OPERATIONS STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT

NBS-5118B-24

UG Coursework 2024–25

Title: “Operations strategies and management coursework (3,000 words)”

This coursework counts for 100% of the assessment in this module.

Assessment #1

Answer Q1(a) and Q1(b). Provide at least four relevant journal articles as references in the answers to Questions #1(b)(i) and #1(b)(ii) in addition to referencing your chosen YouTube video:

1. The following two YouTube videos depict manufacturing operations of two products. Select one video and answer the following two questions based on your chosen product’s operations (1000 words).

· Frosted cereal manufacturing process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0Y5J_pgiFY&t=230s

· Skin Cream manufacturing process (only focus on body cream)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjL_dQ5HAAg

(a). Using the standard shapes, develop a process flow diagram and illustrate the step-by-step transformation process of your chosen product. (25% marks)

(b). (i). Recommend two feasible process improvements that could be made to the manufacturing process by investigating two relevant steps of the transformation process. Justify the recommended process improvements with appropriate arguments and analyses. (15% marks)

(ii). With appropriate analysis, demonstrate a clear link between the recommendations and relevant ‘Muda’ (i.e. waste categories) and performance objective(s). (10% marks)

Assessment #2

Choose any ONE case study and answer all questions. Provide at least four relevant journal articles as references in your answer (2000 words):

2. A leading UK producer currently has a high demand for an essential product ‘X’ globally. They are actively assessing a series of sustainability initiatives in their supply network and have outsourced some of their production activities to Asia. Due to the post-pandemic situation and current cost of living crisis, the company is experiencing many challenges across their production facilities and supply networks. In view of this disruption, they plan to (1) re-design how they manufacture product ‘X’ and (2) reconfigure their supply network based on a number of strategies and principles. Further, the producer believes that quality is the most important single factor affecting performance relative to their competitors. Here, they consider the ‘sand cone’ model, along with total quality management (TQM), as the key elements of their quality management programme. Due to the increasingly high demand for their product, the company ramps up their production in the UK to avoid any disruption.

(a) Considering their assessment of sustainability initiatives and the challenges they face due to the post-pandemic situation and current cost of living crisis, outline and explain two strategies that the producer could implement and why.     (25% marks)

(b) Justify the company’s use of the ‘sand cone’ model, considering the model’s associated performance measures, and use examples to support your arguments. (15% marks)

(c) Outline how they might use quality characteristics and TQM principles to meet the needs and expectations of UK customers during the post-pandemic situation and current cost of living crisis and use an example to support your arguments.    (10% marks)

3. The UK plants of Company X suffered as a significant number of Company X’s suppliers in China were not able to supply enough parts due to the outbreak of the pandemic. Some of their suppliers based in China remained closed, while others were working at reduced capacity. Due to the pandemic, the organisation’s product mix was also varying significantly. As a result, Company X are assessing its traditional capacity management strategies and its different inventory strategies during this post-pandemic situation and current cost of living crisis. Although the pandemic situation created major disruptions across their supply networks, Company X are certain about future supplies.

(a) Considering Company X’s experience and situation, discuss strategies and planning outlooks with appropriate rationale and examples, that they could follow to produce at a capacity that satisfies their customer base. (25% marks)

(b) Considering the various types of inventory that exist and their objectives, explain and analyse the actions Company X and their suppliers could take to respond to the major disruptions e.g., having different inventory strategies at its manufacturing facilities and at their suppliers’ base.   (15% marks)

(c) Analyse and reflect on your understanding of how Company X’s operations strategies could minimise uncertainty in terms of inventory and underutilised resources. (10% marks)

General Guidance

1. This is an individual report, and it must be exclusively your own work.

2. The maximum word limit is 3,000 words ±10% allowance.

3. Use Arial, 12pt font, with 1.5 line spacing.

4. A detailed marking scheme, based on the Senate Scale, is available on Blackboard.

5. Please refer to Blackboard’s “Frequently Asked Questions” for more details.  

6. Please refer to the extract (provided below) from the Student Handbook and Student Performance Accelerator for more general guidance and information about referencing, citations and penalties for exceeding the word limit.

Submission deadline:  3:00 pm, 19 May 2025