Unilever: Operations Management, Lean Principles & Project Lifecycle

This report provides an analysis of operations and project management, focusing on Unilever and Crawford Healthcare. It begins by defining operations and operations management, then reviews Unilever's implementation of operations management principles, analyzing how these principles meet the organization's needs. The report discusses continuous improvement and lean principles, preparing a continuous improvement plan based on operations management principles, and offers recommendations for improving Unilever's operational functions. Additionally, it presents an overview of a case study on Crawford Healthcare, describing the project lifecycle (PLC) and its application within the organization. The report analyzes the rationale implemented in the project and evaluates the effectiveness of the PLC application, concluding with key findings and recommendations.

Operations and project
management

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction of organisation...................................................................................................3
Operations vs operation management....................................................................................4
Review and critique of implementation of operation management principles.......................4
Analysis of the extend to which operation management that meets needs of an organisation5
Discuss continuous improvement and explain lean principles...............................................6
Prepare continuous improvement plan on the basis of operation management principles.....6
Recommendations..................................................................................................................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
Overview of case study along with description of PLC and its application in an organisation
................................................................................................................................................7
Analysis of the rationales which is implemented in project.................................................12
Evaluation of the effectiveness of application of PLC in an organisation...........................12
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES:.............................................................................................................................16
Books and Journals...............................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Operation refers to the activities which are carried by an organisation so that they can
achieve their prescribed goals in effective manner. It involves various activities of distribution
and production management service as they all are interconnected with each other and our
essential for the smooth operations. Managers should plan and make a strategic decisions about
their operation as it involves various activities like training and hiring employees, selecting
locations and layout for the establishment of factory or company, purchasing materials and tools
along with raw material (Gajadhar and Stomski, 2018). This report is based on Unilever which is
a multinational British goods company which is founded on 2 September 1929 and it is
headquartered in London, UK. This report will include introduction of an organisation along
with the explanation of differences between operation and operation management. Lean
principles are used in this report along with the analyses of the operation management so that it
can meet requirements of an organisation. Continuous improvement plan is prepared on the basis
of the principles so that it justify the strategy of an organisation. Recommendations are also
mentioned in this report in order to improve the operation functions of an organisation. Project
life-cycle stages are explained with the help of different stages which organisation implement
along with the methodologies and tools which have implemented in project.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
Introduction of organisation
Unilever is founded by Lever brothers who are William Lever and James Darcy Lever. It
is headquartered in England and they serve all over the world area by providing consumers
goods and products. They offer various high-quality products including well-being, vitamins,
food, supplements, coffee, tea, cleaning agents, toothpaste, personal care and beauty products.
They provide high-quality products by involvement of research and development so that they
understand the demands and needs of the targeted audience. They have acquired various brands
like Dove, Lipton, Sun silk, sunlight, Lux and Magnum which is a very famous in all over the
world.

Operations vs operation management
Operations comprises of all the activities which are required in order to carry out business
in smooth manner. On the other hand, project management includes managing and controlling
various activities which help in optimum utilisation of resources. It can be differentiated as
follows:
Operations Operation management
Operations are carried out on regular basis by
employees of Unilever such as designing and
assembling of raw materials, maintaining
standards and quality for the production,
assigning task according to the expertise fields,
etc.
Operation management majorly focus on the
effective and smooth operations of an
organisation by maintaining resources and
assets so that they provide better quality of
products and services.
Review and critique of implementation of operation management principles
Operation management are responsible for the effective performance and the higher
productivity of an organisation. It manages all the resources so that employees do not over use or
waste resources which are renewable in nature (Liew and et.al., 2021). Unilever offer high-
quality products with the help of management of resources so that they can contribute in the
healthy lifestyle of their targeted customers. These are possible with the help of operation
management principles which are as follows:
Reality: This principle majorly focus that a managers should focus on the issues and
problems rather than involving their efforts in the techniques. Unilever find solutions so that
they can effectively solve their problems rather than investing in the techniques and tools as all
the problems require unique solutions.
Humility: Managers and employees of an organisation should perform operations with
limited resources because they are limited in nature. Unilever do not waste their resources and
invest in research and development so that they can effectively perform operations.
Organisation: Operations of an organisations are interlinked with each other which
should be carried out with the help of better coordination. Unilever always maintain cooperation
and communication with each other so that they can work in uniform manner.

