UGB 165: Improving Operations & Services at Watson Engineering

This report provides a detailed analysis of Watson Engineering Tooling Company's operations and services, tracing its history from its establishment in North East England to its present-day scenario. It highlights the company's success in managing operations related to industrial projects like bridge construction, dam building, and civil engineering endeavors, as well as its expansion into hospitality management. The report identifies key operational improvement strategies for Watson Engineering, including continuous improvement, quality enhancement, business forecasting, customer-centric approaches, business reengineering, resource optimization, and safety performance. It emphasizes the importance of adapting to technological changes, implementing sustainable development practices, and utilizing business forecasting techniques to meet future market demands and ensure environmental conservation. The report concludes with recommendations for Watson Engineering to enhance its operational efficiency and maintain a competitive edge in the global market.

UGB 165
Introduction to Operations and Services
Module Assignment 2018
Date: 5/23/2018
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
History of Watson Engineering.......................................................................................................3
Present scenario of Watson Engineering.........................................................................................4
Achievement of Watson engineering in the present context...........................................................9
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................10
Reference List:...............................................................................................................................12
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Introduction
In this contemporary age of dynamic and fluctuating technology, most of the companies are
trying to adopt innovative strategies regarding their operations and services in the global sphere.
Operations are that part of a business organization, which is mostly responsible for the
production of goods and services. Effective implementation of the strategy in the phase of
operations also helps the firms to increase their efficiency of production. The operations activity
is linked with the supply chain strategies regarding an organization. Watson Engineering Tooling
Company, which is based in North East of England, is not an exception in this scenario. This
research focuses on how Watson Engineering has successfully managed its operations range
regarding the development of industrial projects like construction of bridges, building dams,
renovating pump stations and reservoirs, formation of roadways, drainage systems while at the
same time also catering to civil and structural engineering scenario.
This research report lays emphasis on the fact that how Watson Engineering has successfully
catered to the changes regarding the change in business practices and operations. This project
also highlights the fact that how Watson Engineering has steeped into other fields of business
spheres like hospitality management and subsequently gained the mass appeal. This research also
highlights the scope of improvement regarding the operational sphere of Watson Engineering.
There are some changes, which are needed in the operational phase so that the company can lead
to more efficient production of goods and services. The tools and practices concerning
operational improvements have been addressed in this research phase aligning to the objectives
of Watson Engineering.
History of Watson Engineering
Watson Engineering Company was set up in North East England by an engineer whose main
focus was to improve the civil infrastructure arena of England. The strong financial base of this
company helped it rise in its future prospects regarding its long term projects. During the time of
transition when engineering was in a declining note in most parts of England, this company has
survived to occupy a place in the consumers’ mind. The effective change management strategies
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from the part of Watson Engineering in their respective field of designing and constructing civil
infrastructure have catered to a great deal regarding their operations in the global market sphere.
Present scenario of Watson Engineering
The company specializes in the manufacture of engineers’ rules and calipers, scribes while at the
same time expanding its production sphere to micrometers and a list of specialized items
designed for specific tasks. The organizational managers have implemented various innovative
technologies in their business operations, which subsequently helped the company to cater to the
change management processes on a positive note. The formulation of strategic marketing
policies blended with innovative approaches also helped the company to cater in the ‘global
sphere’. The increased competitive sphere also tended the organizational managers of Watson
Engineering to be more focused in their approach. The reward schemes from the part of the
company to its employees are thoroughly motivational while at the same time focusing on the
aspects of consumer satisfaction based on the terms of cost, quality and delivery channels.
Operational improvement strategies regarding Watson Engineering
In this age of dynamic and fluctuating technology, Watson Engineering has been successful in
catering to the change management processes regarding their business operations. It is a known
fact that there is an every chance of improvement in the operational sphere due to the rapid
changes in technology. The company has to implement further strategies and innovative
techniques in their production methodology to cater in the global scenario. Identifying right
operational strategies in the business sphere helps a company to utilize the available resources in
an optimum level. Watson Engineering has to implement and modify its operational services in
order to function better in the global arena. Some of the strategies that this company would have
to implement in near future are as follows:
1) Continuous improvement- The Company has to understand that there is always a scope
for improvement regarding its operations. In this age of rapid changes in technology, the
business firms are also modifying their operations to get the most of it. Watson
Engineering have to stress the fact that the policies on which they are operating can be
improved and blended with technological aspects to increase efficiency of production in
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near future. The strategy to go lean is the best in this regard. Watson Engineering can
improve their development campaign in many ways that would lead to better customer
satisfaction. Watson Engineering must have to adopt practices that add value to their
operations. In the contemporary context, the National Centre for Middle Market has
devised a worksheet that would guide the organizational managers for employing the
effective lean practices regarding their organizational objectives (Dhillon, 2016).
