Unit 187 Operations & Project Management: Unilever Case Study Review

This report provides a comprehensive review and critique of Unilever's operations management, examining the implementation of key principles within the organization. It begins with an introduction to Unilever, highlighting its global presence and diverse product range. The report differentiates between operation and operations management, emphasizing the importance of the latter in administering and controlling organizational functions. It analyzes how Unilever's operations management meets organizational requirements, focusing on quality product, strategic planning, and customer satisfaction. The discussion extends to continuous improvement as a philosophy, detailing Lean principles such as defined value, value stream mapping, flow creation, and pull establishment, as well as the effectiveness of Six Sigma. The report concludes with justified recommendations for improvement, based on the review and critique of operations management principles within Unilever, aiming to enhance productivity, profitability, and brand image.

ID
Unit Number and Title Unit 187 –
Operations and
Project Management
Project Title Review and Critique
of Operations
Management (Part
Statement of
Authenticity:
I certify that the work
submitted for this unit
is my own and the
research sources are
fully acknowledged.
Table of Content
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Part 1: Business Report
1. An introduction to chosen organization p
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management p
3. A review and critique of the implementation of operations
management principleswithin the chosen organization p
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations management of
the organisation inthe case study meets the requirements of the
organization p
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy and
describe the Leanprinciples p
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your
justifiedrecommendations forimprovement, based on your review
and critique of operations managementprinciples within your
organization p
7. Conclusion p
References p
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1. An introduction to chosen organization
Project management and operation helps business organization in a very
effective manner by which business can be enhanced and raise their brand around
the world. Operation management is most essential part which control all the
function and operation of the business environment. Project management focuses
on innovating the new product and service with in the business environment which
can expand value of the firm and enhance the productivity of an organization. It is
most essential to developed an effective and efficient plan which can help in
operating the business in an effective manner (Visser, 2020). Operation and project
management helps in providing the effective pathway to utilize the resources in an
appropriate way by which organization imposed policies and strategies within the
business environment. The chosen organisation is Unilever, which is a multinational
company of the British country with headquarter in London. Unilever was found on 2
september1929, and it provides many goods which includes food, beauty product,
cleaning products, and personal care. It is the largest producer of soap all around the
world and their product available across the 190 countries. This report include
variation in project management and operation, different theories and models
adopted by organisation. Lastly, it also includes the project life cycle phase and
strategies to run the project.
P1
P1 Conduct a review and critique of the
implementation of operations management
principles within an organisational context.
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management
Operation is the function of the business which include their
production and manufacturing. Operation is the daily activity of the
business and it is an balanced output from different input. Operation
helps business in achieving the success and enhancing the potential
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growth of the organization. Operation and project management helps in
implementing the resources in effective manner. Proper operation and
management system helps in promoting the business at international
level and provide unique product and services to the customers.
Operation management focus on administering and control the function
of the organization (Kuznetsov, Tsyrkov and Tsyrkov, 2020). Unilever analysis
the needs and requirements of the customers and manufacture the
product as per the demand of the customers. Difference between the
operation and operation management are given below:-
Operations Operation management
Operation is the process of conducting
daily activity of the business environment
which includes the sale, developed of the
product, analysing global trend and
customer demand.
Unilever's operation system is more
successful in enhancing their potential
growth and delivering the product
according to the need of customers. They
focus on expanding their sell across the
country by delivering the finished product
among the customers.
Operation management helps in
controlling the function of the
organization which includes maintaining
the daily activity of the organization.
Operation management helps in
utilizing the resource in effective
manner.
Unilever has effective operation
management system which can helps in
innovating the new product and bring
changes in the organization.
3. A review and critique of the implementation of
operations management principles within the chosen
organization
Project management and operation is most essential part of the
business because it can helps in driving the business in effective
manner. This factor can helps in providing an appropriate strategies
which can help in implementing the resources in right direction. Effective
operation system enhance the productivity and profitability of the
organization. Unilever is the largest organisation which have effective
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and developed project management system which can deliver the best
quality product as per the demand of the customers. Unilever's makes a
strategic plan which helps in maintaining the operation system smoothly.
It provides high quality service and product to the customers at
affordable rate by which organisation ( Lee, 2018). Unilever's developed
the strategic plan which can helps in driving their organization at right
direction and management team focuses on inventing the new product
by which customer experience increases that can lead to increases the
potential growth of the business environment. All the activities of the
business is manged by the project management team by adopting and
implementing different tools and techniques. Unilever organization
focuses on manufacturing the product with high quality and have unique
product from the other countries. The project and operation management
team is more focused on establishing new product as customers
demand as healthy and hygienic product (Liu and et. al., 2019).
