Friday, May 1, 2009

What are the Seven Principles of SCM? – Assignment-2 of MB0028

In the previous posts we have already dealt about various phases in project
management for those students who are preparing the MBA assignments of MB0028.
Now, to proceed with that chapter we are going to publish one more assignment
questions which will deal about principle of SCM. Below is the question:

Question.4. What are the seven principles of SCM?

Answer: Seven principles of SCM are:

Group customer by needs- Effective SCM groups, customer by distinct service needs,
regardless of industry and then tailors services to this particular segment.

Customize the logistic network- In designing their logistics network; companies need
to focus on the service requirement and profit of the customer segments identified.

Listen to signals of market demand and plan accordingly- Sales and operations
planners must monitor the entire supply chain to detect early warning signals of
changing customer demand and needs. This demand driven approach leads to more
consistent forecast and optimal resource allocation.

Differentiate the product closer to the customer- companies today no longer can
afford to stock pile inventory to compensate for possible forecasting errors. Instead,
they need to postpone product differentiation in the manufacturing process closer to
actual consumer demand. This strategy allows the supply chain to respond quickly
and cost effectively to change in customer needs.

Strategically manage the sources of supply- by working closely with their key
suppliers to reduce the overall costs of owning materials and services; SCM
maximizes profit margins both for themselves and their suppliers.

Develop a supply chain wide technology strategy- as one of the cornerstones of

successful SCM information technology must be able to support multiple levels of
decision making. It also should afford a clear view and ability to measure the flow of
products, services and information.

Adopt channel spanning chain performance measures- Excellent supply chain

performance measurement system do more than just monitor internal functions. They
apply performance criteria to every link in the supply chain-criteria that embrace both
service and financial metrics.
Posted by Elzu at 9:12 PM 0 comments
Labels: mb 0028, mba assignment, mba books, SCM
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Various phases in project management life cycle – MB0028 Assignment-2
Question-3. Explain the various phases in project management life cycle?

Answer: This is the initial phase of any project. In this phase information is collected
from the customer pertaining to the project and the requirements are analyzed. The
entire project has to be planned and it should be done in a strategic manner. The
project manager conducts the analysis of the problem and submits a detailed report to
the top project justification, details on what the problem is a method of solving the
problem, list of the objectives to be achieved, project budget and the success rate of
completing the project. The report must also contain information and the project
feasibility, and the risks involved in the project.

Project management life cycle is the integrated part of management. It is attach with
project responsibility or failure of a project. For the MBA assignments it is the most
valuable chapter in production management.

The important tasks of this phase are as follows:

Specification Requirements Analysis (SRA): It has to be conducted to determine the

essential requirements of a project in order to achieve the target.

Feasibility study: To analyze whether the project is technically, economically and

practically feasible to be undertaken.

Trade off analysis: To understand and examine the various alternatives which could
be considered.

Estimation: To estimate the project cost, effort requires for the project and
functionality of various process in the project.

System design: Choose a general design that can fusil the requirements.

Project evolution: Evaluate the project in terms of expected profit, cost and risks
involved marketing phase.

A project proposal is prepared by a group of people including the project manager.

This proposal has to contain the strategies adopted to market the product to the
customers.

Design phase: This phase involves the study of inputs and outputs of the various
project stages.

Execution phase: In this phase the project manager and the teams members work on
the project objectives as per the plan. At every stage during the execution reports are
prepared.

Control – Inspecting, Testing and Delivery phase during this phase. The project team
works under the guidance of the project manager. The project manager has to ensure
that the team working under his, implements the project designs accurately, the
project manager has to ensure ways of managing the customer, perform quality
control work.

Closure and post completion analysis phase upon satisfactory completion and delivery
of the intended product or service the staff performance has to be evaluated.
Document the lessons from the project. Prepare the reports on project feedback
analysis followed by the project execution report.
The phase which involve in the above are:

The preparation stage involves the preparation and approval of project outline, project
plan and project budget.

