Operations Management Report: Supply Chain and Process Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of operations management, focusing on the strategies and practices of Unilever Plc. It begins with an overview of supply chain strategy, outlining its key components such as multi-year roadmaps, customer need identification, internal assessments, technological advancements, competitor tracking, and the consideration of mega trends. The report then delves into the criteria used for vendor selection, emphasizing process and design capabilities, quality and reliability, cost considerations, service quality, capacity, location, financial stability, planning and control systems, and environmental compliance. Furthermore, it explores supply chain risk management, detailing techniques to mitigate risks, including innovation, redundancy, strategic needs, and financial visibility. The report also covers process improvement, constructing a baseline time function map for a process within the organization and offering recommendations for enhancement. Finally, it examines quality management practices, including how quality is measured and the application of benchmarking techniques. The report provides a detailed overview of Unilever's operational strategies, offering insights into supply chain management, vendor selection, process improvement, and quality control.

Operations Management

Table of Contents
PART-1............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Overview of the supply chain strategy .................................................................................1
1.2 What criteria is used to select vendors for your organisation...............................................2
1.3 Manage supply chain ............................................................................................................4
2. Process Improvement...................................................................................................................5
2.1 Construct a Baseline Time Function map for any process within the organisation..............5
2.2 Recommendations on how (based on the time function map) would improve....................7
3. Quality Management....................................................................................................................8
3.1 Give an overview of how quality is measured in the organisation.......................................8
3.2 Identify the different types of benchmarking and conduct a benchmarking exercise...........9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
PART- 2.........................................................................................................................................12
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................12
TASK.............................................................................................................................................12
2.1 Development of project scope statement............................................................................12
2.2 Construction of work breakdown structure.........................................................................16
2.3 Identification of critical path...............................................................................................18
Critical Path...............................................................................................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

PART-1
INTRODUCTION
Operations management is important concept which includes the activities related to
designing and controlling the process of production for accomplishment of targets. It helps in
redesigning of business operations according to their needs and requirement and implement the
changes to maximise their efficiency (Slack, 2015). This will provides the opportunity to the
management of organisation to optimally utilise their given resources and meet out the different
requirements of customer. Through this large number of advantages are gathered by organisation
like competitive advantage, high market share, build good brand image, effective management of
different organisational functions etc. Ultimately, it contributes in development of of
productivity and profitability of organisation. Unilever Plc. Is multinational organisation which
provides different types of products.
In the present report explain about, overview of the supply chain strategy, selection of the
criteria which is used regarding selection of vendors, process of risk management in supply
chain, construction of Baseline Time Function Map and recommendations which contributes in
improvement of the process. Also, analysis of the measures which helps in measurement of
quality and different types of benchmarking.
1.1 Overview of the supply chain strategy
Supply chain strategy: It is one of the important strategy which helps the organisation to
build their distribution process of end products more profound which timely satisfies the
different requirements of customers (Singhal and Singha, 2012). This strategy includes three
different levels which are named as operational, tactical and strategic planning.
The major components of supply chain strategy are defined below:
 Multi-year Roadmap: This includes about formulation of plan which is need to
implement in real scenario which provides the opportunity regarding achievement of their
long term goals for attaining business results. This process helps to bring changes in their
strategy according to past year performances and making the structure of organisation
more strong.
 Identification of customer needs: For formulation of effective supply chain strategy
need to identify different demands of customers. Under this, need to give more emphasis
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on the future needs also. It helps in identification of issues which have impact upon the
demand and supply and future business operations.
 Internal assessment: In this regard, organisation is need to do SWOT analysis which
helps to identify their strengths and weaknesses (Salmon and et. al., 2011). It helps to
effectively use their strengths regarding achievement of their supply chain goals. It also
provides the opportunity to remove their weaknesses to make business processes more
strong.
 Think about evolving technology: There is huge contribution of innovative technology
to make the business activities more better. It helps to effectively reach out towards their
potential customers.
 Tracking of domestic and foreign competitors: It helps to ascertain their current
position in market (Qingfeng and et. al., 2011). Through such analysis, they can easily
identify the different products and services which are provided by competitors and
identification of the needs of potential customers. It helps in attraction of the competitors
also.
 Consider mega trends: To make their supply chain strategy more profound need to
consider the current trends in technology which in overall development of organisation.
 It must be accepted across the company: To attain the large number of benefits of
supply chain strategy need to adopt by all functional areas of organisation. It provides the
opportunity to align the interest of employees with organisation in accomplishment of
desired objectives.
