an organization can be enhanced by effectively
managing operational functions of an organization. This further help firms in enhancing their overall
revenue and maximizing profitability of an organization. Operational strategies developed by
management of an organization majorly focuses upon management of areas such as HR, structure,
current and future plans and daily workflow operations. Focus upon these areas help in
management of organization in delivering brand promises and its services in an effective manner. It
further helps in adding values in form of goods, and services.
In manufacturing sector operation process is to oversee process of transforming resources
into goods and services. Role of operation functions in manufacturing industry is to production
planning, production control, and quality control production planning, production control, and
quality control (Varisco and et. al., 2018). Operational management is one of the most important
part of an organization that directly impact all other business functions of an organization. Operation
management helps in transforming organization’s input into finished output goods. All the activities
of operation management functions help in converting raw material into finished goods in an
accurate manner. Operation management has direct relationship with financial function of an
organization because financial function of an organization directly controls funds, judge capital
investment and then this information is further used by management of an organization for decision
making. Management of an organization like HP foods cannot carry out their operational functions
without financial plans and evaluating current financial plan of an organization (Wakui and et. al.,
2017). Operation management has direct relationship with marketing function of an organization
because this function help management of an organization to understand needs a demand of
customers and scope of development of new market this information is then further used by
management of organization for management of operational functions for production of goods and
services required by organization and sending to customers as per their needs and requirements.
Operation function is further directly related to operation management because operation function
of an organization is responsible for providing information to production department so that goods
and services required can be delivered to customers. Operation management is further related to
human resource function of an organization because for smooth functioning of operation function,
organization require human resource and recruitment of human resource required is done by Hr
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department so that barriers within smooth functioning of organization cab be reduced in an
adequate manner.
3. A review and critique of the implementation of
operations management principles within the chosen
organization
HP Foods uses lean management principles for bringing improvement within their efficiency
and effectiveness. It further helps in bringing improvement within workplace. As per these Lean
principles, five main principles that are implemented within workplace by HR Foods are as follows:
Defining values: they have already defined customer values that they will be delivering to their
customers. This helps them in understanding values for which their customers are ready to pay for
by analysing actual needs and requirements of customers (Wakui and et. al., 2017). Main customer
values that are being delivered by them to their customers are high quality of their food products
that are cheap and affordable as well as easily available to their customers.
Mapping the value stream: They have already identified and mapped their value stream on the basis
of identified customer values. This helps HP foods in identifying values that do not add value to their
customers are considered wastage. On the basis of this, they have identified that processes or
factors that are not considered by their customers and on the basis of this analysis they have
removed those processes (Wakui and et. al., 2017). For example: production and sales of Aston,
Birmingham factory was extremely less as customers buy products that are easily available to them
in supermarkets and nearby stores. Due to this, they demolished their Aston Birmingham factory
and moved this production to Netherlands because demand for their products were high their.
Creating flow: they focus upon continuously checking whether their production is running smoothly
or not by checking whether removal of any kind of process is impacting their operations smooth
functioning or not.
Usage of pull system: they have limited their inventory work and process to demands of customers
using pull- based system (Wakui and et. al., 2017). They produce products in quantity which is
demanded by customers and so that goods produced are not wasted and overall inventory is
managed in an adequate manner.
Pursuing perfection: it is one o the most important principle of organization that helps in smooth
functioning of operational functions. For this, they have developed a continuous improvement
culture so that they can remain competitive and value which is required to be delivered by them to
their customers can be enhanced.
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations
management of the organisation in the case study meets
the requirements of the organization
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In the case study it can be found that there are no general techniques of operational management
followed by HP Foods. Also, it is found that there is no onsite catering. This has highly impacted on
performing operations. In addition to it, there is no specific process or procedure defined by which
company manufacture goods, do packaging, labelling, etc. besides that, from case it is analysed that
there is no particular department of operations also. Hence, no quality standards and protocols are
followed. However, the operations done in HP Foods are of various types. Therefore, it does not
meet the requirement of organisation.
Besides that, it is analysed that in company there is only one operation process followed for
all types of products to be manufactured. It means packaging, labelling, filling, etc. is done through
only one process. But the requirement is of different types of operation process. It requires
packaging, labelling, filling, etc. all operations to be segregated. Moreover, it can be evaluated from
case study that there are no particular operation for finance, marketing, sales, accounts, etc. in HP
Foods. thus, it is also a requirement of company to perform various types of operations. In case
study it is also said that organisation staff have to move out to have lunch. Therefore, there is no
specific operation regarding this and no process of it as well.
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy
and describe the Lean principles
It is necessary to use continuous philosophy in order to achieve goals and objectives. This
concept helps in improving the growth as well as efficiency of firm. Besides that, it led to increase
productivity as well. The philosophy also helps in various management practices to be applied in
order to gain competitive advantage. The company get included in planning to change and then
decision is taken. However the management principles followed are six sigma and lean. They also
help in improving organisation productivity.