The next stage involves selecting and briefing the project team about the proposals
followed by discussions on the roles and responsibility of the project member and the
organization.

The project management life cycle:

A Life cycle of a project consists of the following:

Understanding the scope of the project

Establishing objectives of the project

Formulating and planning various activities

Project execution and

Monitor and control the project resources

Posted by Elzu at 8:25 AM 1 comments
Labels: 2nd semester, 2nd semester assignment, management, mb 0028, mba, mba
assignment, mba books, project, project management
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
What are the Reasons for Failure of a Project? – Assignment 2 of MB 00228
The assignment is also from the Production and operations Management MBA book
(MB 0028). It is for 2nd semester also. The chapter has great importance from
examination point of view also like material flow chapter which has been already
mentioned previously.

Question.2. what are the reasons for failure of a project? Give suitable examples.

Answer: Before knowing the reasons of failure we have to know about project.
Project is a set of activities which are networked in order and aimed towards
achieving goal of a project.

Now, the reasons are project failure:

Incidence of Project failure

Projects being initiated of random at all levels
Project objective not in line with business objective
Project management not observed
Project manager with no prior experience in the related project
Non- dedicated team
Lack of complete support from clients

Factors contributing to project success not emphasized:

Project objective in alignment with business objective
Working within the framework of project management methodology
Effective scoping planning, estimation, execution, controls and reviews, project
bottlenecks
Communication and managing expectations effectively with clients, team merits and
stake holders
Prior expectance of PM in a similar project

Overview of information and communication Technologies (ICT) project:

Involve information and communication technologies such as the word wide web, e-
mail, fiber-optics satellites
Enable societies to produce, access, adapt and apply information in greater amount,
more rapidly and at reduce casts
Offer enormous opportunities for enhancing business and economic viability
Common problems encountered during projects
No prioritization of project activity from an organizational position
One or more of the stages in the project mishandled
Less qualified non-dedicated manpower
Absence of smooth flow of communication between the involved parties

These basic reasons lead a project to failures. In the project failures business
management and project management is directly involved. From the management
point of view it is basic things to care above topics to success of a project. Project is
the core business of a company. In the MBA assignment its role has been defined
from the management prospective.
Posted by Elzu at 8:02 PM 0 comments
Labels: 2nd semester assignment, assignment, mb 0028, mba, mba assignment, mba
books, project, sikkim manipal university, smu, smu mba
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Explain how material flow information: Q-1 of Assignment-2 from MB 0028
Now, in the SMU MBA assignment blog you will get 2nd assignment of MB 0028. In
the 1st assignment total questions were 6 which have been finished now. Each book
contains 6 questions for the assignment in SMU MBA. From my point of view 1st
question and 2nd questions of the MBA assignment were most important. Below is
1st question from the assignment-2 of MB 0028 (Production and operations
Management).

Question.1. Explain how material flow information helps in work center decision.
Consider the example of a shopping center to illustrate your answer.

Answer: The decision which involves during uses of material flow information has
below-

A work center is a production facility comprising of one or more machines and one or
more workmen considered as a single unit for purposes of estimation of capacity. This
unit may have a single operation or a number of them conducted on the input items. In
the pipeline of production, each work center’s contribution is vital as materials are
scheduled, routed and loads to be sent to it.
In most organization, they are even considered as cash centers. Location trust means
relative position of different centers so as to minimize the movement of materials,
meet technological sequences, to reduce congestion, maximize throughput, improve
part tracking ability and avoid repetitive movements. In addition another
consideration is to provide for expansion of production.

Each work center receives information along with material that enter it the material
also leaves the word center with information. The route sheet contains information
about the material, process, quantities, and inspection procedures. Etc. the drawings or
instructions tell the condition of the malarial of entry and the required condition at
exit.

In this sense every operation consists of material transformation occurring on the

basis of information. Activities conducted are on the basis of information that flows
with material. Different locations have to accommodate the constraints of the basis of
darning maximums benefit of the information that is available. Basically, each
location is determined on the basis of from and to: where does it receive material
goes. Some centers have to close as a matter of necessity, some need not to be and
some need to be as for away as possible.

