Course: Operations Management Course Discussion Questions (in attachment) APA format Please be sure to pay attention to the job requirements (the key fonts have been indicated in color)

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Critical Thinking

Chapter 14

All organizational levels must put in a significant amount of effort, preparation, and dedication in order to implement a lean system. To make sure the system is successful, commitment must start with top management. The following stage is to determine which areas of the organization require the most work to convert after this is established (Stevenson, 2019). Processes, personnel, manufacturing planning and control, as well as product design, are all included in this. The system needs to be put into place gradually, working backwards from the end. Before the system as a whole is altered, this enables the system to be tested and improved. A lean system aims to save waste and boost productivity (Haddud & Khare, 2020). This is achieved by emphasizing the value of the customer, avoiding waste, producing only what is needed by the customer, aiming for perfection, and working with small batch sizes.

The method uses kaizen, a philosophy based on slow and continuous improvement involving everyone and directing attention to where value is created, to reduce waste. To improve flexibility, decrease downtime brought on by switchovers, utilize preventative maintenance on crucial equipment, cross-train employees, utilize numerous small units of capacity, and reserve capacity for crucial clients (Stevenson, 2019). Organizational and personnel aspects need to be taken into account. This includes treating employees like assets, cross-training staff, ongoing improvement, cost accounting, and project management and leadership. All of these components work together to form an effective system that can increase production, lower costs, shorten cycle times, and produce higher-quality results. There are dangers, though, such as increased work-related stress, a lack of resources in case of emergencies, and supply chain interruptions that can force a halt to operations.

When it comes to putting a lean system into place, critical thinking is a crucial tool. The method demands a lot of work, preparation, and dedication from all organizational levels, beginning with top management. As a result, it's crucial to consider all available options when deciding how to execute the system in the safest, most effective manner possible. It's crucial to consider how a lean system will integrate into the business while putting it in place. This entails taking into account the methods, people, manufacturing planning and control, and product design. It is crucial to consider how to boost efficiency and decrease waste (Haddud & Khare, 2020). This is accomplished through kaizen, a process that emphasizes everyone's participation, gradual and ongoing improvement, and attention to the areas where value is generated.

Preventive maintenance on important pieces of equipment, worker cross-training, and small lot sizes should all be employed to improve flexibility and decrease downtime. It's also crucial to consider the organizational and human aspects, such as the value placed on employees as assets, cost accounting, and leadership and project management (Stevenson, 2019). While putting a lean system in place, each of these components must be considered. It's crucial to consider ways to reduce the risks connected with putting a lean system in place. This can involve creating a system that can handle supply chain disruptions and having resources on hand in case problems arise. It is crucial to consider ways to lessen employee stress and make sure they receive the right training and assistance.

Chapter 17

Projects are one-off, special activities created to complete a specified set of goals in a constrained amount of time. A project's life cycle includes the phases of initiating, planning, carrying out, overseeing, and closing. The success or failure of the project rests with the project manager, who is also in charge of overseeing the work, human resources, communications, quality, time, and expenses (Stevenson, 2019). Effective team building, leadership, motivation, and upholding a culture of honesty, trust, and professionalism are crucial for preventing or minimizing issues. The work breakdown structure (WBS) creates a logical framework for identifying the required activities, and the project champion promotes and supports the project.

The success of a project depends on critical managerial choices being made during a series of processes, such as choosing the project manager and team, planning and designing the project, managing and controlling project resources, and determining if and when to stop a project. Managers can plan the allocation of limited resources and control efforts by knowing the slack times, and they can compute probabilistic predictions of project completion by knowing the predicted path durations and their standard deviations (Ciric et al., 2022). The probability that each path in the project will be finished within the allotted time is calculated, and then these probabilities are multiplied to establish the project's completion time. Considerations like the assumption of independence and time-cost trade-offs are crucial. Project management inevitably involves some level of risk, and effective risk management entails recognizing, analyzing, and assessing risks, striving to reduce the likelihood that they will materialize, and creating backup plans and budgets in case they do.

When it comes to critical thinking, project managers need to be able to use their knowledge and abilities to analyze the opportunities and dangers related to a project and choose the best course of action. Making wise decisions regarding the allocation of resources, timeframe, and budget, as well as having the capacity to detect potential obstacles and pinpoint solutions, are all part of this. Also, project managers must be able to evaluate how external elements, such as political and economic circumstances, may affect the project and its success. The capacity to strategically consider the project's goals and the best way to attain them is another skill needed for projects. To do this, one must be able to recognize important turning points and choose the best strategies for achieving objectives. In addition, project managers must be able to create workable plans and carry them out while also making necessary revisions.

The capacity to recognize hazards and generate countermeasures is a crucial component of critical thinking in project management (Ciric et al., 2022). This involves the capacity to identify potential hazards, create backup plans, evaluate the potential impact of those risks, and choose the most effective ways to mitigate or eliminate them. The possibility of external hazards must also be understood by project managers, who must be prepared to create plans to lessen or eliminate them. Finally, project managers must be able to analyze the status of the project and come to conclusions regarding how to effectively manage its resources and staff. This involves the capacity to evaluate the team's performance, pinpoint areas for development, and create plans to deal with any problems or difficulties.

References

Ciric Lalic, D., Lalic, B., Delić, M., Gracanin, D., & Stefanovic, D. (2022). How project management approach impact project success? From traditional to agile. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 15(3), 494-521.

Haddud, A., & Khare, A. (2020). Digitalizing supply chains potential benefits and impact on lean operations. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 11(4), 731-765.

Stevenson, W. J. (2019). Operations management. Measurement, 288, 325-326.