An Analysis of Operations and Project Management at Jaguar Cars

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of operations and project management within the context of Jaguar, a leading automotive manufacturer. It begins with an introduction to projects and project management, emphasizing their significance in achieving organizational goals. The report then delves into the core concepts of operations versus operations management, followed by a detailed review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles, such as agile manufacturing and lean production, within Jaguar's organizational context. It evaluates the positive and negative aspects of these principles, assessing their impact on the company's performance. The report further explores continuous improvement plans, focusing on the Deming cycle and its application to Jaguar's manufacturing processes. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to the project life cycle, specifically for a new product (Jaguar A’ Type), including the development of a business case, project plan, Gantt chart, and work breakdown structure (WBS). The effectiveness of the project life cycle is critically reviewed, with a discussion on cost-saving techniques. Finally, the report concludes with an evaluation of the PLC and its overall effectiveness.

OPERATIONS &
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
P1. A review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles within
an organisational context........................................................................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................7
P2. Continuous improvement plan based on the review and critique of operations management
principles within an organisational context............................................................................7
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................8
P3: Project Life Cycle for a new product...............................................................................8
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................14
P4: Review and critique the effectiveness of the PLC.........................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

INTRODUCTION
Projects refers to the tasks assigned to the companies or its employees by different
organisation or clients. These projects are also assigned to the employees by their organisation
for achieving the organisational goals. For managing these projects carefully and effectively,
organisations uses the concept of project management which is helpful in monitoring the
progress of the project for timely execution. The taken firm in this assessment report is the
Jaguar which is a leading automotive organisation engaged in manufacturing innovative cars or
vehicles for their final users throughout the world. This report will discuss the operations and
operations management along with the review and critique of principles. This report will further
cover the Project Life Cycle, Business case, Project plan, Gantt Chart and WBS. In the end, this
report will evaluate the PLC along with the discussion on Cost saving technique, Review and
critique the effectiveness of the PLC.
LO 1
P1. A review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles within an
organisational context.
Jaguar is a British multinational car manufacturer having headquarter in Whitley,
Coventry, England. The company is owned an Indian company i.e. Tata Motors after the merger
in 2008. Initially, Jaguar was known as the producer of high quality based Jaguar cars but after
the merger with Land Rover on 1st January, 2013, company is known by the name of Jaguar
Land Rover. The company was founded as a Swallow Sidecar company in the year 1922 and
started the production from producing the motorcycle sidecars. The name of the company
changed in 1945 from S.S Cars to Jaguar Cars. In the year 1966, company was merged with
British Motor Corporation which resulted in enlargement of the company and changed the name
again as British Motor Holdings (BMH). This merger resulted in heavy loss for Ford and later
the company was acquired by the Tata motors, India (Artto, Ahola, and Vartiainen, 2016).
The company is producing their new Jaguar A’ Type at the Halewood plant for the
customers of 21st century. The company had taken the decision for this car due to the massive
feedbacks from global consumer research programme. Through this programme, the company is
ensuring that the new car which will be developed is suitable for the customers and built

according to the requirements or expectations of desired clients in every phase in development of
Cars.
Operation vs operations management
Operation refers to the term which is generally used by the production team while
converting the raw materials into finished goods for providing them to the end users. Their main
aim is to develop creative products by using the help of several ingredients for meeting the
expectation of the customers (Binder, 2016). For example: Jaguar desires to eliminate or reduce
their wastage while producing the cars. For this, the company is planning to engage in new
project in order to satisfy the needs of desired clients. This project is based on development of
new cars i.e. Jaguar A’ Type. Operations management is helpful for the production team of
organisations such as Jaguar to reduce the waste while performing the operations. Through this
concept, Jaguar can manage various factors of operational department such as assigning of job to
various employees on the basis of skills, talent etc.
Operation Operations management
Operations refers to the process of converting
raw materials into finished products
Operation management refers to the process of
managing various factors during operations
management
There are various types of operations management principles which can be used by
Jaguar cars for the development of new cars. Some of the principles are discussed below:
Agile manufacturing: It is the method of embracing the use of technology and tools
through which the manufacturing process of an organisation can share data with other functions
for resolving the issues effectively (Lindström and et. al., 2012). This principle can be used by
Jaguar in production of new A type cars for gaining beneficial and improved results. This type of
technology helps in sharing data and information between various functions and finding out
effective solutions for problems.
Lean production: It is the process through which manufacturing firms focus on reducing
their wastage as well as simultaneously focusing on enhancing the productivity. This method is
beneficial for the Jaguar in eliminating the wastage in development of new A type cars. It is
based on principles of Kaizen, or continuous improvement. This type of process helps in
producing minimum waste and being productive for the company.