This aspect has been given a rating scale in terms of alphabets as under:

Absolutely necessary to be close

Essential to be close
Ordinary closeness
Ordinary closeness
Unimportant that they are close or not
Not desirable that the centers are close

It can be seen that this is only a guide for Indian location as the work centers as there
will many competing factors that have to be accommodated.
Posted by Elzu at 7:11 PM 0 comments
Labels: 2nd semester, 2nd semester assignment, mb 0028, mba, mba assignment,
sikkim manipal university, smu, smu mba
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Question-6 of MB 0028 Book for MBA Assignment-1
I think we all have submitted our MBA assignment however I am publishing the
assignment for those students who are participating in 2nd semester this year. The
assignment will lead them to prepare their examination also. The assignment has been
written by me for the purpose of 2nd semester examination.

Question.6 - What are the steps involves in SCM implementation?

Answer- There is many steps which involved in SCM implementation are- Business
Process, sales and marketing. Logistics, costing, demand planning, trade- off analysis,
environmental requirement, process stability, integrated supply, supplier management,
product design, suppiers, customers, material specifications, etc.

Some important aspect of SCM-

The level of competition existing in the market and the impact of competitive forces
on the product development.

Designing and working on a strategic logic for better growth through value invention.
Working out new value curve in the product development along with necessary break
point.

Using it to analyses markets and the economies in product design. Tine, customer,
quality of product and the concept of survival of fittest.

Steps of SCM principals:

Group customer by need: Effective SCM groups, customer by tietinct service meeds
those particular segment.

Customize the logistics networks: In designing their logistics network, companies

need to focus on the service requirement and profit potential of the customer segments
identified.

Listen to signals of market demand and plan accordingly- sales and operations
planners must monitor the entire supply chain to detect early warning signals of
changing customer demand and needs.

Differentiate the product closer to the customer-companies today no longer can afford
to stock pile inventory to compensate for possible forecasting errors, instead, they
need to postpone product differentiation in the manufacturing. Process closer to actual
customer demand.

Strategically manage the source of supply-by working closely with their key suppliers
to reduce the overall casts of owning materials and services; SCM maximizes profit
margins both for themselves, and their supplies.

Develop a supply chain wide technology strategy- as one of the cornerstones of

successful SCM information technology must be able to support multiple levels of
decision making.

Adopt channel spanning performance measures- Excellent supply performance

measurement systems do more than just monitor internal functions. They apply
performance criteria that embrace bathe service and financial metrics, including as
such as each accounts true profitability.
Posted by Elzu at 7:46 PM 2 comments
Labels: 2nd semester, 2nd semester assignment, assignment, mb 0028, mba, mba
assignment, mba books, smu, smu mba
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Question-5 of SMU Assignment-1 from the MB 0028 Book
Hi to all! I am going to publish question 5 which is the from MB 0028 assignment. I
have already published question 4 in my previous post. I think it will also help you in
the understanding of SCM in MBA.
Question 5. Explain the necessity and objectives a SCM?

Answer. SCM is the abbreviation of supply chain Management. It is considered by

many express worldwide as the ultimate solution towards efficient enterprise
management.

Now, we explain the necessity and objectives of SCM-

SCM is required by and enterprise as a tow to enhance management effectiveness

with a following organizational objective:

Reduction of inventory

Enactment in functional effectiveness of existing systems like ERP, Accounting.

Software and Documentation like financial reports statements ISO 9000 Documents
etc.

Enhancement of participation level and empowerment level

Effective integration of multiple systems like ERP, communication systems,

documentation system and secure, Design R&D systems etc.

Better utilization of resources- men, material, equipment and money.

Optimization of money flow cycle within the organization as well as to and from
external agencies.

Enhancement of value of products, operations and services and consequently,

enhancements of profitability.

Enhancement of satisfaction level of customer and clients, supporting institutions,

statutory control agencies, supporting institutions, statutory control agencies,
suppliers and vendors, employees and executives.