Accountability: This principle suggest that all the employees are accountable to their
managers so that they can perform in required manner (Ochieng and et.al., 2018). Unilever
always maintain a chain of responsibilities and authorities so that it results in smooth operations.
Change: All the changes of business environment adopted by Unilever so that they can
gain competitive advantages.
Quality control: Managers of Unilever tracked the operation so that they can produce
products and goods in higher quality.
Success: It is necessary to fulfil the demands of customers as they are responsible for the
success of Unilever which should be maintained by offering higher quality of products in cost
effective manner.
Analysis of the extend to which operation management that meets needs of an organisation
Operation management are very important for each and every organisation so that they can
maintain proper standard in their operations. It is analysed that the requirements of an
organisation are effectively fulfil with the help of operation management principles which are
discussed below:
 Unilever should source their raw material and organise them in effective manner so that
Employees can turn out them in finished goods and products with maintaining higher
quality (Holweg and et.al., 2018). This helps them in increasing the engagement of their
targeted customers and effective manner.
 Organisation should use upgraded technologies so that they can cut down access of cost
during production. Unilever uses tools and techniques which are highly effective in
maintaining qualities of production in cost effective manner which satisfy needs of
customers.
 Unilever should maintain better coordination among themselves so that they can share
information and ideas regarding production of goods and services. This results in better
relations and eliminate conflicts and misunderstanding.
 It is important to understand the needs and wants of the targeted audience for an
organisation so that they can offer products according to their demands. Employees of
Unilever arrange surveys and questionnaires so that they can maintain loyalty and trust
with their audience by offering them products which are required by them.

Discuss continuous improvement and explain lean principles.
Continuous development plan helps in recording and identifying the development so that
individual can continuously improve their learnings and operations. Employees of Unilever
arrange surveys and questionnaires so that they can maintain loyalty and trust with their
audience by offering them products which are required by them. Proper development sessions
are arranged by Unilever for their Employees so that they can inherit skills which are required
for the effective operation.
Lean principles
Lean principles refers to the strategies which helps businesses in reducing their cost and
producing products with maintaining higher quality (Haniff and Caldwell, 2019). Unilever uses
these principles in their operation which are as follows:
Identifying value: This is the first step of principles which identify problems and issues
so that they can produce products which satisfy the demands and needs of customers as a
solution. Unilever offer prices which justifies the standard and quality of products.
Value stream mapping: This principle focus on the company is a workflow which
includes all the people and activities who were involved in the process of execution and delivery
of the products and services. Unilever focus on the elimination of activities which are irrelevant
for the organisation.
Creating a continuous workflow: It ensures that all the employees working in team
work in smooth and effective manner so that they can reduce cost and difficulties. Unilever
focus on maintaining coordination among their Employees which helps in sharing information.
Developing a pull system: It focus that an organisation offers services in fastest possible
time in efficient manner. Unilever eliminates waste elements so that they can products in best
possible manner.
Continuous improvement: This principle ensures that organisation should implement
tools and techniques which helps in constant improvement in the operations (Faganel and Janeš,
2022). Unilever adopts changes so that they can maintain the profitability for longer term.
Prepare continuous improvement plan on the basis of operation management principles.
Continuous improvement plan suggest that organisation should maintain uniformity in
their procedures so that they can offer quality products to their customers (Kumar, Mookerjee

and Shubham, 2018). Unilever create their continuous improvement plan in such a manner
which is discussed as follows:
Plan: This is the first stage of plan which requires identification of opportunities which
can adopted by organisation. Unilever can plan their functions so that they can adapt changes in
order to satisfy the needs of their customers.
Do: Unilever uses upgraded technologies for the implementation of the alterations and
changes in their organisation. As it results in higher profitability along with establishment of
brand image.
Check: This Step suggest that organisations should track the performance of their
employees. Managers of Unilever supervise each and every activities so that so that they can
alter changes if there is any requirement.
Act: Changes which are carried out implemented on the wider scale so that Unilever can
improve their procedures in order to eliminate wastage and negative elements.
It is analysed that continues improvement plan is very effective for Unilever as it
eliminates wastage and increase the productivity of overall organisation.
Recommendations
 In order to improve productivity of organisation Unilever should adopt advanced
technologies so that they can increase their revenue generation and decrease their
excessive cost.
 They should carry out surveys so that they can understand the expectations of customers
which helps Unilever in customising products and services according to the taste and
preferences of targeted audience.
TASK 2
Overview of case study along with description of PLC and its application in an organisation
Crawford health care is a growing company which develops innovative and effective
treatments for wound care, dermatological and different skin problems. It was founded in 1996
by Richard Anderson and it is headquartered in United Kingdom. It is a medium scale
organisation currently with limited number of employees approximately 1250 which is
mentioned on their site. Due to some emerging problems and issues at workplace they face
challenges in employee retention which affect their profitability. Lack of proper training and