Effective establishment of the principles of this strategy helps to bring awareness among
among the individuals of society about their products and services and satisfaction of the
different needs of customers. The overall impact is assessed on profitability and market share.
1.2 What criteria is used to select vendors for your organisation
Every business have their own criteria to select their vendors so that they used to deliver
effective and appropriate quality products to all their users. It is really essential to understand
such aspect in better and supportive manner by each and every organisation through which they
could maintain and manage their working as well as their customer base could be enhance.
Unilever PLC used to deal in various kinds of products and services and thus, they have a
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definite procedure which could be adopted by management of a company in order to sale down
their products: Process and design abilities: A customer want effective and high standard products and
services which could not get done through adopting appropriate process and design
(Pham and et. al., 2010). A supplier need to recognise and opt such techniques and tools
which facilitate them in fulfil requirement of a retailer. Thus, they also need to focus on
developing new product with appropriate and suitable design. Quality and reliability: Another attribute which used to fulfil by the vendors of Unilever
is quality and reliability of products and services. All goods used to up to date and have a
proper standard on which management requires them. Thus, a better quality and reliable
products facilitate high growth and profit to an association. Cost: Unilever not only consider the selling value of their products and services but also
includes all essential aspects with it. Thus, a vendor needs to be lower down their cost of
delivery of goods where as they used to produce high quality products and services in
loss terminology attribute. This will assist the Unilever to select one of a best vendor
whom used to deliver effective and high standard products and services. Services: Suppliers also required to manage their better and effective services where they
need to deliver products on time as well as at the time of warranty they have to respond
quickly (Peng and La, 2012). Capacity: Unilever suppliers have one more criteria where they used to have such ability
to met orders properly. This define their ability to deliver products and services on time
or not through which a better relationship could be framed. Location: Suppliers need to be align at near places just because far vendors take more
time to deliver goods on time. Thus, Unilever suppliers need to establish their stores near
to the stores of Unilever so that whenever products required they used to place it on time. Financial condition: Unilever evaluators assess that their suppliers have potential to
invest in resources better or not. If they found that such suppliers not investing in the
products and resources appropriately then they used to not consider such vendors. Hence,
suppliers also need to fulfil this criteria properly. Planning and control system: This facilitate and align with managing goods properly and
manufacture only at such moment when highly required. Unilever need to place orders
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properly so that vendors could produce such quantity and quality which define their
better planning and control system as well.
 Environment regulation compliances: Customers preference also based on environment
protection where they used to consume such products and services which do not harm the
environment. Thus, vendors of Unilever need to recognise all environment related
compliances and used to determine that their machines and things will not harm
environment.
All these criteria need to fulfil by the vendors of Unilever PLC properly and in better
frame as well. This will assist them in providing better outcome as well as long term relationship
could also be maintain and manage. Henceforth, in results terms it will be define in financial
reports of Unilever. Thus, suitable and better outcome could be drawn in such considerable
aspect.
1.3 Manage supply chain
Supply chain risk management is an execution of the strategies in order to manage
exceptional risks along with supply chain which depends on the risk assessment with an
objective of minimising vulnerability as well as assuring continuity (Niknam, Meymand and
Nayeripour, 2010). Supply chain includes various activities which transforms the natural
reforms, components and also raw materials in to finished goods which is delivered to end
consumer. If risk will be involves in the supply chain then in this case its outcomes will be
minimising revenue, inflated costs, reduced market share and also damaged the reputation of
business as well as confidence of consumers. Risk is always an important part of supply chain. In
context to this, when a single business fails with supply chain to deliver its goods or services to
other business in that chain then whole supply chain can disrupted. Before managing risk, it is
necessary to Unilever firm to determine them by using different techniques in an effective as
well as better manner (Moutinho, 2011).
If manager will manage the supply chain in a systematic manner then in this case it will
be managed in a proper manner and under this risk will be not be involved. There are some of the
effective techniques are given below which will be helpful in managing risk in supply chain:
 Innovation, creativity and also effectiveness in a contracting management.
 Provide redundancy as well as optimization in supply chain.
 Strategic needs for the liability limitations, insurance of supplier and indemnification.
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 Effective determination in the operational supplier of the assessment reviews.
 Financial visibility and stability of supplier.
These are necessary techniques which are helpful in managing risk in a better manner. In
addition to this, there are many supply chain areas which are concern to risk that need to be
determine by staff members for managing risk and in this includes economic, competitive,
logistic, cultural, infrastructural concerns and political.