Enhancement of flexibility in the organization to help in easy implementation of

schemes involving modernization, expansion and divestment, merges and
acquisitions.

Enhancement of coverage and accuracy of management information systems.

With the objectives of SCM its implementation are required. Implementation is in the
form of various functional blocks of an organization interpenetrated through which a
smooth flow of the product development is possible.

A relatively new SCM option involves web based software with a browser interface.
Several electronic marketplaces for buying and selling goods and materials.
Posted by Elzu at 11:18 PM 10 comments
Labels: mb 0028, mba, mba assignment, mba books, sikkim manipal university, smu,
smu mba
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Question-4 – Assignment-1 of SMU – MBA Book of MB 0028
Below is already published Question 1st, 2nd and 3rd in MBA assignment blog. Now,
I am going to published 4th question of MB 0028 Book.

(Production and operations Management)MB 0028.

Question 4. What are the various steps in project monitoring and controlling a
project?

Answer: Here we elaborate the project monitoring and control.

Any project aimed at delivering a product or a service has to go through phases in a

planned manner in order to meet the requirements. It only by careful monitoring of
the project progress. It required establishing control factors to keep the project on the
track of progress. The results of any stage in a project, depends on the inputs to that
stage. It is therefore necessary to control all the inputs and the corresponding outputs
from a stage. A project management may use certain standard trolls to keep the
project on track. The project manager and the team members should be fully aware of
the techniques and methods to rectify the factors influencing delay of the project and
its product. The methodology of PERT (programmer Evolution Review Technique)
and CPM (critical path method) may be used to analyze the project. In the PERT
method one car find out the variance and use the variance to analyze the various
probabilistic estimates pertaining to the project. Using the CPM one can estimate the
start time and the finish time for every event of the project in its WBS (work
Breakdown Structure).

The analysis charts can be used to monitor, control, track and execute a project.
Typical PERT/ CPM exercise of a project are worked out at the end of this sub unit-
9.2. The various steps involved in monitoring and controlling a project from start to
end are as follows-

1. Perlirninary work- the team members understand the project plans, project stage
schedule, progress controls, tracking the dules. Summary of the members have to
understand the tolerances in any change and maintain a change control log. They must
realize the need and importance of quality for which they have to follow strictly
quality agendas. They must understand the stage status reposes, stage and reports,
stage end approval reports.

2. Project progress- The members must keep a track of the project progress and
communication the same to other related members of the project. They must monitor
and control project progress, through the use of regular check points, quality charts.
Statistical tables, control the quality factors which are likely to deviate from expected
values as any deviation may result in change to the stage she duel

3. Stage control- The manager must establish a project check paint cycle. For this
suitable stage version control procedure may be followed.

4. Resources- Plan the resources required for various stage of the project. Brief both
the project team and the key resources about the objectives of every stage, planned
activities, products, organization. Metrics and project controls.
5. Quality control- This is very important in any project: Quality control is possible if
the project member’s follow-

Schedule quality review, Agenda for quality review, conduct quality review and
follow up.

6. Progress control- It is the main part at assessment-

Progress control assesses- monitor performance, update schedule, update casts, Re-
plan stage schedule, conduct team status review etc.

Along with we create status report, create flash reports, project status reports etc.

7. Approvals - lastly, project sage reviews and the decisions taken and actions planned
need to be approved by the top management. The goals of such review are to improve
quality by finding defects and to improve productivity by finding defects in a cost
effective manner. The group review progress includes several stage like planning,
preparation and overview, a group review meeting and rework recommendation and
follow-up.
Posted by Elzu at 2:19 AM 27 comments
Labels: 2nd semester, 2nd semester assignment, mb 0028, mba, mba assignment
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Question-3 – Assignment-1 of SMU – MBA Book of MB 0028
I have already mentioned in my introduction of MBA blog that the blog will tell you
only about the assignment of MBA of SMU. In the first question we have already
published two posts that contain 2 questions. Both questions are related to Production
and Operation Management book of MB 0028.

