QSO Operation Management Milestone 2 Case Study

 

 

 

QSO-300 Final Project Milestone Two

 

Your Name

 

Date

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Please be sure to replace all red text. The information and words below should not be used as an answer, they serve as a guide and template, not the answer. Follow appropriate APA styling when finalizing this document.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Project Milestone Two – Module Four

Introduction

Write a brief introduction simply describing what BYD China has going on and what we are going to review. …BYD, like most global companies, has explored the use of process management functions.  The below paper describes the use of these process management functions and how BYD may incorporate them into their OM functions.

Theories and Techniques

 

1. Explain the five steps of the theory of constraints (TOC) process. To what processes might the company in the case study apply TOC? Why would applying TOC to these processes be advantageous?

For the Theory of Constraints you can list the steps as described on page 316 of our OM textbook.

You may find it helpful to list out as follows:

TOC Step                                                                    BYD

Step 1-Identify the constraint.                        During this step, BYD would…

Step 2-Develop a plan for overcoming the     During this step, BYD would determine…

identified constraint.

 

Step 3-

…Etc.

Be sure to provide an in-text citation for page 316 of our OM textbook. Please be sure to provide your own thoughts to what processes BYD might apply the Theory of Constraints. Also, state the benefits (advantages) of TOC here as well. As you address this section, you may find page 26 of the BYD case study helpful.

 

1. Describe how total quality management (TQM) principles and tools can be used to improve quality in the latest line of products in the context of the case study.

For this critical element, write out a few sentences regarding what TQM is, and then 1-2 paragraphs on how these tools can be applied to improve quality at BYD.  TQM is described on pages 217-229 of our OM textbook. Basically, how can benchmarking, continuous improvement, employee empowerment, Six Sigma, etc. and TQM tools assist BYD in producing quality products?

 

 

 

Data Analysis

 

1. Draw a cause-and-effect diagram that assesses why some of the company’s supply chain partners might have struggled to implement some of the company’s newly developed materials. Summarize your findings from the diagram.

 

The cause-and-effect diagram should be specific to supply chain partners failing to implement new materials for BYD. This is a what-if (hypothetical) scenario and you can brainstorm different reasons why a supply chain partner may fail to implement new materials. Your diagram (at minimum) needs to include issues with manpower, method, inventory, and equipment.  You should have at least three specific causes for each major cause category. Page 226 of our OM textbook provides an example of a cause-and-effect diagram.

 

You will also need to write a paragraph summarizing your cause-and-effect diagram. For example, BYD supply chain partners might struggle to implement new materials because of…

 

You may consider using the below template (please ensure you enable macros). The Problem Statement and Major Cause Categories have already been filled in for you.

 

 

Note: You will have to cut-and-paste the actual fishbone diagram into your word document or upload the entire excel workbook as an additional attachment. If you choose to upload as an attachment, please be sure to indicate this within your word doc.

 

 

1. Draw a hypothetical process (time-function) map for producing a recently released (within the past two years) product manufactured by the company. As an operations manager, how will you use the value map? Be sure to include your process map within your case study analysis.

 

Page 289 provides an excellent example of a time function process map.

 

Below is a swim lane example that can be built rather easily in excel or word.

 

The first column going down describes your different areas:

Customer

Sales

Production Input

Assembly Plant

Warehouse

Finish Plant

Transport (Final Product)

 

Time—à

 

Or, you may consider using the following template:

 

BYD Time Function Map

Customer

Sales

Production

Assembly Plant

Warehouse

Finish Plant

Transport

XX days

XX days

XX days

XX days

XX days

XX days

XX  days

XX days

XX days

<——————————-XX (Total # days it takes to complete process)————————————->

 

Note: Please indicate the number of days it takes for the product to get through each “area”. Also, include the total amount of time on the horizontal axis it will likely take to complete the entire project ex. 50 days. The days are basically “made-up” by you and how long you think each process at BYD might take.

 

 

After creating the time function map (either on your own or using the template provided), provide a few sentences explaining how you in an OM capacity would use the map.  Many students note excess hold (wait) times when building the time function map so they can easily identify and “call-out” inefficiencies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Considering the data and options below, determine where the company should locate its new manufacturing plant. Explain why this would be the favorable location.

 

Factor	Weight	Mexico City	Columbia, SC	Example Weighted Scores
Political Risk	.25	70	80	(0.25) (0.70) =17.50/ (0.25) (0.80) =20
Transport. Costs	.20	40	90
Labor Productivity	.20	85	75
Rental Costs	.15	90	55
Labor Costs	.10	80	50
Taxes	.10	90	50

You will use the data provided in the rubric (as listed above) to apply the factor rating method to determine the most favorable location for BYD’s new plant – Mexico City or Columbia, SC. Please ensure you include the chart with the calculated totals in your submission (per the example provided above). Please see pages 345 & 346 of our OM textbook. The most favorable location will be the one with the highest overall weighted score. Please be sure to also explain why this (either Mexico City or Columbia, SC) is the “best” location (specific factors).

 

Be sure to include an APA formatted reference page.  The reference page should include all sources used in your assignment (including OM textbook, BYD Case Study, along with any additional outside sources introduced).

 

Also, an in-text citation needs to be included in the body of your word document where the source is used.

 

The proper reference for your OM textbook:

Heizer, J., & Render, B., Munson C. (2020). Operations management. Sustainability and supply chain management. (13th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

For information on how to reference your sources in the APA format refer to the following website:

 

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html.

 

In addition, I recommend utilizing the “Citing your Sources Guide” which can be accessed via “Quick Links” on our Brightspace Course Landing Page.