There are some principles of operation management which includes:-
 Reality:- This is the most essential principals of the operation
management, in this principle the management team of the
Unilever focuses on analyzing the issues and problems generated
within the organization and give effective solution. It can focus on
evaluating the problems and delivery the best quality product to
the customers that can reduce the risk of disruption.
 Organization:- According to the operation management principle it
is described that organization action and activities is depend on
each other and interrelated with each other. Unilever developed
the strategic plan which can helps employees to set goals and
achieve more success which can enhance the productivity of an
organization.
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 Modification:- Every organization focus on bring innovation within
the organization that may lead to enhance the potential growth of
the business. Unilever manufacture the different healthy product
and make changes with their organization that may helps in
expanding their business and increases the sale by attracting more
customers (Roels and Staats, 2021).
 Quality control:- It is an important principle of operation
management which can helps in producing the healthy and high
standard product. This principle increases the sale and achieve the
targeted goals. Unilever focused on producing the high standard
product which can increases the customers experience.
 Accountability:- It is the principle of quality standard which can
helps in achieving the targeted goals. Management team of the
Unilever focused on the operation system as it manufacture the
products according to the set standards and criteria.
 Success:- This is one of the crucial principle of the operation
principle which focuses on achieving the targeted goals and
objective. Unilever provide the best quality product to the
customer and increases their brand image across the marketplace
and other countries at affordable price.
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations
management of the organisation in the case study meets
the requirements of the organization
Operation management helps in managing the action and activity
of the organization. This principle helps in gaining more profit and
promote an organization at success level. Management team and
manager of the Unilever company focuses on developing the strategic
and effective decision by which employee of their organization focus on
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achieving their targeted goals and objectives. They gain the good market
value of their product and analyse the customers needs and requirement
on which they manufacture the product. Before innovating new products
they ensure about the needs and global trend of the market because it
an enhance the productivity and profitability of the organization. There
are many ways in which operation management assist the needs of the
customers. Quality product is one of the most essential principle of the
operation management on which they are focus and customers demand
as they required the healthy and high standard quality food.
Organization focuses on manufacturing the high quality standard product
(SANTARELLO, 2021).
Unilever organization offer its product at reasonable rate by I
which more customers get attract band increases their sale. Unilever
imposing various tools and techniques which can helps in promoting
their organization across the world. Unilever provide the effective training
to the employee by which they can work in effective manner and
achieve more success. Various principle of operation management helps
in developing the effective strategic plan that can lead to manufacture
the product as per the demand of the customers and market trends (Abou
Kasm, 2020). They focus on satisfying customers by providing the high
quality standard product.
M1
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy
and describe the Lean principles including Six Sigma
Continuous improvement is the process of developing and
implementing the plan by which employee of an organization work in an
effective manner. Continuous improvement helps in making quality
product. The company can adopt this process to enhance their
productivity and profitability of an organization. Organization can achieve
targeted goals and objective by providing the best quality product and
services to the customers. Providing high quality product increases more
customers and can achieve growth and success as well as drive the
organization at international level.
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Lean principles:-
Lean principle has aim to provide the quality product and perfect product
value to the customers that will reduce the resources from the waste.
Lean principle is most effective and applied in the manufacturing
organization and as the service sector. Lean principle has five factors
which includes:-
Defined value:- In this principle, it helps in understanding the customer
value and organisation adopted this principle to analyses the need and
requirements of the customer. Organization focus on satisfying
customers and continuous innovating in a cost effective price. Unilever's
company provide product at affordable rate which can attract more
customers and satisfy them by providing the high quality product (Lewis,
2019) .
Map the value stream:- It is the second principle of the lean principle, it
focuses on analyzing the operation management system which includes
quality, price and feature of the product. These factors helps in
enhancing the customers experiences and loyalty which can promote the
brand identity across the marketplace.
Create flow:- this principle provide an strategic and effective way of
utilizing the resources in appropriate manner which give more profit to
the customers. Unilever organization provide effective training to the
employees which can helps in promoting the business and achieve the
targeted mission.
Establish pull:- This principle helps an organization to focus on the
inventory management because it is most important for the business to
use resources in a proper manner. It focus on maintaining the wastage
and overlapped which can helps maintaining the efficiency in the
organization.
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Six sigma and its effectiveness:-
six sigma is most important tool and technique which can helps in
enhancing the overall productivity and profitability of an organization.
