Operations & Project Management: Best Practices & Application

This report reviews and critiques the implementation of operations management principles within an organizational context, focusing on Warren Equipment Company. It analyzes the application of Six Sigma methodology and Lean principles, and prepares a continuous improvement plan based on the critique of operations management principles. The report also applies each stage of the Project Life Cycle to a given project, producing necessary supporting documentation, and reviews the effectiveness of the Project Life Cycle using appropriate theories and models, differentiating between large and small-scale projects, and drawing conclusions for improvement.

Operations and Project
management
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Table of Contents
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3
P1 Conduct a review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles
within an organisational context. ..........................................................................................3
M1 Review and critique the implementation of operations management in relation to Six
Sigma methodology and Lean principles. .............................................................................4
P2 Prepare a continuous improvement plan based on the review and critique of operations
management principles within an organisational context......................................................7
M2 Analyse the effectiveness of a continuous improvement plan using appropriate theories,
concepts and/or models. ........................................................................................................9
D1 Apply appropriate theories, concepts and/or models to justify strategies of a continuous
improvement plan for achieving improved efficiency. .......................................................10
P3 Apply each stage of the Project Life Cycle to a given project, producing necessary
supporting documentation for completing the project e.g. a business case, project plan, work
breakdown structure.............................................................................................................11
M3 Analyse the rationale for the project methodologies, tools and leadership within the
Project Life Cycle for the given project. .............................................................................12
P4 Review and critique the effectiveness of the Project Life Cycle in application to the chosen
project using appropriate theories, concepts and models. ..................................................15
M4 Critically analyse how the use of appropriate theories, concepts and models in the Project
Life Cycle will differentiate between large and small-scale projects. .................................16
D2 Critically evaluate the Project Life Cycle through a practical and theoretical exploration of
its effectiveness to draw valid conclusions and recommendations for improvement. ........17
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................17
References ....................................................................................................................................18
Books and journals...............................................................................................................18
Online ..................................................................................................................................19
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Introduction
Operation managements is an area of management which consist of computation of land,
raw material and labor into finished goods and services. This helps in increasing a level of
productivity and their profitability ratio of company as well. On the other hand, project
management is making use of skills and knowledge, instrument and techniques to present
something of worth to people (Bobsin, Fernandes, and Torres, 2021). The organization selected
in this report is Warren equipment company which was founded in a year 1971. Company has
grown from small company and now it has grown to thousand number of employees. Company
is serving equipment in power generation, oil and gas, agriculture and construction. Warren
equipment company is providing world class products and services to their customer across a
worldwide. It is more focusing on their quality of services and products, reliability and providing
strong customer services to gain more attraction of customers towards their brand. Company is
not only interested in making their profits but also it is focusing on enhancing customer service
and getting valuable outcomes. This report covers reviewing and implementation of operation
management principles. Then it consists of continuous improvement plan. Further, it includes
PLC of a given project which produce necessary outcomes. At last it consisting of effectiveness
of PLC which is on application of providing healthy and safe food project to the customers with
use of models and theories.
P1 Conduct a review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles
within an organisational context.
Operation is declared as a performance of practical work or something which is involving
in application of principles or process (Prodanova, and Kocarev, 2021). It can be declared an
action and decision which is conducted by participants of business which could affects
production, distribution and services etc.
Operation management is a area of management which is related with designing and
controlling of production process and redesigning of operation of business in manufacturing of
goods and services. It is a process of transmission of raw materials into finished goods and
services. This helps in maximizing profits of an organization. In relation of Warren equipment
company, they are providing equipment related to agriculture, construction and oil and gas
organizations.
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Fredrick Taylor Management
Taylor theory of scientific management
Importance of principles which are provided by Taylor are mentioned below and such
principles are utilized by Unilever:
Science, Not rule of thumb – This part focuses on updating the technique or approach which is
used by organization as it would help them in adapting to changes in competitive environment
(Hong and et. al., 2021). Every organization should focus on finding new ways of operating as it
helps an organization in making their functioning effective and also helps in maximizing
productivity and profitability of organization. This principle could help Unilever in adopting new
and innovative techniques.