Here I am going to publish my 3rd questions of 2nd semester assignment of

Production and Operation Management.

Question 3. Who are the players in a project management? What are the various roles
and responsibilities of the players in a project management?

Answer. At first we will discuss about project management then we will discuss about
players in project management. Project management is the practice of controlling the
use of resources, such as cost, time manpower, hardware and software involved in a
project. That starts with a problem statement and end with delivery of a complete
product.

Here we will see the participants of project management:

In the project management players individual and organizations both are involved-

That is actively involved in the project whose interests may be affected by the
outcome of the project.

Exert influence over the project and its results players or also called “stake holders’’
of the project
Project manager- the individual responsible for managing the project.
Customer- the individual or organization that will use the product- the end result of
the project.

Performing organization- the enterprise whose employees are mast directly involved
in doing the work of the project.

Sponsors- the individual or group within or external to the performing organization

that funds the project.

Now, we will define the role and responsibilities of project management. Here are
some roles and responsibilities:

There are number of projects which an organization works on. It is not possible for
one individual to manage all the projects.

There is a team of mangers who manage the projects.

There may be different teams working an different projects.

An experienced project manager and this team may manage more than one project at a
time.

The project team is responsible for ensuring that the project upon completion shall
deliver the gain in the business for which it is intended for.

-the project team has to properly co-ordinate with each other working on different
aspects of the project.

-the team members are responsible for the completion of the project as per the plans
of the project.

Characteristics of project mindset: - some of the characteristics of project mindset are

the following –

Time - it is possible to improve the pace of the project by reducing the time frame of
the process. The mindset is normally to work in a comfort made by stretching the time
limits.

Responsiveness – it refers to quickness of response of an individual. The vibrancy and

livens of an individual or an organization are proportional to its capability of evolving
process and structure for superior responsiveness time constant.

Information sharing – information is owner information is the matter key to today’s

business. Information sharing is the characteristic of the project mindset today.

Process – project mindset lays emphasis on flexible process. The major difference in a
process and a system is in its capabilities of providing flexibility to different
situational encounters. Flexible process possesses greater capabilities of adaptability.
Structured planning – structure planning based a project management life cycle
enables one to easily and conveniently work according to the plan.
Posted by Elzu at 7:35 PM 7 comments
Labels: 2nd semester, 2nd semester assignment, mb 0028, mba, mba books
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Question-2 – Assignment-1 of SMU – MBA Book of MB 0028
Production and operations Management

Question 2. Sate the important consideration for locating an automobile plant? Collect
information on layout planning of an automobile plant from various services and
furnish the same.

Answer: To locate an automobile company or plant many thing should be consider.

For an automobile plant automated flaw lines, automated assembly lines, flexible
manufacturing systems, global transition rapid prototyping. Building manufacturing
flexibility things are necessity.

About the automated flow lines we can say it is a machine which is linked by a
transfer system which moves the parts by using handling machines which are also
automated, we have an automated flow line.

Human intervention ma is needed to verify that the operations ate taking place
according to standards. When these cab be achieved with the help of automation and
the processes are conducted with self regulation, we will have automated flow lines
established.

In fixed automation or hard automation, where one component is manufactured using

services operations and machines it is possible to achieve this condition. We assume
that product life cycles are sufficiently stable to interest heavily on the automate flow
lines to achieve reduces cast per unit.

Product layouts ate designed so that the assembly tasks are performed in the sequence
they are designed at each station continuously. The finished item came out at the end
of the line.

In automated assembly lines the moving pallets move the materials from station to
station and moving arms pick up parts, place them at specified place and system them
by perusing, riveting, & crewing or even welding. Sensors will keep track of there
activities and move the assembles to the next stage.

The machines are arranged in a sequence to perform operations according to the

technical requirements.

The tools are loaded, movements are effected, speeds controlled automatically
without the need for worker’s involvement.