2. Process Improvement
Process improvement define as such consideration which facilitate and enable in
analysing existing and current process of a company for optimisation so that a new standard
could be maintain with high high quality (Li, Arvey and Song, 2011). There are various kinds of
process improvement methods could be opt by an organisation which includes Six Sigma, TQM,
Just In time Etc. All these are beneficial for an association through which their process could be
improved in better and signified manner. Henceforth, they become able to compete at market
world in better and definite course of frame. Unilever want to maximise efficiency of operation
management so that they could gain and define better outcome in nature. Thus, for such aspect
certain requirement need to evaluate by managers of a company.
2.1 Construct a Baseline Time Function map for any process within the organisation
Time is an essential concept in every business or in a process through which better and
effective outcome could be gain. For every organisation, they need to manage their time better
and in appropriate manner as well (Lewis and Brown, 2012). Thus, within such time duration
they have to accomplish and fulfil all desire work and targets in supportive manner.
Time function map is really important in a retail sector enterprises which enable and
facilitate to deliver proper quality products and services to target individuals. For this relation,
most number of organisations could use time function mapping which is a kind of flow diagram
which used to added time on horizontal axis. Every retail sector required to adopt this
methodology so that they could gain and determine the better and effective outcome. Below is a
time baseline function map for the Unilever which have to determine by managers of a company
better so that effective outcome could be drawn:
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On the basis of this provided diagram of Unilever define the time duration which enable
business to used to deliver their product and services. Here, there are certain number of activities
got divided which need to interpret by managers of an association properly so that effective and
better outcome could be drawn (Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra, 2013). Like on day first,
Unilever receive an order which direct move to transport activity and move to some other
consideration. At level by level, activities used to take place like Warehouse etc. Then good used
to design better and appropriate as per the nature and requirement of client. This will enable
Unilever to gain competitive advantage by completing the wants and demands of all associated
users. Thus, management could made them differ from others only through this source of
working.
There are many competitors could estimated in retail business Waitrose, TESCO etc.
which used to follow and have their own time mapping (Karangelos, Panciatici and Wehenkel,
2013). Thus, management need to understand their attribute and then implement it in their
working so that appropriate outcome could be maintain and manage.
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2.2 Recommendations on how (based on the time function map) would improve
Time function map define about the duration which used to take by an organisation in
order to complete their manufacturing and distribution process. It is really important and
essential for an organisation to determine such aspect in better and signified manner so that they
could used to gain better and supportive outcome in nature. Whenever a business used to
implement this technique in their working they have a clear focus on perform better and
supportive thing and result in frame of reference (Huang, Lu and Duan, 2012).
Unilever PLC is one of a largest retail organisation in UK whom used to deal in each and
every kind of products and services. Hence, management need to understand and determine some
number of aspects which facilitate in appropriate and supportive working. Thus, managers of a
company required to evaluate it and assess it on regular and timely basis. Thus, if managers
found any kind of deviation in such time function mapping then appropriate steps used to carried
down for improving them. Following are certain number of steps and consideration which have
to opt by Unilever PLC for improving and managing work as define follow:
 Firstly they need to work more on determining needs and wants of their clients. This is a
first suggestion for an organisation as it only take one day for analysing their demands.
But wants are ever-changing which used to get modify with every course of time. Hence,
management need to take appropriate and suitable time for evaluating the needs and
wants of their clients so that effective and better gain could be estimated.
 Another suggestion related with suppliers of a company where they have to evaluate
each one of them on the basis of their financial condition. This criteria need to fulfil by
vendors where management used to choose only such individual which could invest
better and appropriate in resources. For this supplier evaluation scorecard approach
required to utilise in better and supportive manner.
These are certain number of things which have to follow and determine by the Unilever
PLC in their working so that they could improve their time base line function mapping and all
related aspects could be allocate in better and determine manner (Holmström, Främling and Ala-
Risku, 2010). This will result in terms of more profit and supportive outcome so that a
competitive edge could be maintain and manage at keen determined environment. This will
result in better and high productivity as well as more number of customers would get attracted.
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3. Quality Management
A business could able to get sustain at market world by managing and maintaining
quality. Quality need to manage in products and services which define that assurance is
consistent in nature of frame. Thus, for an organisation it is really essential to maintain and
manage appropriate quality standard so that beneficial outcome could be drawn.
Unilever PLC is one of a famous retail sector enterprise in UK where they provide each
and every kind of luxury and non luxury products and services. They have contact with better
and supportive suppliers which provide effective standard of products which used to please their
clients in an effective manner or frame. Hence, management need to focus on their quality
management for gaining and deriving better results in future course of frame. This will assist
them in gain and define better and supportive outcome in nature. Although, management of
Unilever need to focus on certain more number of aspects which enable them in gain and
facilitate profitability in future. Thus, a better and appropriate quality standard used to attract
vast number of customers through which effective and suitable gain could be response in
defining the supportive results.
