Choose a concept from the following list and use that theme for your paper:
- Improved Product Life Cycle Analysis
- Cost Reduction Process Improvement
- Customer Satisfaction Process Improvement
- Supply Side Process Improvement
- Market Side Process Improvement
- Outsourcing Analysis of a Current Internal Capability
Job Description Analysis to Appropriately Staff an Existing Process
- Introduction and a Clear Problem Statement: Describe the organization and what it does; prepare a brief problem statement of an operations management issue in a selected organization. Include a clear question you wish to answer through the process of writing the paper. (1 page) (10 Points)
- As-Is Condition: Select one of the topics that you will discuss and describe the current condition, process, project, or root problem to solve. Use at least two (2) of the Quality Tools (Charts) to illustrate the current condition as it exists. You can use PowerPoint, Excel or Word to facilitate the diagramming method to illustrate the as-is condition. Make sure you focus on the issue of your topic do not explain the tool you are using. The concepts in the list are pre-approved. You may request approval to use an alternate concept. (2 pages (Not Including Chart)) (20 Points)
- Analysis: List the inefficiencies of the current condition; illustrate the cause-and-effects to the business unit if changes are not made. List gap issues as they pertain to efficiencies in service or products as a result of the current business condition. Apply the analysis concepts in terms of measurable facts that can be used to prove the current condition and to measure success. (2-3 pages) (20 Points)
- To-Be Condition – Proposed Improvement/Solution: Describe the changes that will improve the current business condition; use the quality tool selected in the Current Condition to illustrate changes that will improve the performance of the problem statement. State the benefits as a result of making the change in terms of customer, stakeholder satisfaction, efficiencies, or cost reductions. Use the facts presented in the analysis statements as indicators of improvement. Keep in mind that they must be measurable (2 pages Not Including Chart) (30 Points)
- Conclusion: Conclude the paper with a well written, and compelling recommendation to either proceed with the change or to abort the effort. (20 Points) (1 – 2 Pages)
This is the concept that I have chosen for my paper, and the type of business or profession is government contracting, in the logistics support field. This business is customer driven; the customer is the government and they have to be satisfied or they can pull the contract. All warehouse and logistics support contracts are given 3 to 5 year contracts, with the first year is guaranteed and the other 2 or 4 years are customer service driven. Basically, if they are not happy with the service they can pull the contract after 1 year.
- Customer Satisfaction Process Improvement
- During Week 1 and 2 students will turn in a slide show in MS PowerPoint to assist them with writing the final paper. This will be reviewed to provide preliminary feedback on the progress towards a completed paper. Please indicate the Quality Tools being used. A rough draft is due during week 1 and final submittal in week two as outlined elsewhere herein******
WARNING: This assignment is different from what you have experienced in other classes. Pay very close attention to the “facts and figures” requirement of this paper; operations management is based upon objectives that can be measured. Nebulous objectives and performance metrics yield inappropriate results; business is all about results so the analysis of the current condition must have parameters that are frequently measured as a natural course of doing business.
It is very important that you pay attention to the directions above and comply with each of the requirements. Weaknesses of past papers have included not addressing each of the required areas. Missing a section means the points are lost. Organizing the paper differently from the requirements leads to producing a more superficial, descriptive paper rather than the required analytical treatment. It is to your benefit to make it easy for the instructor to find the material by following the prescribed format and APA guidelines.
Frequently, students forget to refine their problem statement. The problem statement should be a concise question that is to be answered in the paper. Failure to state a clear problem statement in the first section of the paper will result in an immediate loss of 10 points. Section 1 of the paper should build an introduction that leads to a clear and concise problem statement and is where the paper prepares the reader for the following analysis. Use a concept from the approved list or receive written permission to use an alternative. Do not integrate introductory section with the analysis section. Remember, recommendations are expected to address a question through practical actions. A final word, ask questions for clarification.