2) Quality improvement- Watson Engineering has been serving the British customers for a
long period of time. The quality of their development projects is great but it can still
further be improved to thrive in the perfectly competitive global market. The production
procedures can still be further improved, which will lead to more consumer satisfaction.
The engineering devices, which it uses regarding their development campaign, can be
modified to meet the advanced needs of the present generation. This improvement in the
application of engineering tools and devices regarding the development of civil
infrastructure will also help the designers and builders to achieve their task in a quick
span of time. There have been various versions of quality management theory as stated
by different management experts (Okress, 2017). Edwards Deming’s views on total
quality management are the most approved theory among the business firms in the
contemporary context. The Six Sigma approach is also popular among the firms to adhere
a specific quality standard regarding their products and services. Watson Engineering
must stress on the issue of sustainable development in near future to occupy a place in the
consumers’ mind. There must be a strategy from the part of this company, which leads to
recycling of the waste materials and its subsequent reduction so that it can also contribute
in the environmental campaign. There must be efficient production procedures from the
part of Watson Engineering, which will lead to subsequent reduction in cost of
production while at the same time also increasing the efficiency of products and services.
Though Watson Engineering has been treading this path for the past few years, there is
more scope for improvement as the advancement in civil engineering sector is
continuously evolving keeping the environmental aspects in priority list (Lima-Ramos et
al., 2014).
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3) Business Forecasting- Watson engineering must also focus on the business forecasting
techniques, which are currently engaged with the production procedures. The
development of technologies has also lead to increase of efficiency regarding the business
forecasting techniques of a firm. The forecasting would be in such a manner so that the
firm can assess the potential financial benefits it can achieve regarding its future aspects.
Besides selling of products and services, purchasing inventory to the required levels of
operation, controlling the supply chain procedures and assigning the right members in the
right job role; Watson engineering must also adapt the accurate business forecasting
techniques to cater in the global scenario. The issue of most companies lies in the
sustainable domain and CSR policies. Though the companies are finding innovative ways
to optimize its business operations, the forecasting techniques of most companies are not
up to the mark. Same is the case with Watson Engineering. Whether the company is
potentially able or unable to meet the future market demand is not judged properly due to
lack of effective forecasting techniques. In the near future, Watson engineering may face
the glaring issues of civil infrastructure scenario. It may be unable to meet the rising
demand of customers or it can fail in its effective implementation approach. The
sustainable development supplemented by waste reduction techniques are also most of
the times mishandled by the firms. Watson engineering have to focus on the recycling of
waste materials on a large scale so that it may lead to environment conservation. Since,
Watson engineering is a civil engineering firm their industrial developments would cater
to waste materials largely. The company must have to minimise this issue in order to
promote a sustainable development. The small and medium sized companies are mostly
lacking in the business forecasting techniques as they do not have the required tools to
implement them in their business operations.
4) Customer centric approach- Watson Engineering must focus on the increasing customer
needs to meet their demands on a global scale. Since, they provide civil engineering
solutions to the first world nations in federal, provincial and municipal government
structure, the assessing of customer needs are of prior importance regarding the business
operations of Watson Engineering. The company managers also have to understand the
customer issues and the problems they face due to lack of infrastructure. Moreover,
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Watson engineering must focus on the customer and common masses’ issues regarding
the development phase. The company must cater to the pipe and pumping systems of
England so that no part of the country is deficient in its water supply. The company has
taken an objective to promote the transport systems of England. The construction of
bridges while help a great deal in this aspect. The safety aspects of the common masses
during the construction phase must also be kept in mind. The development activities must
be streamlined with the customer needs while at the same time assuring their safety. The
staffs must monitor the development projects on a daily basis to prevent any mishap from
the part of Watson engineering. Development of roads would help a great deal to the
common mass as the people will have more alternate ways to travel. While attaining
consumer satisfaction, the company must also adopt the innovative ways regarding its
business operations so as to gain a unique place in the civil engineering scenario. It is this
tailored approach, which would help the company to adhere to its objectives (Tautz-
Weinert and Watson, 2016).
