Plant Tour for the course of Production/Operation Management

Student groups are required to visit a manufacturing or service facility, produce a report,
and do a formal presentation to the class covering the course topics investigated during
the tour.
 The presentation is to be 15 minutes in length and a 2 to 3 page (minimum)
"ExecutiveSummary" is to be distributed to your audience prior to the presentation.
The professor may be able to get this printed for you. There will be 10 minutes slot
for discussion.
 Note that the tours must be split evenly between Manufacturing and Service
Facilities.
 Only ONE group may visit the same facility or Industry/Service.
 Your report is expected to cover the following:
 Company Name and Location. What is the physical size of the facility? How is this
divided between office and plant? How many people do they employ? State the name
and title of the person who conducted your tour. If you are able, please obtain the
tour guide's business card or mobile no.
 Main product or service: supplied by this company? Who are their clients/customers?
 If your tour is of a manufacturing plant: what type of manufacturing process is used?
(job- shop, batch flow, worker-paced line flow, machine-paced, continuous flow,
hybrid, or other).
 If your tour is of a service facility: what types of scheduling techniques are used to
ensure the timely delivery of services to clients?
 Do a plant-layout for the facility indicating the location of various Departments and
major equipment. (Research plant-layout in the Library or internet prior to your tour)
 Inventory Control Systems: describe the inventory control system(s) in use and why
the company selected the system(s) they use. Are they satisfied with the system in
use or are they planning to make changes? Is their system manual or computerized?
 Quality Control: What procedures are used? Is S.P.C. (Statistical Process Control)
used? Explain in some detail using appropriate exhibits.
 Plant Maintenance Policy: Do they use a special procedure or simply "fix it when it
breaks"? Describe in some detail and their reasoning for their policy.

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 Ergonomics: What is done to make the manufacturing plant or service delivery
equipment "people-friendly for the employees of the firm you are touring? Ensure
that you understand exactly what Ergonomics is.
 Unexpected: What did you learn from the tour that you did NOT expect?
 Note: Your presentation MUST cover ALL topics above HOWEVER: Your group
may vary the sequence of the topics
 Based on all the information you have compiled, what problems does this company
appear to have in regard to the Operations Management side of their company?
 What are your recommendations for improvement?

For Better Presentation

 Take a still/digital camera or a video camera with you.

 Note that you MUST obtain the firms' permission to photograph or video their
facility. Not all firms will permit you to do so.
 Many firms have promotional videos or product samples or displays: They may be
willing to loan to you for your presentation. Kindly ensure that you return such
materials to the firm PROMPTLY!
 Send an "outline" of what you require for your "in-class" presentation to the firm you
plan to visit in advance. In this way they may be agreeable to constructing the "tour"
around your requirements. Note that some firms are unwilling to provide all of the
information that you would like to have for your presentation. If they refuse, please
DO NOT push the issue--whatever they are doing to help you is pure generosity on
the part of the individual and/or firm. Please be thankful for whatever help they
provide---they are not obligated to help you at all! If you can’t get what you need -
contact another firm!
 Letter from the Department of Management will be provided if necessary.
 Appropriate dress and manner of presentation during any presentation will be a
merit.