Question:REPORT BRIEF You have been appointed as a Senior Consultant to report to the Board of Directors of a major UK car manufacturer.

Question:REPORT BRIEF You have been appointed as a Senior Consultant to report to the Board of Directors of a major UK car manufacturer. The task you have been set is to write an analytical report to focus on the 'Operations Strategy' of car makers in a global business environment and the major operations good practice they have adopted. You are specifically tasked to: 1. Describe the key strategic issues that UK carmakers have faced (e.g. Toyota, Volkswagen) since the global financial crisis and more recent quality & environmental challenges. In your response, consider the implications of these issues on the competitive performance of your selected carmaker. 2. Assess the lessons that have been learnt and influence that the Japanese car manufacturers (i.e. 'lean thinking', 'quality' leadership) have had for your selected carmaker and implications for setting up operations and/or supply chains in low cost countries (i.e. BRIC countries). 3. Evaluate the statement "Green business is good business" from the perspective of what the Operations function can contribute to your selected organisation environmental performance. Consider in your response, whether you can justify a relationship between 'being green' and 'being lean'? 4. Based on your analysis, list some recommendations to your selected carmaker to remain competitive in a turbulent and global business environment. Note: Your recommendations should be listed, following your conclusion and clearly relate to your analysis in the main body (to questions 1 - 3).