5) Old fashioned business reengineering- At some time or later, Watson engineering may
adopt the strategy of old fashioned business reengineering to gear up its operations. This
approach was very common in the previous times, when an organization tried to gear up
its operation sphere. It is through this technique, the company can manage its operations
and subsequently to reject the wasteful operations, which are not catering to its goals.
This process also highlights how these phases can be handled and replaced with more
effective procedures. In this method, the top managers must be involved while taking a
decision as it would result in better future prospects of a firm in near future (Adams,
2016).
6) Optimum utilization of resources- Watson engineering must make use of the available
resources at its optimum level in order to gear up its operational efficiency. Assigning the
right tasks to a right worker is essential from the company’s viewpoint as it would result
in showcasing the employee’s talent in their respective job role, which would further lead
to production efficiency (Eastman, 2018). Moreover, the firms also have to handle the
natural resources on a proper level so that there is no misuse from the part of the
company. The approach of sustainable development must be kept in mind while being
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engaged in the development campaign. The company must strike a balance between the
two so that it can fulfil its economic gains while at the same time also contributing to
sustainable development.
7) Safety performance- Watson engineering must also assess the safety levels of their
development campaigns so that no people are harmed regarding the construction phase.
There must be constant monitoring from the part of the company’s staffs so that there is
no deficiency regarding the safety of a development project. Moreover, the company also
must understand the issues that the common masses might face during the development
phase and to subsequent address these issues on a positive note. This would subsequently
help to generate a ‘brand image’ of the company in the consumers’ minds (Zadeh et al.,
2014).
8) Project execution- The staffs of Watson engineering must implement their planned
approaches during their construction phase effectively. The execution process must be
designed in a way so that it adheres to the company’s policies and goals. It is this
execution phase, which is most important from the company’s perspective to succeed in
its objectives. Watson engineering must adopt a suitable implementation technique in
order to cater in the development sphere of England. Everyday’s progress would be
analysed by the company staffs to track Watson’s position regarding the development
scenario (Pawar et al., 2015).
9) Supply chain- Watson engineering also needs to adopt the effective supply chain
procedures for its successful operation in the global markets. If the supply chain
strategies are properly put into use, then Watson engineering can increase its market
share to a great extent. The collaboration with the clients has to be more effective so that
new and innovative strategies are developed to support the business operations.
Moreover, the implementation of proper supply chain procedures also helps the firm to
optimize the global production level. This will also help to increase the efficiency of
staffs of Watson engineering (Hall et al., 2014).
10) Technological improvement- In this age of dynamic changes in technology, most of the
firms is blending technology into their business operations to make it error free. Watson
engineering must also adopt the new technologies into their business operations to
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increase their efficiency level. Proper training must be given to the employees from the
part of the company to keep them updated about the latest trends in production
techniques. The company must be flexible in its approach so that it can adapt in every
fluctuating market environment (Ortega-Rivas, 2016).
11) Reliability- Watson engineering must be reliable in its approach to serve customers on a
global scale. The business operations, which the company will adopt, must be reliable to
the customers. It is this reliability, which reinforces the ‘brand value’ of a company. It
must be customer friendly in approach so that the common masses can rely on their
activities.
Achievement of Watson engineering in the present context
Watson engineering has catered to a significant development regarding the construction
projects. It has many achievements under its name as re-construction of Paul lake dam
near Kamloops, improvement of the Fraser River Suspension Bridge, construction of
Harrington Booster Station, extension of Williams’s lake pumping building etc. These
achievements in the field of development infrastructure have given an added advantage to
Watson engineering to cater in the changing global scenario.
Conclusion
Watson engineering has treaded a unique path regarding its development campaign.