It has been found that there are many principles of lean which is applied. Besides that, there
various other principles as well such as Kaizen. This help in creating value from customers. In this
time of delivering service is improved and led time is reduced. This helps in maintaining high flow of
operations. The process is integrated with set of operations. Usually, it is continuous process that
emphasis on finding out errors and then solving it. Hence, product quality is maintained. Therefore,
productivity of entire organization increases and it led to attaining outcomes in effective way.
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified
recommendations for improvement, based on your review
and critique of operations management principles within
your organization
It is necessary for HP Foods to develop a continuous improvement plan so that operations
are improved. The plan consists of entire details such as areas, action taken, principles followed, etc.
Thus, the plan is defined as below :
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Plan: In this HP foods will be involved in planning for the type of management principles that are
applied. Also, six sigma and lean are applied to bring improvement. The plan also include framework
that how approached are applied. The manager as well as staff is involved in implementing plan.
They will think about changes which can assist in implementation continuous improvement. It helps
in growth of manufacturing company. They will also be able to achieve the set target as well as
objectives by doing the proper planning. This will also assist in making sure that no future errors
existed related to planning in future which is necessary.
There are certain recommendations which can be applied by HP Foods in improving overall
process. They are as follows :
Here, HP Foods can monitor and evaluate improvement in their operations. This can be done with
help of various techniques and also setting of goals and objectives. It will be useful in measuring
whether improvements are being done or not.
Another recommendation is company can follow six sigma operational management technique. It
will be useful in finding out defects in business process and then improving it. Along with it, the
technique will assist in giving high quality services and products to consumers.
The company should also apply lean and six sigma by integration with technology. The use of
advance technology that is AI, block chain can highly help in eliminating errors and fasting of overall
process. Apart from it, software will measure standard quality of products and ensure that they are
been maintained.
7. Conclusion
It can be concluded from report that HP foods limited, is a private organization in food and
beverage industry. it was founded in 1875 in Aston, Birmingham, UK. Operations is defined as work
of managing inner working of a business operation but Operational management helps in
development of effective operational strategies to enhance productivity. In Lean, 5 main principles
that are implemented within workplace are defining values, mapping the value stream, creating
flow, usage of pull system and pursuing perfection. Moreover, there are no general techniques of
operational management followed by HP Foods. The continuous improvement concept assists in
improvising the growth of organization. The improvement plan involves in making use of the six
sigma and lean manufacturing approach so that the quality of work improvises
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References
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Project Title
On site catering project for staff of HP Foods to do lunch
An overview of the case study you have been given
From case study it can be said that a large manufacturing company who is
having around 1250 employees working in various departments and job roles. It
includes factor workers office staff, and many other people (Stanitsas, Kirytopoulos and
Leopoulos., 2020). The company is having site in Midlands. Besides, office and factory
of firm is located on different buildings. Moreover, they are not having on site
catering. So, staff has to go out to do lunch. Thus, a project is being initiated in which
there are two main objectives defined. The first is to reduce movement of staff in
premises during lunch break so that there are no issues in regard with congestion.
The second objective is to help staff to develop healthy lifestyle as part of CSR
initiative by company. So, it will also help in reducing staff absenteeism. Due to this,
a project manager is being hired in order to undertake project and achieve the two
main objectives.
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):
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The life cycle of project management is specifically about project basis Or the way it
goes from restarting to the ending objectives can be achieved. There are various
activities that are being performed by the project manager in the project by different
different stop and huge contribution that helps to get best possible outcomes. the
companies project manager has divided 1002 different different stages that cover
initiation, planning, execute , monitoring and controlling monitoring and controlling.
Without going through the each of the pieces project manager cannot be
successfully obtain outcomes.
 Project initiation
The beginning stage where project manager of the catering on the construction site,
Will plan a proper activities that will be undertaken by them to achieve the goals and
objectives of the project. the manager has divided or decided about goals, activities
that will be undertaken an task scheduling that need to be performed bye stop within
the project for better outcomes (Owusu, and et.al., 2019). It is one of the longest pace
in which resources are effective in the use of project so that the goals and objectives
of the project can be achieved. All these steps within this stage are taken by the
team members so that services within the catering can be rendered to the workers
thereby they do not need to go long for ordering their food and having a lunch. they
can take lunch in a construction side only.
 Project planning
The another stage of project life cycle is planning stage where manager of the
project plan various activities that need to be undertaken to achieve goals and
objective an they can able to develop catering On the construction side so moment
off employees can be decrease and they will not have to go so far. The project
manager has already Created and scheduled task, goals, objectives and activities
that needed to be performed by the project management staff.
 Project execution
It is the third stage of project life cycle In which the design that is planned by the
project manager are finally implemented by the effective actions that are taken by
the companies manager who are responsible for the project completion. It is one of
the longest pace in which resources are effective in the use of project so that the
goals and objectives of the project can be achieved. All these steps within this stage
are taken by the team members so that services within the catering can be rendered
to the workers thereby they do not need to go long for ordering their food and having
a lunch. they can take lunch in a construction side only.