Harmony, Not discord – This principle focuses on providing safe and healthy environment for
employees which can help employees in achieve goals and objectives of organization (Zhu and
et. al., 2017). Unilever focuses on providing such environment to employees which can help
them in performing well.
Cooperation, Not individualism – This principle focuses on working as a team towards common
goal and ensure that there should be effective communication among employees. Unilever
focuses on working as a team and focuses on collaborating which helps in achieving personal
and professional goal of employees.
Development of every individual – It is important that organization have to focus on
development of employees which can only be possible by providing them appropriate training.
Training would help employees in developing their skills and knowledge.
M1 Review and critique the implementation of operations management in relation to Six Sigma
methodology and Lean principles.
This principle focuses on reducing wastage of resources during production and ensure
that resource of organization should be effectively utilized. This could also help an organization
in satisfying its consumers and providing products according to their needs and preferences.
Wastage reduction could help in providing quality products (Chibili, 2017). This theory is
generally used by every organization as it helps organization in achieving desired goals and
objectives. Providing quality products to consumers also help in gaining competitive edge over
its competitors.
Agile manufacturing
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It is explained as process which focuses on production of products and services while
creating a process, tool which can help organization in adapting to changes in market (Ivanov,
Tsipoulanidis and Schönberger, 2017). Unilever focuses on adapting changes in business
environment and focuses on adapting to change in consumer behavior such as quality of products
and services etc. This principle help Unilever in providing products to consumers according to
their changing needs which helps organization in boosting their profits and maximizing
productivity and profitability of organization.
Lean Management
Lean manufacturing is the process of manufacturing in which an organization decreases
its time period and level of resources that helps in utilizing in commercial operation and various
actions of their organization. Managers and team leaders of Warren equipment company are
making certain innovation and creativity which helps them in creating profitability or revenue.
By using waste reduction, the lean manufacturing helps the company in reducing their overall
cost of production. In context with a Warren equipment company, they are focusing on providing
lean manufacturing so that they could reduce their waste material and try to make products with
optimum utilization of resources.
In addition, Warren equipment company is selecting Ultipro to unite human capital
management and driving their improved reporting (Vanderslott, Van Ryneveld, and Marsh,
2021). This Ultimate software is regarded as solution for human capital management in a cloud.
As it is announced that for Warren equipment company they have selected Ultipro for their
breath of human resources and capabilities of payroll to increase their Hr services and improve in
their workforce analysis (Warren Equipment Company Selects UltiPro to Consolidate Human
Capital Management and Drive Improved Reporting, 2021). The main goal is to provide
strategic gains to managers and employees throughout the locations as well.
Six sigma
Six sigma is one of the techniques for process improvement. as it was invented in 1980
by Bill smith. It helps in involving various methods and mechanism that helps in increasing the
procedure and transactions. There can be two types of approaches are included in six sigma
method. These are DMADV and DMAIC.
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DMAIC is regarded as various exiting services that are developing for meeting customer
satisfaction. It is used in initiation of products and services. It results in five state of matter that
helps in measuring, modifying, examination and controlling. On the next hand DMADV is refers
to method which analyze an innovation that should be done in product which is not currently
presenting in an organization (Mishra, Kumar, and Singh, 2021). In context with Warren
equipment company, they are providing equipment to oil and gas organization, construction
industries and agriculture industries. So they could use DMADV is the best approach of six
sigma in promoting of their products and services.
Define : In this process, the customers needs and want are accurately examine and measure. In
context with Warren equipment company, there managers use various strategies in order to
provide new services to customers and make aware about their new equipment and technologies.
This includes research and development of customer needs and demands.
Measure : This includes quantity of customers wants towards a particular products and services
which is introduced by an organization (Harper, Mustafee, and Yearworth, 2021). After this
managers of organization decide which products they have to focus on and what quality of
products is being used to gain customer satisfaction.
Analyze : In this process, there is a estimation of issues and challenges that could be faced at a
time of promotion of products and services. And which can be coming in between of operation
management. A plan of action is made for increasing a market share within an environment.
Design : In this organization design their products and equipment in such a manner that is liked
by customers. They made an effective plan of action in order to make products. This helps in
increasing of gross revenue (Ahmed, Taqi, and Sankaranarayanan, 2021). And it helps in
bringing new ideas and thoughts that helps them in increasing their goodwill as well. Verify:
This is the last process as in this organization make sure that their products and services are
effectively used and liked by customers. This will help in increasing customer satisfaction and
developing their market share as well.