This effective tool is essential for every business organization which can
help business to analyses the need and requirement of the market trend
and help in improving the capabilities of the business. Unilever acquired
this tool to achieve success and gain more profit. There are sex
elements of the six sigma principle which includes:-
Define:- It is most essential for an organization to set definite goals and
objectives which helps in achieving the targeted goals. Unilever
organization set goals and objective which can helps employee to
achieve their targeted goals.
Measure:- This element helps in analyzing the product quality which
lead to provide the high quality standard top the customers. Unilever
adopted this element to determine their product quality (Beck and Campbell,
2019).
Analyze:- this elements helps in identifying the causes generated with in
the operation system. Unilever organization detect the cause of any
defects with in the manufacturing system.
Improve:- This elements help organization to eliminate the defects and
improve the process. Unilever applied continuous improvement process
which can make the product with high quality standard and remove the
defects and causes.
Control:- This element helps in controlling the process which can make
an manage the future performance of the business environment.
Unilever control and measure the process which can reduce the risk of
defect and improve the performance of the process.
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6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified
recommendations for improvement, based on your review
and critique of operations management principles within
your organization
Continuous improvement is the process of analyzing the defect and cause with in the
production and manufacturing process his process helps in bringing improvement and. T
alteration with the production process and reduce the problems and issues arise within the
organization nilever company have some factors which can have some approaches which. U
includes:-
lan developmentP : for every organization it is most important to develop a strategic plan- ,
with purpose to set goals and objective of an organization ff ective plan helps in analyzing the. E
customers needs and requirement and as per their demand organization manufacture the
product nilever has strategic plan which can helps in achieving the success and design. U
product according to the need of the customers (Pinninti and Bhanuprakash, 2021).
Do developing strategic can be implemented with in the organization which can bring:-
modification and innovation with the product and services his approach is more effective to. T
increases the efficiency of the organization.
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Check t is most important for the business to analyse and monitor the product quality:- I
standard which is most essential for the customers nilever company focus on monitor on. U
regular basis which can reduces the errors within the product and operation system .
Action:- it is one most important important factor for an organization to develop the changes
and appropriate action towards the organization to make good product value across the
marketplace and the customers.
Continuous improvement plan play an essential role within the organization because it can helps
in reducing the errors and and effects occurs within the organization his process helps in. T
eliminating the waste from the organization and utilize the resources in an effective manner which
can helps in deriving the organization at profit level and enhance the productivity of the
business organization (Daskin, 2021). t is important to focus on the changes andI
improvement process because it can make the good product value across the countries and
at marketplace nilever organization focuses on innovation which can helps in participating in. U
the competitive market nilever follow some procedure to take more advantage of the. U
competition with other brand which includes:-
 he nilever company focus on bring innovation with their organization which canT U
e pand the brand identity among the customersx .
 rganization developed the strategic and effective plan which helps employees toO
achieve more success.
 nilever organization adopted various tools and techniques which can maintain theU
quality standard of the product.
Conclusion
From the above conclusion , it is concluded that the operation and project
management which can helps business to establish market in the long term in
market. The organization make more profit and increases the productivity and
profitably of an organization. Organization uses various tool and techniques to assist
the business firm in direction direction. These tools and techniques helps in a
analyzing the needs and requirements of the customers and they provide the product
as per the needs and demand of the customer. Unilever organization adopted lean
principles and six sigma which can enhance the overall performance of the business
organization. Continuous improvement process helps in eliminating the waste and
defects within the operation system and organization. These process helps in
promoting the business at success level and increases the efficiency of the
organization.
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References
Abou Kasm, O., 2020. Mathematical Programming for Port Quayside Operations
Management (Doctoral dissertation, New York University Tandon School of
Engineering).
Beck, D.A. and Campbell, A., 2019, June. Operations management in seismically active
mines. In 53rd US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. OnePetro.
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Daskin, M.S., 2021. Introduction to Operations Management. In Bite-Sized Operations
Management (pp. 1-6). Springer, Cham.
Kuznetsov, P.M., Tsyrkov, G.A. and Tsyrkov, A.V., 2020, September. Purposeful Project
and Operations Management Environment for the Small-scale Production. In 2020
International Conference Quality Management, Transport and Information Security,
Information Technologies (IT&QM&IS)(pp. 253-256). IEEE.
Lee, C.K.H., 2018. A review of applications of genetic algorithms in operations
management. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 76, pp.1-12.
Lewis, M.A., 2019. Operations management: A research overview.
Liu, P., Lin, B., Wu, X. and Zhou, H., 2019. Bridging energy performance gaps of green
office buildings via more targeted operations management: A system dynamics
approach. Journal of environmental management, 238, pp.64-71.
