Complete 10 page APA formatted essay: Generic Strategies and Whirlpool Operations.The product ranges included Deep Freezers, Refrigerators, Microwave Ovens, Washing Machines, Hand Dryers, pressure coo

Complete 10 page APA formatted essay: Generic Strategies and Whirlpool Operations.

The product ranges included Deep Freezers, Refrigerators, Microwave Ovens, Washing Machines, Hand Dryers, pressure cookers, and Air Conditioners etc and also included many important brands such as Whirlpool itself. It is also important to note that the company also supplies to other brands such as Sears, Roebuck whereas it also sells its products under a different brand name of Kenmore.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Whirlpool initiated certain important changes in its operations in a bid to restructure itself to become more efficient and productive. Such initiatives included global procurement, Inventory Management, Push to Pull Manufacturing as well as other initiatives which saw an unprecedented growth of the company.

This paper will discuss and provide an overview of the Whirlpool’s environment and its strategies in terms of its initiatives for operations management initiatives. Further, two different models will be used to discuss each of the three questions.

Whirlpool started to restructure its operations during the 1990s in order to achieve efficiencies as well as to allow itself to emerge as a true global leader. In order to achieve more operational efficiency, it took significant steps such as internal-reorganization of the different departments and processes, the formation of various strategic alliances as well as taking other miscellaneous steps which basically ensured that the firm remains competitive in an extremely competitive environment.

The initiation of the six sigma as well as operational excellence programs, the firm basically attempted to step into lean manufacturing era. Thus a new set of initiatives started to emerge such as extensive use of information technology as the strategic tool to achieve significant competitive advantage over the competitors in almost every market. The global product development, as well as its global platform, allows it to transfer its key processes across its different manufacturing facilities as well as various brands that it markets across the world.&nbsp.