Learning Activity

1

Managing and Leading Operations: Student Guide

Learning Activity 3.1: Devotional

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

II Timothy 2:15

The apostle Paul wrote the above to Timothy, his protégé. Paul was concerned about the quality of the teaching that Timothy would give. Paul believed that Timothy would produce quality if he spent the time necessary in preparing himself for the work God had called him to do.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossian 3:23-24

In this passage from Colossians, Paul reminds all of us that our work, as Christians, reflects on Christ, the one we serve. While the term “quality” is not mentioned in either of these passages, the message from Paul is clear. We should do our best to present quality in the work we do, whether it is teaching the Bible or supervising a department. Our work should represent our devotion to Christ.

Objective

· Apply Christian principles in critical thinking.

Instructions

1. Read the devotional above.

2. In the discussion forum, answer the question:

a. How strongly does the quality of your work represent your devotion to Christ?

3. Post your thoughts in the discussion forum titled Wk3 Devotional.

4. Responding to the posts of other students is not required, but is encouraged.

3.1 Devotional

Points: 5

Learning Activity 3.2: Quality

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

One of the aspects of quality decisions is the expectation that the organization will provide quality products or services. From a Christian perspective this takes on an additional dimension of being Christ-like. However, quality is never without costs and other trade-offs. Managers struggle with the tradeoffs between process capabilities and customer expectations.

Objectives

· Discuss decision making regarding quality from a Christian perspective. (3.2)

Theory and Context

Consider the various aspects of quality products and services. An organization is responsible for providing some level of quality in all that it does. The organization is also responsible to the employees and other stakeholders to provide quality products and services, but at a cost that considers the long-term viability of the organization.

Resources

W. P. Carey School of Business. (2010). Module 11: Quality management [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJNVrY_Z2NM

Instructions

1. In the discussion forum, expand on the following questions:

a. What is quality?

b. From a Christian/biblical prospective what position should an organization take as to the quality of its good and services? What do you base this on?

c. From a Christian/biblical prospective what guidelines might an organization develop for making decisions in order to account for the tradeoffs between what a customer might desire and what the organization can profitably provide?

2. Post your responses in the discussion forum titled Wk3 Quality.

3. Use the Discussion Rubric below to ensure you have met all the criteria for this assignment.

Grading Guide or Rubric: Discussion Rubric

3.2 Quality Discussion

Points: 20

Learning Activity 3.3: Process Analysis Paper

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

Modern managers have many responsibilities which pull their resources in varying directions. They do not have the time to be chasing problems that are not problems at all. Statistical process control (SPC) can aid a manager in making decisions based upon fact versus feeling. SPC is a tool that aids managers in determining what common cause variation is (which does not require action) and what assignable cause variation is (which does require them to take action).

Objective

Upon completion of this assignment you should be able to use statistical process controls (SPC) to analyze processes and develop improvements. (3.3)

Theory and Context

The tools listed below are used to track and analyze performance, and to determine whether manufacturing and/or other processes are in control. The tools, p-charts and c-charts, provide visual, specific data trends to be used for analysis and to drive current and future decisions.

Resources

Prof. Bussom – Widener University. (2014). P Charts and C Charts (Video 42) [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD9o2iz6gq0

Sixsigmamoneybelt. (2010). SPC Simplified – Control Charts [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYMIcEOh5M8

Excel Tools (found under Course Documents)

· p-chart solver

· c-chart solver

Instructions

1. Case Study 1: A well-known manufacturer of heavy trucks wants to determine if its manufacturing processes are in control. To do so, they determined the daily proportion of trucks with defects to the total number of vehicles produced. Using a p-chart, determine if the process is stable (in control), if it is not, explain why.

Defective trucks per day	Trucks built per day
12	78
15	69
19	75
13	73
9	71
26	79
18	68
14	73
17	76
18	78
16	73
24	81
11	76
31	82

2. Case Study 2: The accounts payable department of a construction firm is struggling to process invoices due to typos. Each invoice has the same number of potential defects (equal areas of opportunity). As the accounting manager, you decide to use a c-chart to analyze the data. Upon completing your analysis, determine if the process is stable (in control), if it is not, explain why.

Number of invoice typos
2
5
1
3
9
2
1
4
6
4
2
1
3

3. Enter the information into the related, specified charts, click on the “chart key,” review and analyze the generated chart to determine if the process results suggest whether each of the processes are “in control” or not, and why.

4. Using one APA formatted paper respond to both case studies. Create a heading to separate information from each exercise. Each problem should include 1-2 pages of analysis with the associated graphs inserted. References are not required, however if used, should follow APA formatting standards.

5. Post your response as an attachment to the dropbox titled Wk3 Process Analysis Exercise Charts by the end of the week.

Grading Guide or Rubric: Paper Writing Rubric

3.3 Process Analysis Exercise

Points: 75

Learning Activity 3.4: Constrained Processes

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

As organizations grow, processes can become constrained, unable to meet demand. A manager’s ability to recognize when a process is constrained and what action to take can provide the organization with invaluable insight.

Objectives

· Analyze constrained processes and develop process improvements. (3.4)

Theory and Context

One goal of operation management is to manage the flow of product in as efficient a manner as possible. This is not always possible as resource availability can impact the ability to move product through the supply chain. Lack of personnel, the availability of inventory, or production time available on equipment all have the possibility of introducing a constraint to the production flow.

Resources

Lister, J. (n.d.). 3 rules of constraint management. Chron. Retrieved from

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/3-rules-constraint-management-36467.html

Instructions

1. Complete the calculations for Question 18 in Chapter 23.

2. Provide a 1 page analysis of the aspect of constrained processes in relationship to these calculations.

a. Include at least one reference on which your analysis is based.

3. APA formatting is required. Include the answers to Question 18 as Appendix A to the paper.

4. Submit your paper to your facilitator in the dropbox titled Wk3 Constrained Processes by the end of the week.

Grading Guide or Rubric Paper Writing Rubric

3.4 Constrained Processes

Points: 50

Learning Activity 3.5: Waiting Lines Theory

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

Managers will evaluate process flows to determine how to improve operations. From both a business and customer perspective, many of us have experienced “waiting lines,” whether in person or on the phone.

Objectives

· Evaluate process designs used to improve operations. (3.5)

Theory and Context

Managing waiting lines is an important aspect of operations management. Waiting lines can occur with external customers – such as in the video on Disney – or internally with the movement of a product from one manufacturing department to another.

Resources

crqueper. (2011). Disney World’s management of waiting lines [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiVPMulew-w

Instructions

1. In the discussion forum, briefly discuss waiting lines, and problems you have seen occur with them.

2. Select a particular waiting line situation you have experienced and recommend a process design that would improve operations. Include in your review the concept of waiting line theory.

3. Post your responses in the discussion forum titled Wk3 Waiting Lines Theory.

4. Use the Discussion Rubric below to ensure you have met all the criteria for this assignment.

Grading Guide or Rubric: Discussion Rubric

3.5 Waiting Lines Theory

Points: 20