 Project closure
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The project closer is last stage of the project life cycle and which all the activities within the project are closed
and provide final report of the project to the sponsor of this whole event (Jovanovic and Beric., 2018). in this
stage project manager of the company will handed over the report another all the necessary documents. They
also measure if the outcomes they were looking to achieve are achieved or not. If they are able to achieve them
their project management plan is successful Anne it will be a huge contribution for the employees becausr people
used to go long to take lunch and that was taking the much time of the company and they were not able to come
on the time for their work again. Catering on the construction side will save the time that will
be used to work more effectively and employees will be more motivated.
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used
In every project there are various types of methodologies which is being used. The use of
methodology depends on nature and type of project. Also, it depends on willingness of project
manager as well. There are different types of method which can be applied in execution of project.
Usually, there are 3 basic methods in that that are agile, waterfall and prince 2 method.
Furthermore, PLC is also applied along with methodology. Apart from methods there are several
tools as well which is used in project. Thus, methodologies are analysed as below :
Agile is common method that is applied. It helps in continuous flow of process and testing of life
cycle of project. But prince 2 method does not do this and is highly flexible. That is why in many
project this method is followed. However waterfall method is linear one in which both stakeholder
and customer needs are collected at initial stage.
So, in the planning and initialising stage of PLC, project manager has planned to make use of
prince 2 method to make project flexible and manage it regardless of its scope, size and type. It
helps in providing seamless project and effectively delivery of products to customer's. So, due to
its flexibility this methodologies has been used thereby necessary changes can be made in various
steps of the project and more outcome can be achieved (Ogunde and et.al., 2017).
Along with prince 2 method there are certain tools as well that is used in project. Here, Microsoft
project is used to prepare and develop ghannt chart. With use of gantt chart it becomes easy to
break down project into various sub tasks and then prepare schedule according to it. Besides that,
trello is also used in which task are assigned to team members on specific date. It gives insight on
what day particular activity is performed and by whom. Also, it enables in managing and maintaining
progress of overall project.
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Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC
in application to your project using the appropriate
theories models and concepts
The project life cycle describe how important is 2 follow the stages of project that
manager needs to undertake in order to ideal their project goals and objectives in the
given time.. The effectiveness of the project life cycle can be explained through the
success of on site project of catering That can be explained through the
understanding the way project has been analysed such as
Initiation And planning
It is one of the major step off the project management and also the first stage that
come up with the new ideas that are identified by the project manager are the
organisation so diffusion innovation theory will be used to understand the way project
has been analysed here is the diffusion theory-
Diffusion innovation theory
Innovator
The project manager is the person who always take risks within the project that are
associated on the basis of project and they only decide to start a new project. in the
case of onside Catherine project, project manager of the company take risk and
identify the risks that are associated and they only decide what activities will be done
on which date and how it will be conducted and also provided roles and
responsibilities to each and every stuff. This shows that how innovator role is
performed by the project manager.
Early adopter
Early adopters are the senior team workers are the members of the whole project
who are aware of new project that company is planning and what are the importance
of project and also they are ready to take necessary step for better outcome as an
early adopter (Novo, Landis and Haley., 2017).
Early majority
The project manager of the company is responsible to motivate employees or staff
who are working in the project through the communication which is necessary to
provide information related to the project such as what are the mission, vision and
objectives of the on side catering. it will help to create a good energy in the staff and
also make them happy and satisfy among the part of project.
Late majority
The another stage of project life cycle is planning stage where manager of the
project plan various activities that need to be undertaken to achieve goals and
objective an they can able to develop catering On the construction side so moment
off employees can be decrease and they will not have to go so far. The project
manager has already Created and scheduled task, goals, objectives and activities
that needed to be performed by the project management staff.
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Execution
To understand any value the understanding of the project and process that are being
executed with the help of documentary and also the team who are responsible for
development. and it can be state as-
Farming- Farming is the first stage of documentary in which the team members are
highly dependent on the companies leaders and managers in context of providing
them a proper guidelines and direction so they can perform a task in a group. So the
project manager of on site catering, they will provider proper advice and support to
the employees and staff members regarding to the specific manner of achieving
task.
Storming -The second objective is to help staff to develop healthy lifestyle as part of
CSR initiative by company. So, it will also help in reducing staff absenteeism. Due to
this, a project manager is being hired in order to undertake project and achieve the
two main objective
Norming- Norming is another most important part of the team formation in which the
strong bonding and communication between the team members are built by the
leaders our also commitment has been made by the diverse range of team members
to delicately contribute their skills, capabilities and their knowledge. This can make
others contribute as well by developing a new skills within the project and they will
able to complete the project on limited time and cost.
Performing - this is stage each and every team members are highly aware of their
particular task and there roll with Whole project and they try to achieve the best
possible outcome so the project can be successful and they can achieve goals and
objectives.
Monitoring and controlling
Monitoring and controlling of the project is necessary, does the project manager of
the company well use the various monitoring tools like key performance indicator
and feedback technique so they can measure the outcomes.
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