Pinninti, V.R.R. and Bhanuprakash, T.V.K., 2021. Contract Management for Outsourced
Operations. IUP Journal of Operations Management, 20(3).
Roels, G. and Staats, B.R., 2021. Introduction to the Manufacturing & Service Operations
Management Special Issue on People-Centric Operations. Manufacturing & Service
Operations Management, 23(4), pp.758-760.
SANTARELLO, M., 2021. Logiche e strumenti di Healthcare Operations Management in
sanità: il caso dell'Accettazione della Preospedalizzazione centralizzata AOUP.
Visser, W.F., 2020. A Blueprint for Performance-Driven Operations Management. Mining,
Metallurgy & Exploration, 37(3), pp.823-831.
Table of Content
Part 2: Project Portfolio
Project Title p
An overview of the case study you have been given p
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An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to your
selected project, including supporting documentation for each
stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-benefit analysis
and work breakdown structure):
 Project initiation p
 Project planning p
 Project execution p
 Project closure p
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used p
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC in
application to your project using the appropriate theories models
and concepts p
Project Title
 Decrease the number of absence of staff and assist them to lead a healthy life
style.
 To decrease the congestion issue so that there is reduction in the staff
movement during rest hours.
An overview of the case study you have been given
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Project life cycle is a type of framework which helps project manager to developed
the strategic plan to conduct the project starting and ending point. Project have the
limited deadline and it is important to complete the task on given time so manger of
the organization attain some goals and objective with the given specific time. Project
manager should focus on the planning and implementation which helps in achieving
the success and gain more profit from an organization. Cromwell is the effective tool
of the organization which can have approximately 1250 employees. The main focus
of the project is to decreases the number of absence of the staff and their moment
during the break. The management team of an organization helps to provide healthy
and developing CSR activity (Gökalp and Martinez, 2021). This can give negative
impact on the organization and their performance that can lead to decrease the
productivity of an organization. The company make effective an strategic plan which
can lead to enhance the overall performance of an organisation. Every business
provide the different facility to the employee so that they can work in an effective
manner achieve more success and they can lead to make their healthy life style.
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to
your selected project, including supporting documentation
for each stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-
benefit analysis and work breakdown structure):
Project life cycle
It is the process which can have different phases that can lead to provide
encouragement to the business organization to complete the project at give task.
Each organization have different project task and have various ways to
complete the task. Organization set the goals and objective to start and end the
project according to the specific given time (Thomas and et. al., 2019). This life
cycle provide support to an organization to furnish the action plan and helps in
developing strategic planning, implementing, initiation and execution. Project
life cycle has four phases which includes:-
 Project initiation
It is the first stage of the project life cycle this step helps in achieving the
vision of the project. Initiate the plan which helps in evaluating the needs
and requirements of the growth. Developing effective plan may helps
employees to coordinate with each other and implement the policies
within the organisation. Cromwell have different tools which should
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provide the every facilities to the employee which can lead to promote
the organization at good level (Chen, 2020).
 Project planning
It is most important phase of the project life cycle which helps in developing effective
planning. In this stage organization make framework by which business can run
smoothly. Planning includes the risk, opportunities and budget required to promote
the business at success level. Company invest highest revenue in employee healthy
lifestyle and also provide various facilities which can secure the employee (Zuhaira
and Ahmad, 2020). Lean principles and six sigma helps business organization to
enhance their productivity and profitability. Planning is developing according to the
project timeline, cost and employee.
Project execution
After developing the plan it is important to implement within the
organization. Organization executed the plan by analyzing and
eliminating the all risk factors which can reduce the negative effect form
the organization. Organization provide all facilities to the employee so
that they can stay and focus on achieving their targeted goals.
Management team is responsible to monitor all activities that can lead
to decrease the risk and manage the product quality standard (Hedberg
and et. al., 2022).
Project closure
It is the final stage of the project life cycle, in this phase management team and
manger of the organization focus on analysing the profit and loss generated within
the business. Every organization develops closing report which can evaluating the
profit and loss of the organisation. With the help aim and objective Cromwell
organization acquires the positive outcomes by satisfying every employee near the
project closing task (Rigby and et. al., 2019). With the help of this step employee
focuses on increasing their capabilities and make positive improvement in future
project task.
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Building a case
Executive summary he e ecutive summary of an organization focus on developing CSRT x
practices which can helps in providing healthy lifestyle to the
employee his project takes into consideration to achieve objective. T
goals which can helps in promoting the business and reduce the risk
and issues within the organization.
Vision rganization have vision to develop a project model which considerO
the different facilities for the staff members ith the vision plan. W
organization reduces the negative impact and providing employee
satisfaction with their well being is the main vision of the project .