P2 Prepare a continuous improvement plan based on the review and critique of operations
management principles within an organisational context
Principles of management
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There can be certain principles that are being followed by Warren equipment company for
smooth functioning of their business activities and also these helps in dealing day to day
activities:
Principles of reality : In this first principles, the organization is mainly focusing on
problems of management and operations in their tools and techniques which helps in solving it. It
is most important to analyses various issue and challenge that are to be faced by managers of
Warren equipment company, as they have to take feedback from their employees and puts
customer demands first (Derfler-Rozin, Sherf, and Chen, 2021). In context of present
organization, they first known the customer demands and then manufacture their products and
equipment.
Principles of Organization: In this principle, the company should have to execute their
plan of action that helps in accomplishing their aims and objectives. There could be effective
relationships between various departments of Warren equipment company to make effective
relationships with other employees of departments of organization.
Change : In this principle, change is being adopted by organizations. As company should
have to adopt new trends and changes so that they could build something new and unique and
bring innovative tasks to handle their workforce and their products and services.
Accountability: In this principle, managers should make certain rules and policies which
could be followed by every worker working in an organization. Managers should have to
collaborate with their team members in order to achieve organizational objectives and goals. In
context with Warren equipment company, their managers are working effectively with their
team members and develops their productivity as well.
TQM – Total Quality Management or TQM is an approach to operations management
wherein the focus is on long-term success by ensuring that the customers are satisfied. Effective
management of operations helps in achieving desired goals and objectives. Effective operational
performance of Marks and spencer helps in boosting financial performance of organization and
also assists in making operational process smooth. There are various principles of operations
management which are utilized by various organization and Marks and spencer also focuses on
implementing these principles. These principles help Unilever in making effective strategy for its
operations and managers ensure that such principles should be utilized effectively by Unilever.
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Kaizen – Kaizen can be referred to as a term that encompasses processes that
continuously improve operations as well as involve all the different employees. Operations in
organization helps in making functioning of business smooth and also helps in maximizing
productivity and profitability of organization. Marks and spencer managers focuses on making
their operations management effectively and focuses on providing quality products to their
consumers (Anand and Gray, 2017). Managers of Marks and spencer focuses on developing
effective strategies and procedures which can help organization in performing effective and
smooth operations.
There are various approaches for operation management which are currently most popular within
an organization (Margherita, and Braccini, 2021). These are Flexible specialization, lean
production, mass customization and agile manufacturing. As these approaches helps the
organisation in enhancing their production and profitability both.
M2 Analyse the effectiveness of a continuous improvement plan using appropriate theories,
concepts and/or models.
It is most important for the companies to adapt new technological changes and other
changes occurring in a business environment. This will helps them in making improvements in
their quality and creating quality of products as well (Dzwigol, 2021). In context with Warren
equipment company, there managers are creating action plan to achieve their organizational
objectives. Here is a transformation plan:
Sources Principles Outcomes
Cost Six sigma Warren equipment company
managers should implements
the use of six sigma so that
there could be smooth
functioning of activities within
an environment. It also
resulting in investing more
and further helps in getting
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proper results inside given
monetary funds.
Quality Lean manufacturing Warren equipment company
managers should have to make
modern changes and try to
reduce their wastage in
manufacturing process (Yau,
Vijh, and Schwandt, 2021).
They are focusing more on
providing quality of goods and
services to the customer world
wide. This will be resulting
increasing satisfaction of
customers and gaining fresh
and new ideas in their decision
making process. By using of
lean manufacturing, company
could more focus on their
quality of raw materials which
they have to use.
Safety Fundamental Managers in respective
organisation make sure that
their data is secured and did
not disclosed to any third party
(Xu, Chang, and Zhao, 2021).
They are making all safety
measures of employees while
manufacturing process.
Delivery Organisation Company make sure that they
should made effective action
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plan which includes delivery
methods. These delivery
methods such as delivery of
products and equipments are to
be done effectively. Further,
this delivery of goods will be
results in reducing of wastage
as well.
