Operations Management of Goal Digger Planner: A Comprehensive Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the operations management of the Goal Digger Planner, examining its supply chain from raw materials to the consumer. The report delves into various aspects, including supply chain mapping, supplier relationships, and potential challenges. It explores the impact of disruptive technologies such as IoT, 3D printing, and automation on the planner's production and distribution processes. The analysis also considers geopolitical risks and the circular economy's influence. Furthermore, the report identifies the planner's key functions, order winners and qualifiers, and core competencies. It proposes recommendations for improvement, including leveraging technology and optimizing supply chain sustainability, to enhance the value creation process for the Goal Digger Planner. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and recommendations for future development.

Running head: OPEARTIONS MANAGEMENT 1
Goal Digger Planner

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 2
Potential impacts of disruptive change
As opined by Kodiak Rating Community (2017), the concept of disruptive technology
and systems with innovative ideas has been prevalent from a very long time. In recent times,
innovation disruption have become quite frequent with the advent of technological advancements
such as Internet of Things (IoT), drones, 3D printing, self-driving cars, and changes in logistics.
Technological changes have shaken up the supply chain and has the potential to redesign angry
think the manufacturing, distribution and tracking processes of products. Supply chain often
involves multiple stages and processes for creating a product and distributing it to the consumers.
But as the technology is fast disrupting every industry and their processes, there always lies a
scope of improvement of the supply chains.
Internet of things
Internet of things helps in gathering data by use of network of objects which are
technological equipped. This kind of Technology has enabled gathering real time information at
each and every process, product and person involved in the supply chain of a company. The
impact of disruptive Technologies like this can be useful for managing warehouses and
inventories. The advent of mobile technology has enabled improved inventory visibility thereby
making reporting of each and every process very efficient. Advantages like easy and smart way
of collecting information, no physical inventory counts, better processes in the supply chain and
better management of data have been changing the supply chain. As in the case of Goal digger,
the company aims at creating values through supply chain. Supply Chain Managers a responsible
for using the required technology to meet the needs of customers.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 3
(Source: Embitel, 2018)
3-D Printing
3D printing has been one of the newest technologies which has tapped both industrial as
well as the commercial sector. As suggested by Mohr & Khan (2015), earlier 3D printing was
supposed to be a niche product which was generally avoided by all production houses. But as
times changed, 3D printing has simplified the complexities of supply chain. With only one
production phase in a single location, 3D printing will have a potential positive impact on the
supply chain. The technology is moving fast and in order to keep a pace with it, companies adapt
quickly for their survival. However, this technology has the potential to disrupt the existing
manufacturing processes and some elements of the supply chain, it can be a revolutionary for
many start-ups ventures. It will be easier for manufacturers to print many products in real time
which will eventually improve the supply of the products.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 4
(Source: Wieland, 2014)
Automation of Transportation
Transportation is one of the most important steps in supply chain but with the advent of
technology it also has made significant progress in many ways. In the supply chain process, the
efficiency of logistics and transportation is highly necessary. As suggested by Murray & Chu
(2015), the use of autonomous vehicles is supposed to be the future of transportation in supply
chain. Remote controlled aerial drones have become extremely popular and companies like
Amazon have taken huge advantage of it for their delivery and shipments. However, the only
constraint is that this idea is feasible only for local shipments. The concept of driverless vehicles
or automated vehicles has been used by various organizations for purposes like mining
operations and in oil sands. This technology is expected to transform the supply chain of a
company for transporting products of all shapes and sizes. Companies can use driverless
technology to transport goods inside the warehouses.
Collaborative robotics & AI

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 5
Technology has given rise to production of lightweight robots for use in manufacturing
processes. With artificial technology, it is now possible for the robots to work alongside humans
and learn the process through self-learning mechanisms. These robots are equipped with
automated tasks such as manual handling, loading and offloading of goods, using a screwdriver,
packaging and selecting objects. As opined by Rüßmann, et. al. (2015), the future of robotics in
manufacturing industries has a high chance of reducing human efforts by helping in picking
orders, unloading goods, checking inventory and palletizing finished products with high degree
of accuracy. However, the manual labor within the supply chain might be affected is they are
work in the traditional manner. But it is true to the fact that in the modern world, humans alone
will not be able to survive the competitive market and fail to improve their supply chains.
(Source: Business Insider Intelligence, 2018)
Geopolitical and circular economy impact on supply chain
Geopolitical risks can vary widely from revolutionary movements, wars and changing
tariffs that can impact the supply chain of any company. However, these geopolitical risks must
always be anticipated by understanding the early signs. Any outbreak might result in suspending

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 6
operations in the country making the supply chain suffer. On the other hand, circular economy
creates value for business for making the supply chain even stronger.
Arguments to the original design
Goal digger planner is the product of MI Goals and introduced the planner in 2019. As
mentioned, the product is sold and distributed through limited retailers. The supply chain of the
product starts with procuring raw materials which travels from the paper mill and packaging
factory to the print house. In the next step, the products into the packaging plant and there sent to
countries having low cost warehouses. They are shifted from the regional warehouse by way of
flights, shapes and land transport which leads its way to other retail stores and finally to the
consumers. However, the use of 3D technology can be beneficial for the manufacturing process.
As the business is new and stands in its growing stage, the cost of production of the planner
requires to be optimum. This can be reduced by utilizing automation of transportation and
collaborative robotics in manufacturing line. Although, this would incur huge costs in the
beginning but later this would simplify the process of manufacturing the planners.
The company will be able to reduce cost on local transportation by use of remote
controlled aerial drones. The Goal Digger can take the example of Amazon for delivery and
shipments. It has been identified that, the shipping cost to other countries like Australia is higher
and transporting can take too much time. There are several other challenges like the prevailing
competition which can be managed only by positioning the product on right channels to gain the
attention of customers. In order to keep the supply chain sustainable, the company will require to
use alternate ways of procuring and manufacturing of the planners. The use of quality materials
will help to create a better product and keep the demand from the customers higher.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 7
References
Business Insider Intelligence. (2018). Early adopters of AI in transportation and logistics
already enjoy profit margins greater than 5% — while non-adopters are in the red.
Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-supply-chain-logistics-report-2018-
1?IR=T
Embitel. (2018). How Modern Retailers can Leverage Internet of Things for Supply Chain
Management. Retrieved from https://www.embitel.com/blog/ecommerce-blog/how-
modern-retailers-can-leverage-the-iot-benefits-in-their-supply-chain-management
Kodiak Rating Community, (2017). Disruptive Innovation: What does it mean for your
Supply Chain? Retrieved from https://medium.com/@KodiakRating/disruptive-
innovation-what-does-it-mean-for-your-supply-chain-7065574ed50e
Mohr, S., & Khan, O. (2015). 3D printing and its disruptive impacts on supply chains of the
future. Technology Innovation Management Review, 5(11), 20.
Murray, C. C., & Chu, A. G. (2015). The flying sidekick traveling salesman problem:
Optimization of drone-assisted parcel delivery. Transportation Research Part C:
Emerging Technologies, 54, 86-109.
Rüßmann, M., Lorenz, M., Gerbert, P., Waldner, M., Justus, J., Engel, P., & Harnisch, M.
(2015). Industry 4.0: The future of productivity and growth in manufacturing
industries. Boston Consulting Group, 9(1), 54-89.
Wieland, A. (2014). How 3D Printing Could Revolutionize Supply Chains. Retrieved from
https://scmresearch.org/2014/12/10/how-3d-printing-could-revolutionize-supply-chains/