Mission rganisation have the mission to achieve the success and targetedO
goals rganization develops the CSR strategy plan which can reduce. O
the risk factor and does not harm the society he mission of the. T
project is to focus on running their organization in effective manner.
bjectivesO he main objective of the project is to reduce the movement of staffT
absenteeism t can helps in providing the proper facilities to the. I
employee by implementing the CSR activity.
Strategies very organization focus on adopting the various strategies which canE
help in achieving the goals and objective rganization provide the. O
better and healthy food to the employee.
nnovationI rganisation generated various unique thoughts and ideas whichO
can bring some innovation within the organization rganisation. O
provide different items to their employee so they get more satisfied
with the organization policies.
pportunityO n conte t to the Cromwell company they have acquired differentI x ,
new technology which is an opportunity for the employee and
organization to connected and making relation with other.
mprovementI t is most essential for an organization to analyse the feedback fromI
the employee and other staff members so that organization can
improve their action and provide high quality food to the people .
Resources rganization have different resources which can helps in implementingO
the project plan According to this project it requires some basic. ,
item which can improves the food quality.
Work break down structure
Work break down structure is the process of separation the work as per the
requirement of the project and the specific time given. This is an essential framework which
17

can helps in achieving the targeted goals and objective of the project. In completing the
project task it requires appropriate guidance and leadership (Azouz and Lefdaoui, 2018).
Various organization adopted this structure which can helps employee and staff members to
reduce the risk and issues and they can achieve their goals in productive manner. This
structure assist the employee to complete the task in specific time.
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used
For evaluating and identifying the aim, objective and goals of the project ,
project life cycle helps and provide the way to achieve the success. It can helps
employee to work in an effective manner so that project can run in smooth manner.
Project life cycle is the tool to generate their own thoughts and values which an
exclude the hazard from the organization. Every organization have manger which
are responsible to lead the organization in an effective manner. Cromwell company
required the manger which can identify the needs and requirement of the project.
They can control the action of the employee and imposed various technology which
give more profit to the business (Bekkerman and et. al., 2019).
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC
in application to your project using the appropriate
theories models and concepts
The most essential model is project life cycle which can helps in developing
strategic planning, implementation and closure of the project. This process helps in
setting the goals and developing the own values and thoughts to complete the
project task. It is an effective way to analyzing the risk factors and errors generated
within the project procedure (Setti and et. al., 2021). Organization have aim to achieve
the success and decreases the issues by providing the effective solution to the
employees as well as giving healthy food to the employees. Organization adopted
the six sigma principle which helps organization to success more success.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it is concluded that the operation and project management
t helps in developing strategic plan to achieve the success and targeted task. With the help of
lean principle and six sigma organization achieve more success and develops the continual
plan. Project life cycle is more essential for the organization to assist the project and helps in
completing the task with the specific project timeline.
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References
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mapping study. In 2018 6th International Conference on Multimedia Computing and
Systems (ICMCS) (pp. 1-9). IEEE.
Bekkerman, A., Belasco, E.J. and Smith, V.H., 2019. Does farm size matter? Distribution of
crop insurance subsidies and government program payments across US
farms. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 41(3), pp.498-518.
Chen, L., 2020. A historical review of professional learning communities in China (1949-
2019): some implications for collaborative teacher professional development. Asia
Pacific journal of education, 40(3), pp.373-385.
Gökalp, E. and Martinez, V., 2021. Digital transformation capability maturity model enabling
the assessment of industrial manufacturers. Computers in Industry, 132, p.103522.
Hedberg Jr, T.D., Sharp, M.E., Maw, T.M.M., Helu, M.M., Rahman, M.M., Jadhav, S.,
Whicker, J.J. and Barnard Feeney, A., 2022. Defining requirements for integrating
19

information between design, manufacturing, and inspection. International Journal of
Production Research, 60(11), pp.3339-3359.
Rigby, J., Walsh, E.D., Boten, S., Deno, A., Harrison, M.S., Merrell, R., Pritchett, S. and
Seaman, S., 2019. A view from the field: the process of improving equitable systems
leadership. Journal of Educational Administration.
Setti, P.H.P., Canciglieri Junior, O. and Estorilio, C.C.A., 2021. DFA concepts in a
concurrent engineering environment: A white goods case. Concurrent
Engineering, 29(2), pp.169-182.
Thomas, M.A., Cipolla, J., Lambert, B. and Carter, L., 2019. Data management maturity
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p.101401.
Zuhaira, B. and Ahmad, N., 2020. Business process modeling, implementation, analysis, and
management: the case of business process management tools. Business Process
Management Journal.
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