Final Internship Report

Company Description

ICS prides itself on serving both the domestic and foreign customer base with quality. Having created a strategic alliance with the MBK Machine company, ICS has shifted to support the organization's growth. Its mission is to consider delivering the best quality products to customers at the best value. Further, the mission statement stipulates the delivery of machine parts on or before the requested time. This is essential in meeting and exceeding customer expectations. Continual innovation techniques on improving machining are aimed at providing the best quality at the best cost. The mission statement also incorporates the expansion of capacity based on customer needs resulting in new growth opportunities. The organization's mission statement entails customer-focus strategies that lead to meeting customer needs through quality parts and innovative machining techniques at best costs and timely deliveries. This is aimed at increasing customer satisfaction levels besides ensuring organizational growth.

The SWOT analysis to be carried out will identify the strengths and opportunities which the organization can utilize to create competitive advantages in the competitive industry. Weaknesses and threats identified will prompt the organization to develop contingency plans to reduce their occurrences. Strengths observed in the organization entail the production of high-quality products expanding on its market base. As customers seek to obtain quality-assured products, they are likely to seek products from organizations that are assured of quality aspects. For instance, the organization offers good thermal shock resistance, superior adhesion to surface temperatures, resistance to salts corrosion, and environment-friendly products. Other strengths can be observed in best values with discounts in pricing and a positive reputation for the brand.

Weaknesses can be observed in high costs, especially for newly innovated products. The weakness could reduce the customer base as they switch to new affordable products. This can be associated with the industry's rising costs when obtaining raw materials and processing to obtain the end product. Additionally, weakness is portrayed in slow product development and innovation cycle compared to other organizations in the global market. For instance, firms in Japan and China are continuously innovating products at a fast rate, which increases competition in contrast with the U.S market. Threats the organization is experiencing include competition from high-tech companies in the global market and new industry trends influencing customer preference changes. Additionally, rapid technological changes pose a threat as the obsolescence of current innovations is high.

The organizational opportunities involve smart manufacturing technologies, a wide range of customer base, timely delivery of parts, and use of the internet as part of the marketing strategy. Smart manufacturing processes increase the ability to produce defect-free products through digital upgraded technology. This is imperative in integrating business intelligence with artificial intelligence in machining, enabling competitive advantages. On the other hand, the wide range of the organizational customer base can be observed in market segmentation. The ability to provide to almost all sectors in the market increases the marketing niche. Timely delivery of the machine parts increases convenience and comfort. The opportunity expands on the organization's reputation leading to sustainable competitive advantage. The internet of things application in marketing presents a huge opportunity to expand the customer base.

Job Descriptions

As the executive assistant to the CEO, I have been assigned different roles and responsibilities. For instance, in the marketing department, I am required to analyze and track prevailing market conditions. This will be done through the examination and analysis of the global graphite electrode export customs data. Another responsibility entails establishing the company's website and doing all the website management-related work. Basically, I would be responsible for ensuring the website's functioning and analysis of customer information obtained from the site. My responsibility is to use LinkedIn and Facebook as part of the social media market segmentation. The process will have a consideration of the development of graphite electrode customers in the global steel market. Further, I am required to assist in the preparation of company sales tools. This would regard the use of PowerPoints and brochures.

Responsibilities in the human resource and administration department entail all human resource processes and administrative work, respectively. Under human resources, I am responsible in assisting employee recruitment. This is to ensure that candidates selected and hired are fit for the job. Preparing payrolls and staff tax and benefits would ensure that all employees gain their equitable share as per the organization's compensation model. During employee resignation, assistance would include assurances that the employee services have been catered for during the process. This is to promote and foster the observation of HR policies as per the U.S regulations. In administration work, my responsibilities are to assist in the renewal of business licenses as well as ensure office supply is ordered in time and arranged neatly.

Responsibilities in the accounting department involve book-keeping and monthly preparation of financial reports. The responsibility requires familiarization with QuickBooks in the accounting system. Additionally, I will be required to manage AR, AP, and expenditure control according to the budget. This will consider the preparation of monthly income, costs, expenses, and cash flow statements for forecast purposes. Assisting the company's audit team to prepare the yearly financial reports and tax returns is also my responsibility. The accounting responsibilities involve the study of statutory regulations on accounting for compliance with regulations.

Work Insights

From the daily functions assigned, I have learned new insights regarding the actual workplace. For instance, soft and interpersonal skills are essential in the coordination and accomplishment of tasks. Having to work and get assistance across various departments required attention and interactions to create meaningful relationships. In addition, the skills helped in the attainment of clarity of issues that were challenging. Assistance obtained from different team members also instilled the value of teamwork in the workplace. If I were not for teamwork and collaborations, most of the work assigned would not be accomplished. Therefore, valuing and utilizing soft and interpersonal skills results in ineffective performance as an individual and in teamwork.

Additional insights learned increased value attached to labor and accounting regulations, which need to be followed as per policies. The additional insights were reflected in the coordination and planning of human resources and accounting practices and reflected in the organizational reputation and corporate environment. Such insights increased my understanding of why organizations strive to follow the regulations besides fulfilling government compliance needs. As the organization values positive human relations and transparency in financial reporting, the organization's ethics and values had to be followed effectively to avoid any mishaps for management effectiveness. This was an imperative insight as I am likely to apply the same concept in the future workplace.

Recommendations

The organization can manage and effectively utilize social media information to plan and forecast production and manufacturing processes. By Adopting the internet of things, social media platforms could extend from marketing to planning purposes. For example, the platforms could become interactive sites with customers identifying and forecasting future customer needs. Additionally, the platforms could increase brand awareness through interactions. Just like the website in place, generating interest in the organizational product could follow the same procedure. However, the platforms' information would forecast future demand and trends to manufacture and process the precision parts. Interactions should be positive to influence honest feedback to support the operations.

Gaps in the research and development department can be filled through an in-house technical consultant and innovation technology specialist. This ensures that the company is on pace with current innovations and incorporates new technological changes as immediately as possible to meet customer demands. Technology-related opportunities can be quickly outdated, leaving the organization with a massive competitive threat. Curbing the risks could consider the department's internal support is promoting advanced manufacturing and new initiatives that have relevant generic technologies to promote the incorporation of emerging technologies. Technical consultant services offered would ensure that the newly innovated products are quality-assured and appropriate for use. The quality innovations can further promote the organization's reputation leading to potential international clients.

Conclusion

ICS organization deals with high-tech machining parts that serve both the local and global market segments. Currently, it has a strategic alliance with MBK, which has increased its growth and expansion, leading to sustainability. An analysis of the industry has stipulated the prospects for the company's growth in the prevailing competition. This has been associated with the growth of other associate industries that require precision parts. Additionally, machine shop enterprises' growth is articulated to increase the demand for the organization's products. A SWOT analysis carried out has shown the strengths and opportunities the organization can undertake to increase its profitability. Threats and weaknesses observed can be avoided or reduced to minimize their impact on company operations. Recommendations given will direct have valuable insights directing the company's performance. Focusing on my internship programs, I have articulated my role and responsibilities and insights that have been attained during work functions. ICS growth and sustainability are dependent on the utilization of information on customers and industry trends to plan production, marketing, and delivery of products.

References