D1 Apply appropriate theories, concepts and/or models to justify strategies of a continuous
improvement plan for achieving improved efficiency.
Pros of six sigma
 Six sigma is facilitating many gains and increase in sales, customer satisfaction and stock
value.
 It adds value (Islam, Zawawi, and Abd Wahab, 2021). It improves outputs of
organisation. It helps in optimising supply chain operations which results in enhancing
customer satisfaction.
 Further, it helps in minimising the waste. In six sigma approach, organisations are
identifying their variance before production.
Cons of six sigma
 This consist of long implementation time. This requires involvement of every employees
working in an organisation so this requires time.
 Then it is complicated. As in this business needs lots of statistical data so this may results
in variance and requires large time and also it is much costly as compared to another
approaches.
From the review of this continuous improvement plan, the organization should have to
make an effective plan of actions and they have to evaluate and analyses the issues and
difficulties faced (Chan, Fediuk and Barwin, 2021). There is a continuous improvements plan
which helps in delivering and providing better quality of products to the customer. In context
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with Warren equipment company, they are following lean manufacturing and six sigma in order
to present their actions. This will helps them in making improvement sin their quality and
reducing wastage as well. It will reduce internal cost and time of interval. Also there is a use of
just in time inventory management principles to reduce their cost of warehouse.
P3 Apply each stage of the Project Life Cycle to a given project, producing necessary supporting
documentation for completing the project e.g. a business case, project plan, work
breakdown structure.
Every organization works their best in analyzing the ways through which they can
provide the consumers with better services. The several levels of PLC are used by the mangers of
The Southern Railway for analyzing their services, these are concluded in the following points :
 Initiation stage – This factor tells about the molding of services according to the
preferences and wants of customers. The Southern Railway practiced orientation
of their customers to find the areas that are needed to be changed or developed.
The company has made its good reputation in the market through its good level of
social relations form using several related strategies. The time needed for
calculating interval time is around 1-2 months.
 Planning stage – This is one of the most essential activity of an business
organization as the plans and policies provide with a direction, which when
followed can promote the growth process of it. The mangers of the Southern
Railway use this planning in a way for making and assigning small targets to their
subordinates. The small targets are made according to the goal of the
organization. It follows circumstantial leading style as various examinations are
performed to achieve the related targets. Around 3 months are needed in
completion of this type of valuation.
 Execution stage – In this stage, the identified plan and policies are executed in a
way that promotes the achieving of the company's goals and targets. At this stage,
the small and creative ideas for improving the service to make an effective plan of
action are analyzed. The forming process of the policies and executing them takes
approximately 3 months in Southern Railway (UK).
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 Closure stage – This stage makes the subordinates relating to evolution process to
provide essential documents. The manger of the related company in this stage, can
provide the statements that relate to the rail network. Approximately 24 to 26 days
are consumed in this process.
 Gantt chart – It is a chart with a horizontal bar that regulates the schedule of
maintaining the tasks. The Gantt chart was introduced by Henry Gantt in 1915.
Through this, a schedule can be maintained that ensures a good relationship
between duty and other work. It this, the vertical axis tells about the task and
horizontal signifies the involved time. The executive manager of the Southern
Railway of UK has utilized this method and made a effective Gantt chart and
utilized their time period according to the goals of the company.
As this project is mostly focusing on providing healthy food to staff members working in a
business environment. So, the title of a project which is selected in this is Either cooking in-
house.
Operational CRM
As there are few term that involves primary sort of CRM system that will concentrates on
the aim such as sales, services or analytic CRM in an effective and as well as efficient manner. It
will also concentrates on their fundamental terms of the purpose. To understand about the
manner that how the operational consumer relationship management will works and maintain the
business procedures of a typical management with several divisions. As there are several
divisions of the CRM that are as follows - Marketing Campaigns – To drive the management, marketing generally maintains and
about the leading factor from their digital marketing or another demand generation
actions into the CRM. Online forms will generally relates to the CRM marketing factors
such as emails, flyers, or text messages. Sales Activities - When someone will responds to the marketing campaigns, managerial
sales group will involves the leading term by email, phone and message. In relation to it,
individual will respond to it in quick manner, but reality dictates that most of them will
need to follow up in an effective and efficient manner.
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