Operations Management Principles and Continuous Improvement at Apple

This report provides an in-depth analysis of Apple's operations and project management strategies. It begins by exploring the core principles of operations management, including reality, organization, fundamentals, accountability, variance, causality, managed passion, humanity, success, and change, and how these apply to Apple's business practices. The report then delves into the implementation of Six Sigma methodologies within Apple, examining the DMAIC approach (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). Furthermore, the report investigates Apple's continuous improvement plans, highlighting the importance of employee training, adaptability, and innovation. It also assesses the impact of these plans on various aspects of the company, such as its ability to maintain a competitive edge and adapt to market changes. The conclusion emphasizes the critical role of effective operations and project management in enhancing product quality, service delivery, and overall brand image, ultimately contributing to Apple's global success.

Operations and Project
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Implementation of operation management principles in organisation...................................1
TASK2.............................................................................................................................................4
P2 Continuity in improvement plan based on reviews and analysis...........................................4
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is branch of administration of practices of business that works on
create and enhance efficiency of organisation. It focus on transforming materials, resources and
labour of goods and services to maximise profits and efficiency in organisation by bringing
harmony. It is essential for product manager have to work in effective manner so that it can
transfer in their subordinates also. There are certain mixture of work and activities that work on
reducing wastages of resources and helps in bringing effectiveness in organisation. This report
based on operations and management of Apple. Apple deals in consumer electronics, software
and hardware with online services in world wide. Its headquarter is in California. It is
multinational company which is very famous and well known brand name in whole world. This
report focus on principles of operation management in business and their effectiveness and its
critical evolution. On other hand it studies upon continuous based plan with its review and
analysation in business scenario of Apple.
TASK 1
P1 Implementation of operation management principles in organisation
Operation management consist of planning, organising and analysing the necessary
attributes that brings higher profitability in market. To redefine of operation management
activities support strategic goals of organisation by bringing harmony in Apple. Some of rules
and principles that are require for successful accomplishment of work and activities and there is
need to understand driving forces that enhances role of operation management in Apple.
These are the principles of operation management that helps to organisation to achieve its goals
and objectives:
Reality:
Operation Management emphasised on the issues and troubles, instead of method and
techniques, reason is no accessories and tools is self sufficient in world and not a solution for
universe.
Organisation:
In every organisation all processes are interconnected to each other. To achieve targets
and goals majorly contribution of all resources is required jointly in proper way in Apple.
Fundamentals:
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Operations management follows the Pareto rule in which majorly success comes from
strictly maintaining records and functioning, and remaining part of success comes from
launching new techniques in process and functioning in Apple. Apple uses both strategies to get
success in effective manner.
Accountability:
Manages have responsibilities to frame rules and regulations and according to them
distribute their functions to their subordinates in Apple. That proper planning and organising
resources work to put efforts in practical way. There is lack of accountability exist in
organisation that creates hurdles in organisation objectives in that case proper tasks and
responsibilities should be distributed.
Variance:
In any organisation there are variety of resources that encouraged them by taken them
simultaneously that brings creativity and harmony in Apple.
Causality:
In organisation to eradicate problems from their root it is very necessary to find out the
cause of problem and drive permanent solution of problem.
Managed Passion:
To attain potential objectives and goals in Apple there is need to manage passion level of
employees if it is not in them then provide training and other teachings that enhance their
creativity level. To manage passion level of employees there is need to give proper training and
development so that they easily adopt them.
Humanity:
Manager have to know their problems and try to solve them after that they create a huge
loss of enterprise. Apple faces problem of imitability that rivals copy their features at less price
for that managers have to consult with top management and find out proper solution for that.
Success:
Definition of success vary from person to person. It changes overtime. To grab attention
of consumers it is very necessary to change principles of organisation according to customer
demand and needs. In case of Apple success defines that everything it does in awesome manner.
So to comply with success there is need to monitor each and every attribute.
Change:
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Change in organisation always troublesome and difficult to adopt for everyone. On other
hand it is beneficial for everyone in businesses so managers for the benefits of other have to
embrace changes. While adopting changes there is need to give proper training and development
to their employees so that they feel motivated.
Six Sigma:
six sigma is disciplined, statical and data driven approach that works to eradicate errors in
the production process or services. It is incorporated by motorola in middle 1980s to improve
brand quality and services. This one of the popular management approach that works in general
electric in 1990s. Many companies in world adopt that technology to improve its system and
manufacturing techniques.
It works on the approach of DMAIC that are define, measure. Analyse and improve with control
of resources.