3.1 Give an overview of how quality is measured in the organisation
Quality measurement is an essential concept for a business and an entity where they
could maintain and determine the standard of goods and services provided by them. It is really
important to measure the quality standard properly so that beneficial outcome could be
anticipated. Unilever PLC used to derive certain number of tools and techniques which enable
them in measuring quality standard of their products and services. The certain number of tools
which could be utilise by Unilever PLC in order to measure the quality standard of their services
are define as follow: Cause and effect diagram: This measurement tool define many determine problems and
their cause in better and signified manner. Once the cause get evaluated then appropriate
idea required to carried down for sorting such problem. Unilever PLC need to adopt this
technique in their working while managing quality so that suitable and beneficial gain
could be optimise so that effectiveness and efficiency in working could be maintain and
manage. Check Sheet: This tool basically enable in collecting and gathering of information and
used to enlist it properly. It is a generic tool for wide variety of purpose through which
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managers could maintain and manage their regular quality assurance which further
facilitate in defining the suitable and beneficial gain in response. Unilever PLC managers
could regularly work on this attribute so that they could maintain and manage beneficial
gain.
 Control charts: In this consideration various graphs and charts could be utilise which
enable and facilitate about change in process. This will enable in analysing that how
much changes and modifications used to take place in quality through measuring it in
better and supportive manner. Unilever PLC could go wit this technique of measurement
so that they could become able to signify their consideration on charts and define it to
suppliers for improving their operations.
All these are certain number of aspects which used by Unilever PLC in their operations
so that they could gain better and supportive outcome in nature of frame. Like they already
implement about the cause and effect measurement of quality where they could become able to
determine deviations properly and then implement such approaches which facilitate them in
supportive working.
Although, they also could go with six sigma, TQM, benchmarking consideration which
facilitate and enable them in gain and determine effective and beneficial outcome. Benchmarking
is a process through which a appropriate standard could be crafted so that beneficial outcome
could be assess and determine in a beneficial manner. This aspect will enable Unilever to hold
and manage their products and services in better and define manner so that appropriate and
suitable outcome could be drawn. This will enable them in enhancing their profit and maximise
their standard of working as well. Henceforth, it is a major responsibility of managers to
formulate effective and beneficial outcome in frame. Benchmark enable Unilever PLC to get the
things done in better and supportive manner which facilitate and support in design the profitable
outcome in near future course of time as well as in current standard.
3.2 Identify the different types of benchmarking and conduct a benchmarking exercise
Benchmark is a standard or point of reference which enable and facilitate to compare
various considerations at once. Benchmark enable and support in defining the things in better
and effective manner so that beneficial things could be done as well as appropriate quality could
be assure and manage. There are various kinds of benchmarking could be determine for Unilever
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PLC which have to access and understand by managers of a company properly so that beneficial
and effective outcome could be drawn in long period of course: Internal benchmarking: It define and appropriate for an association where within an
organisation comparison where teams, individuals and their performance could be
estimated. This comparison enable them in enhance their working and ability to perform
task in better and signified manner. Thus, such kind of benchmarking is supportive for
managing and enhancing quality performance through various motivational aspects and
attribute. This will assist in design better and supportive outcome in nature. Unilever PLC
could go with this exercise where internal benchmarking used to take place. Here, whole
association used to facilitate their work properly and teams used to engage with each
other. This will enable them in define better and supportive outcome in nature of frame.
 External benchmarking: This kind of benchmarking is for whole industry where a
business used to compare them with some other peers and industries of similar nature.
This differentiation standard enable and motivate a firm to encourage and enhance their
profitability by effective quality management. Henceforth, effective and beneficial
outcome could suppose to be drawn which define supportive nature of results in frame. A
industry used to compare their working with some other firms so that their working ration
could be estimated as well as definite outcome and results get evaluated. Henceforth,
management could become able to improve their working operations so that appropriate
outcome could be estimated in long period of course.
On the basis of these two aspects and kinds of benchmarking standard, Unilever PLC
could go with both of these techniques. They could motivate their individuals and an average
employee performance by align them into a team and set a standard of working for them. This
will results in beneficial and effective outcome in nature through which signified out-frame
could be estimated. Along with this, external benchmarking enable and support management to
compare themselves with other industries. This will facilitate them in working towards
appropriate and suitable direction in nature. This will assist them in providing beneficial
outcome in nature so that effective enhancement of profit could be done.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that operation management is important
aspect which helps in overall development of organisation. It is the duty of manager that perform
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