development in an organisation they face employee absenteeism on regular basis (Lee, 2018). In
order to overcome these problems they need to develop project so that they can increase their
productivity. The project life cycle which Crawford healthcare is using is discussed below:
PLC stages
Organisations involved various tasks and procedure which require proper planning so
that they can execute in best possible manner. Crawford health care systematically divide their
task so that they can execute them in proper manner to overcome various challenges. There are
four stages which they have divided for the implementation of their projects which are as
follows:
Project initiation
This is the first stage of project life cycle which sort out every objective, goal, resources,
scope of the project which should be executed by an organisation. Crawford health care clarifies
the roles of their stakeholders and shareholders so that they can properly initiate and execute
their project.
Project planning
This phase includes all the plannings of activities like timelines, budgeting, resource
gathering, milestone and various documentations which helps in proper execution of project
(Hemmati and Sajadieh, eds., 2021). Managers of Crawford health care also predict that and rest
in this stage so that they can formulate its strategies and policies which can control them like
employees absenteeism.
Project execution
This stage comprises of the execution of all plans which was formulated on the prior is
stage. Managers of Crawford healthcare track all the activities including managing qualities,
managing budget, managing data and measuring progress of employees. They involve better
training and development sessions so that they can inherit various skills which engage
employees in their organisation.
Project closure
This is the final stage of project life-cycle which involves completion of a project by
arranging training sessions for the employees of Crawford health care (Lieberum, Schiffels and
Kolisch, 2022). They have analysed various positive changes in their workplace like increase in

employee engagement and interest in operations with the help of training and development
sessions on regular interval times.
Project plan
Executive Summary The project is based on Crawford health care which was established in
1996 and the founder was Richard Anderson. I have executed this
project because they faced issues in employee retention because of their
absenteeism and boredom.
Vision Version of Crawford healthcare is to provide training to their
employees so that they can increase their knowledge and understanding
in order to operate various activities.
 Mission Mission of growth for the healthcare is to provide is skills to their
employees which result in enhancement of their productivity and
interest in various operations. They use various advanced technology
for providing sessions and classes to their employees.
 Objectives To understand the factors which affect the interest of employs which
results to higher absenteeism. They implemented various sessions by
using visual effects so that employees can engage themselves which
results in higher profitability.
 Strategies Different lectures and sessions provided by Crawford health care with
the help of expert managers in their respective field (Visser, 2020).
These strategies help them in achievement of their goals and targets in
effective manner.
 Innovation Various professional and educational videos are used by Crawford
health care so that they can convey information and messages which
help their employees. The train there employees so that they do not
waste resources which are renewable in nature.
 Opportunities Crawford health care grab various opportunities like retain their
employees in effective manner, hire new skilled labours and achieve
various competitive advantages which helps in establishing their brand

image.
 Improvement They improve their problem-solving skills and team management skills
which helps in proper engagement of their employees in an
organisation.
 Resource
required
Crawford healthcare uses various essential resources like technology,
visual arts, projectors, books and articles to train their employees (Baur
and Rieck, 2020). All these resources helps employees in enhancing
their productivity in cost-effective manner.
 Risk and
benefits
Risk which Crawford healthcare faces on regular basis involved low
performance and dissatisfaction among their employees. On the other
side various benefits they have gained like achievement of various
competitive advantages and fulfilment of corporate social
responsibilities.
Project plan
Cost In order to plan and execute the project cost is very important resource
in an organisation. Approximately £20,500 was incurred by Crawford
health care.
Quality Maintaining proper and safe working environment in order to offer
quality services Crawford health care involved advanced technology to
train their employees.
Scope Major scope of this project involves improvement of productivity of
overall organisation along with inheriting required skills in their
employs with the help of training.
Work breakdown structure
This tool helps in simplifying project by breaking them into smaller and simple pieces. It
helps in reduction of excessive cost and efforts of employees and increase the productivity and
quality of the products (Mohaghar and et.al., 2021). Crawford healthcare execute their plans

according to the schedule with a work breakdown structure suggest in order to distribute
resources and data for effective project.

Gantt chart:
This chart helps in maintaining proper schedules for the employs so that they can easily
execute their projects before the prescribed deadlines. It maintains better cooperation and
understanding among each other which creates interdependence in an organisation.
Analysis of the rationales which is implemented in project
The tools which are used by Crawford healthcare in their project life cycle will help them
in proper guidance so that they can achieve their goals and targets (Loudon and Morley, 2019).
This helps them in controlling, planning, guiding, executing and closing their task in effective
manner. It reduces their cost and resources which helps them in generation of higher revenue is
in best possible manner. it help them in motivating their employees which play important role in
employee engagement and retention.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of application of PLC in an organisation.
Project life-cycle helps organisation in achievement of their goals and targets and best
possible manner. Crawford health care can retain their employees with the help of this project