Operations Management 2

Process Improvement

Objectives

This assignment helps you develop the skills to master the following course

competencies:

o Apply theories, models, and practices of global operations management to

address business problems.

o Integrate operations management analyses into general business management

planning and decision making.

o Communicate in a manner that is professional and consistent with expectations

for members of the business professions.

Instructions

Based on the information you gathered in your process identification assignment in Unit

1, you selected a process to carry forward through the remainder of your OIP project.

The process selected should lend itself to an in-depth analysis and should be important

to your client company.

In this assignment, write a report analyzing the organizational problem and the process

you have identified for your OIP. Outline your process improvement idea, including the

following elements:

o Problem statement: What exactly needs to be improved? Use problem framing

and cause-and-effect analysis to develop a brief, preliminary problem statement.

Note: You will expand your problem statement in the Unit 3 assignment.

o Background of the issue: Detail relevant historical data, including the duration of

the problem and the cost to the organization. Note: You are not expected to

provide specific data results at this early stage of your investigation.

o Implications: What could happen if the problem continues as it is? What could

happen if the process is improved? Outline both tangible and intangible positives

and negatives for improving the issue or ignoring it. Identify some potential

general business results and impacts on business relationships.

o Desired outcome: How will your new process be different from the old? What

competitive advantages will it yield? How will it impact stakeholders? Consider

the cost benefits of the process improvement; estimate how much will it cost the

organization and outline how costs will be offset by the benefits derived.

Submission Requirements

o Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that

detract from the overall message.

o APA formatting: Resources and citations should be formatted according to

current APA style and formatting standards.

o Resources: Minimum of 1 source required.

o Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Review the assignment scoring guide to ensure you have met all of the criteria of this

assignment.

Resources

o Process Improvement Scoring Guide.

o Focus and Intent.

Readings

Use your Operations and Supply Chain Management text to complete the following:

o Review Chapter 2, "Quality Management," pages 59–67.

 Review the variety of quality tools, such as the process flowchart, fishbone

diagram (cause-and-effect diagram), check sheet, Pareto analysis,

histogram, scatter diagram, and statistical process control chart used in

process improvement activities.

o Read Chapter 6, "Processes and Technology," pages 224–253.

 This reading provides you with an understanding of the different strategic

options available as you develop your process, the tools that accompany

each option, and the challenges you may encounter.

Russell, R. S., & Taylor, B. W. (2017). Operations and supply chain management (9th

ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN: 9781119320975.