The flexibility leads to better utilization of the equipments. It reduces the numbers of
systems and rids in reduction of investment as well as a space needed to install them.
One of the major cancers of modern manufacturing systems is to be able to respond to
market
Demands which have uncertainties.

Prototyping is a process by which a new product is developed in small number so as

to determine the suitability of the materials, study the various methods of
manufactured, type of machinery required and develop techniques to over come
problems that my be encountered when full scale manufacture is undertaken.

Prototypes do meet the specification of the component that enters a product and
performance can be measured on these.

It helps in con be reforming the design and any shortcomings can be rectified at low
cost.

Flexibility has three dimensions in the manufacturing field. They are variety, volume
and time. There demands will have to be satisfied. In that sense they become
constraints which restrict the maximization of productivity. Every business will have
to meet the market demands of its various products in variety volumes of different
time.

Flexibility is also needed to be able to develop new products or make improvements

in the products fast enough to cater to shifting marker needs.

Manufacturing systems have flexibility built into them to enable organization meet
global demand. You have understood how the latest trends in manufacturing when
implemented help firms to stay a head in business.

Note: all the answer has been taken by SMU book of MB 0028 for this assignment.
Posted by Elzu at 10:12 AM 2 comments
Labels: 2nd semester, 2nd semester assignment, assignment, mb 0028, mba, mba
books
Friday, October 31, 2008
Question-1 – Assignment-1 of SMU – MBA Book of MB 0028
Production and operations Management

Question: 1. Explain the various automated system for transform of materials in the
production plant? Illustrate your answer by considering on example of an automobile
showroom.

Answer: Basically, automation system comes to reduce labour power and time in the
production. Here we can see the evolution systems with some examples. The goods
requited by society were produces in small quantities by craftsman who would know
the need of the community and produced them by their own hands with simple tools.
The apprentices or by another craftsman, who would make them to meet the requests
made.

The parts and components used to make these machines had to be replaced when they
wore making parts so that interchangeability was achieved made setting up standards
and specifications important for meeting

The craftsmen gave way to engineers, workers, superiors and inspectors. Division of
labour became necessary to achieve efficiencies and the jabs that became specialized.
Competition has necessitated improved quality, reduced sates and better services to
the customer.

Automation systems cost huge sums of money and therefore a deep analysis of the
various factors has to be done. For services, automation usually means labour saving
devices in education, long distance learning technology helps in supplementing class
room instruction. The facilitating goods that are used are web site and videos.

Automation in the banking sector has resulted in ATMs which same the banks a huge
amount customer satisfaction. Automation is ideas when the service provided or the
product manufactured is highly standardized.

Some extent of automation can be designed even with customization i. e. product or

service a meant to produce or deliver low volume specific to a requirement. The
advantages of automation is it has low variability and will be more consistent on a
repetitive basis

The machines have sensing and control devices that enable them to operate
automobile. The simplest of them called machine attachments replace human effort.
They guide, locate, move and achieve revise position by means of came, optical
sensing. Load sensing mechanisms and activate the controls to remove human
intention.

Robots are higher in the order of automation as they perform a variety of tasks. They
are designed to move movements according to programmers written into the computer
that inside them.

With the help of automation, inspection of component can be done 100% ensures
highest quality identification and movement of materials are helped by bar codes
which are read and fed into the system far monitoring quantity, location, movement
etc. They help the automated systems to start information and provide information for
effecting any changes necessary. To make effective use of automated machines, we
need to have the movement of materials from and to different time as stores,
automated, Automated storage and Retrieval systems- ASRS- receive orders for
materials from anywhere in the production area, collect materials in the works times.
Computers and information systems are used for placing orders for matters, give
commands adjust inventory records which show the location and quantity of materials
needed.

Automated guided vehicle systems- AGVS – are pallet trucks and unit load carriers
follow embedded guide wires or paint strips to destinations as programmed.

In an automobile showroom we can see all the work automatically with latest
machine.

Note: all the answer has been taken by SMU book of MB 0028 for this assignment.