Implementation of operations management principles
Jaguar is a well known organisation in the business world which is famous for the
manufacturing of attractive cars having high quality features. The company is very concerned for
the implementation of principles of operations management in their manufacturing process.
Some of the principles adopted by the Jaguar are discussed below:
Reality: Jaguar is very serious for the issues that can impact the business performance
and always believes in analysing the problem rather then using the techniques for resolving the
issues. For example: Jaguar is focused on fulfilling the needs and expectation of their clients. For
this, the company is following the principle of reality. For example: The company communicate
with their customers for determining the reason behind the issues instead of understanding the
issues.
Accountability: Jaguar is a big company having operations throughout the world. The
manager of the company are assigning the roles to the employees according to the capabilities
for ensuring their proper functioning (Burke, 2013). The company also analyse the performance
of employees on a regular or weekly basis in order to determine the efforts they are investing in
the success of the company. The employees also take accountability of their job role without
blaming their errors on some other person.
Fundamentals: Jaguar is also using the Rule of Pareto in their operation management
which states that the 80% of success of an organisation comes from the maintenance of inventory
record whereas only 20% of success comes from the adoption of new techniques for the
processes. The company is maintaining the proper record of every things which is really
indispensable for the success of the company as the company can control their expenses up-to
some extent.
Agile manufacturing Positive aspects of implementation: For implementing the agile manufacturing, Jaguar is
using the principles of reality and accountability into their production process through
which employees are coordinating and coordinating with each other effectively so that
production can take place based on the needs of customers. Jaguar cars is also providing
new machinery to the employees engaged in production of new cars so that efficiencies
can be utilised in an effective manner in order to control the system and contingencies

(Lee and et. al., 2014). This new machinery is provided for improving the working of
employees so that objectives can be achieved properly. Negative aspects of implementation: However, the implementation of agile
manufacturing has resulted in enhanced cost for the firms as due to the use of reality
principle, company has to conduct market research which is a time and cost consuming
process. The company does not used the rule of fundamental due to which company
could not able to maintain the inventory properly. This has resulted in reduced
performance for achieving the organisational goals.
Lean production Positive aspects of implementation: Jaguar is using the principle of reality for this
implementation due to which the needs and demand of customers can be identified.
Jaguar is providing training to employees so that efficiencies can be used properly due to
the development of skills and knowledge. This development is beneficial for firm in
accomplishing the organisational goals.
 Negative aspects of implementation: Company failed in using the accountability
principle due to which communication couldn't took place effectively among the
employees (Strande and Brdjanovic, 2014). Company also failed in determining the
needs of their employees in providing the training due to which proper development
couldn't take place and their efficiency reduced. This ineffective development resulted in
delay in attaining the organisational goals.
Jaguar cars can use the six sigma and lean manufacturing for the development of their
new A type cars through which they can save their cost by reducing the material waste and
maximising the efficiencies. The company faced issues in production due to not implementing
these methods and the cost of company increased as a result.
Extent to which the operations management meets the requirements of the organisation
The operation management is very essential for the organisations such as Jaguar in
meeting the requirements of the business. The operation management is also useful for the
Jaguar in monitoring the progress of the production of new A type cars for improving the quality
and features as well as to eliminate or reduce the wastage in production of these cars (Floricel
and et. al., 2014). Through this concept, company can enhance the quality of their new cars for

improving the customer satisfaction as the needs and expectations of the customers get fulfilled
by the company through this new car.
LO 2
P2. Continuous improvement plan based on the review and critique of operations management
principles within an organisational context
Continuous improvement or KAIZEN refers to the process of identifying opportunities in
order to reduce the waste as well as to streamline the work. The companies are using this process
for improving their production process. This concept can also be used as the philosophy for
making changes in existing process. Lean principles is also an philosophy of continuous
improvement which is focused on increasing customer value, the elimination of waste and
optimizing operations (Gilbert and et. al., 2015). Lean principles are also based on the building a
harmonious culture in which employees respects each other so that they can pursue opportunities
for improving their work and share ideas for continuous improvement. Continuous improvement
model is a four step model which is used by the organisation for ensuring the quality in
undertaken project. This model is also known as deming cycle whose 4 steps are given below:
 Plan: In this, Jaguar needs to Identify an opportunity and plan for implementing the
change.
 Do: In this stage, Jaguar implement the change on a small scale for evaluating its impact.
 Check: In this stage, Jaguar should analyse the results of the change and determine
whether it is beneficial or not (Leach, 2014). Act: After analysing the change at small scale, Jaguar should implement it at large scale
and needs to continuously assess your results.
Continuous improvement plan based on review and critique of operations management
principles
Jaguar is using the continuous improvement concept for manufacturing the A type cars in
order to coping up with current demand of customers of 21st century. The company is using this
concept for eliminating the waste in their production process for controlling the amount of
losses. Jaguar needs continuous improvement plan for improving their market share in double
digits through the production of this new car in the upcoming 6 months. The continuous