Define:
In define includes managers defines customer needs and expectations that are necessary
to know the requirements of potential consumers. For that it is necessary to collect important
data and information to protect self interest of people and accomplish their goals and objectives.
For launching a new product and services that is very essential to know that available resources
is sufficient or not in Apple.
Measure:
In measuring stage managers observe the potential data and information about needs and
wants of consumers and after that brings innovation in products. In measure they evaluate the
current trends and potentiality of these trends. And how much they success in market and what
type of resources requires to achieve targets and missions in Apple.
Analyse:
In process of analysation marketers search the problems that arise in while launching a
new product and services in existing or new market. It helps in proper measuring the data and
information that requires to eradicate the loop falls that exist while producing goods and services
in businesses.
Improve:
In that process the necessary improvements that require to attain goals and objectives. It
took necessary resources and modifications which require to attain objectives. In that phrase
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when team members have to give reviews of new product launch and then give feedbacks to their
managers that give potential suggestion to reform their products and services in Apple.
Control:
In that phrase overall control on product and services should be controlled in the proper
manner.
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TASK2
P2 Continuity in improvement plan based on reviews and analysis
Definition of continuous improvement:
Continuous improvement defines the continuous improvements, changes and innovation
in product and services so that it can be always be faviorate product of consumers and that brings
harmony in organisation to attain its objectives and goals. This helps in future planning of goods
and services that attracts a lot of consumers in Apple.
Continuous improvement plan:
Source Outcomes Performance level Improvement in
strategies
Employees Apple adopts
continuous changes in
their products and
their strategies in that
scenario they are not
able to adopt these
frequent changes that
decrease their morale
and increase cost also.
To increase
performance level of
employees there is
need to given training
and development to
employees so that they
can give their best to
organisation and
enhance in their
morale.
When organisation
gives proper training
and development to
their employees they
can be able to give
their best to their
organisation and it
reduce their operating
cost that beneficial for
both employees and
organisation.
Imitable Apple is well known
for their innovative
products and services
and due to that it
attracts a large
consumer base but its
rivals at low cost
imitate its features and
give in their products
To overcome from that
issue apple have to
adopt advance
techniques and tools
that never be imitate
by its competitors and
helps to grab large
market share.
By adopting advance
technology and
Artificial intelligence
that their rivals can not
copy them and it can
maintain its brand
image as usual.
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that impacts on its
profitability.
Continuous improvement plan and its effect:
continuous improvement plan is very necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives of
organisation by satisfying needs of consumers. It defines about current and future trends of
market and there potential market share in recent market. Continuous improvements brings
harmony in organisation and deeply evaluate needs and wants of consumers and on behalf of that
satisfy these wants. Organisation by adopting different promotional activities they can achieve
their potential consumers and grab large market share. It also helps in gain competitive
advantage to their customer and help them to organise their resources in proper manner.
Strategies for implementation of continuous improvement plan:
There are many strategies that helps in achieving continuous improvements plan in
organisation. The strategies are as follows:
Good employee and employer relationship:
The effective strategy to improve continuous in production is good relationship between
employer and employee that brings harmony in organisation. Employee engagement plays a
major role in business development and achieve their goals and objectives.
Communication channel:
with the help of communication channel an organisation can enhance proficiency level of
its products and services. Communication is very big source to bring harmony in organisation to
achieve its goals and objectives.
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Conclusion
from the above report it has been concluded that operations and project management plays a
crucial role in bringing quality and efficiency in organisation products and services. With
operation management organisation can bring harmony in production process. And with help of
continuous improvement enterprises on regular basis can improve its product quality and service
that helps frame brand image. Moreover it helps to reach products and services to large consumer
base so that it become multinational brand name. It also explains about future improvements that
organisation have to bring in products so they spread worldwide.
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References
Books and journals
Fleming, Q.W. and Koppelman, J.M., 2016, December. Earned value project management.
Project Management Institute.
Jacobs, F.R., Chase, R.B. and Lummus, R.R., 2014. Operations and supply chain management
(pp. 533-535). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Martins, V.A. and Martins, M.R., 2012. Outsourcing operations in project management offices:
The reality of Brazilian companies. Project Management Journal. 43(2). pp.68-83.
Mir, F.A. and Pinnington, A.H., 2014. Exploring the value of project management: linking
project management performance and project success. International journal of project
management. 32(2). pp.202-217.
Subramanian, N. and Ramanathan, R., 2012. A review of applications of Analytic Hierarchy
Process in operations management. International Journal of Production Economics.
138(2). pp.215-241.
Turner, J.R., 2014. Handbook of project-based management(Vol. 92). New York, NY: McGraw-
hill.
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