There is efficiency in business operations but there are also some aspects, which are
needed to be modified to cater in the global competitive market. In this age of dynamic
technology, there is an ever increasing scope for the firms to strive for the best. Watson
engineering have to do just that in an innovative way. The glaring operational issues like
proper asset utilization, maintaining quality standards, customer centric approach and
safety measures must be highlighted from the Watson engineering’s part to attain the
most of customer satisfaction. The financial stability gave this firm an upper hand to
succeed in the global sphere. Moreover, it has also resulted in a positive change
management strategy from the company’s perspective. Watson engineering’s attempts in
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the field of civil infrastructure has set a standard for the competitors to adhere by. The
ever changing business environment requires utmost innovative approaches from the part
of company like Watson engineering to succeed in the global sphere. Moreover, Watson
engineering have to focus on the aspect of lowering of production costs while at the same
time increasing their efficiency level. The present scenario of Watson engineering
highlights the additional dimension of the hospitality sector into which it is penetrating. It
is this diversification of approach, which stresses the need of modified business
operations to cater in the global sphere. The business operations of Watson engineering
must be tailored according to the needs of the customer. Besides gaining economic
benefits, the company must also promote a sustainable development approach to gain a
place in the consumers’ mind, which would subsequently help to enhance the ‘brand
image’ of Watson engineering.
Recommendations
In this age of fluctuating technology, all companies are trying their level best to cater in
the global scenario. The business operations must be modified so that it can attain the
maximum level of consumer satisfaction. This research highlights what are the
improvements a business firm like Watson engineering must undergo to attain a unique
place in the global arena. Though the company has taken many innovative approaches,
there is a scope for further improvement. In this ever changing business sphere, the
operations of Watson engineering must be in pace with the current technological changes.
There are many aspects of business operations, which are needed to be modified from the
part of Watson engineering to increase their production efficiency. Focus must be given
on to lower the costs of production so that the company can spend more in its marketing
and promotional campaigns.
There is a need of quality assessment from the part of Watson engineering so that it can
reach the most of customer satisfaction. The dams, pipelines, roadways, which it is
constructing, must maintain common safety standards to prevent any accidental mishaps
from the part of the company. Constant monitoring from the company staffs must be
there on a regular basis to track Watson engineering’s daily progress regarding a
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development campaign. It also helps to assess the progress of each day’s work and to
maintain the substantial performance level of the workers. Proper training must be given
to the employees of Watson engineering from the part of managerial staffs to keep the
workers updated about the recent technological changes. Flexibility is needed from the
part of Watson engineering so that it can adapt in ever changing business sphere. The
globalization is giving the firms a tough competition to cater to the changing consumer
tastes and preferences. The forecasting scenario is also inappropriate from the part of
Watson engineering to assess its future financial scope to operate in the global arena. The
reengineering methods must be applied to the existing processes so that the firms can
eliminate the waste processes in their execution phase.
There must be a waste recycling procedure from the Watson engineering’s perspective to
achieve a significant place in the global sphere regarding the sustainable development
scenario. Watson engineering’s supply chain procedures must be modified in a way to
increase its market share. Effective supply chain techniques also help to build a positive
relationship with the client from the company’s perspective. Watson engineering must
optimize the available resources (both natural and human) in its optimum level to make
the most of it. The approach of Watson engineering’s development projects must be
customer centric. It also must address the issues, which the common mass might face in
near future during the development phase. The officials of Watson engineering must
adopt the advanced techniques in their production processes to gain the maximum benefit
from minimum labour.
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15). Elsevier.
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Eastman, C.M., 2018. Building product models: computer environments, supporting
design and construction. CRC press.
Hall, J.W., Henriques, J.J., Hickford, A.J., Nicholls, R.J., Baruah, P., Birkin, M.,
Chaudry, M., Curtis, T.P., Eyre, N., Jones, C. and Kilsby, C.G., 2014. Assessing the
long-term performance of cross-sectoral strategies for national infrastructure. Journal of
Infrastructure Systems, 20(3), p.04014014.
Lima-Ramos, J., Neto, W. and Woodley, J.M., 2014. Engineering of biocatalysts and
biocatalytic processes. Topics in Catalysis, 57(5), pp.301-320.
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Rectification (Vol. 1). Academic Press.
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Press.
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O., Watson, M.N. and White, J.A., 2015. Recent advances in risk assessment and risk
management of geologic CO 2 storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control,
40, pp.292-311.
Tautz-Weinert, J. and Watson, S.J., 2016. Using SCADA data for wind turbine condition
monitoring–a review. IET Renewable Power Generation, 11(4), pp.382-394.
Zadeh, L.A., Fu, K.S. and Tanaka, K. eds., 2014. Fuzzy sets and their applications to
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