improvement plan for Jaguar by considering the four step model of continuous improvement is
discussed below:
BASIS APPROACH/PRINCIPLE IMPLEMENTATION
Quality
Jaguar should use the Just in time
approach for enabling the quality in
new cars in order to make it more
flexible and suitable.
The company will use the Just-In-Time
method for improving the quality of their
new car which should be developed in
future.
Cost Jaguar can use variance for reducing
the cost in the development of new car.
Jaguar will use the principle of variance
for reducing the cost of their new car.
Delivery Jaguar can use Six Sigma for managing
the delivery of their products.
Jaguar will use six sigma in order to
deliver the product to customers
effectively.
Safety
Lean principle can be used by the
Jaguar for determining errors in the
new cars.
Lean principle will be used by Jaguar so
that errors can be identified and
eliminated effectively.
Technology Jaguar can use the agile manufacturing
for implementing the new technology.
BY implementing the agile
manufacturing, Jaguar can improve the
efficiency of their production process.
Recommendations for improving the operations function
The recommendations for the Jaguar for improving the operations functions are as
follows:
 By using the principle of Organisation, The company needs to ensure that the different
department are coordinating and communicating with each other which will assist the
company in enhancing the efficiency and productivity while producing the new A type
cars.
 By using the principle of Change, Jaguar needs to hire new employees having suitable
adaptability and technical skills so that they can work properly on the new and updated
machines for improving the processes while the development of new A type cars.

LO 3
P3: Project Life Cycle for a new product
Project life cycle is a stage by stage model which is used by the organisations for
determining the chances of success of a new product. This life cycle states 4 stage which can be
used for executing the undertaken project in order to ensure the successful execution. This is
very useful for the business organisations for ensuring the success of new project undertaken by
the firm. Through this cycle, management can ensure that employees are following the direction
provided to them for easily accomplishing the goals in a given time period without any
disturbance (Project Life Cycle stages, 2016). This cycle can be used by Sunshine Drinks
company for launching the new drinks as discussed below:
Illustration 1: Project Life Cycle stages
Source: Project Life Cycle stages, 2016
Project Initiation: It is first stage in which the company can use the total quality
management for development of new drinks so that managers can control the quality of products
provided to customers. This is the essential stage in which the project of new drinks is initiated
by considering the different ideas and suggestions.
Business case
Basis Description
Importance Flavoured spring water drinks are developed by the Sunshine drinks
for effectively combining the fruit drinks with the natural spring

water. This product will have various health benefits like increased
brain functions.
Target Market
The target market for the new product will be the people between
the age group of 18-50 who are having income of more than £1000.
These people are targetted as these people usually are health
conscious and are habitual of consuming energy drinks.
Project planning: In this stage, company can use the survey and questionnaire for
collecting vital information associated with market and customers. This is essential for
determining the effectiveness of the project which is development of new flavoured spring water
drinks in terms of benefits, prices etc.
Project plan
Project plan refers to the document in which proper execution of project activities is
mentioned which must be followed by the project team. This project management will assist the

managers of Sunshine Drinks company in defining the aims and objectives of company to project
team in effective manner (Mubin and Mubin, 2016).
Cost
It is the cost which will be used for determining the cost required for
resources, processes as well as technology for developing the new
drinks. The overall cost for these new drinks will be around £10,000 to
£15,000.
Communication
The company will use the internal, external, vertical as well as linear
communication channels for ensuring the smooth exchange of
information while developing the new drinks.
Quality The company will use the technology in developing the new drinks
such as Automation for ensuring the highest productivity and quality.
Scope
The scope of overall project is wide as company is willing to satisfy the
thirst of the customers which can be done by employing talented
individuals along with new equipments and processes.
Work Breakdown Structure
This is the process of breaking the huge and big tasks into smaller parts or segments for
executing the project in an effective and easy manner. The smaller parts or section are provided
to the individuals for executing the work desirably.

Illustration 2: Work Breakdown Structure
Work
Breakdo
wn
Structure
Project Project #
Project
manager Sponsor 0
Project
artefacts Updated