Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Operations Management - Essay Example It is evident from the study that service and manufacturing supply chains share a lot more in common than the way they differ. In the process of delivering service products, manual processes that require human beings is involved. So, the solutions that use standardization and automation in improving operation efficiency in the service industry are less applicable. In addition to this, the labor intensive industries require more advanced scheduling systems so that they can coordinate effectively the prefaces of commonalities. The customers in the service industry play a great role in the delivery of services during the delivery process or even the service initiation process unlike in the manufacturing business. A good example is the electronic repair service. The involvement of customer delivery has an impact in service heterogeneity and impacts the service quality. The distinctive needs by the customers do change the content of each service product offered. As a result, it makes the service quality hard to measure and also monitor. The service which is provided by the service industries is often intangible for instance; education is one of the services. Intangibility leads to three issues: First, it’s difficult to score, secondly, it’s difficult to account for and thirdly, it’s difficult to identify suppliers. An intangible good as many believes can only be stored in books. This characteristic then shifts the focus of management from buffering by inventory to ensuring capacity flexibility and also managing capacity. One of the ways in which service procurement can better be controlled is by implementing a two-way match of the service receiving process. Here, the purchasing documents as well as the invoices are matched upon receiving and this process includes matching of the invoice, purchase order and shipping document in manufacturing. Unfortunately, in the service receiving process, counting of physical goods is a missing link. It becomes difficult in the start of the procurement process to identify the suppliers. The service buyer is not always sure of the specification of the service been procured. In addition to this, due to the intangibility of the service, you find that the service quality is very hard to measure (Andrew & Michael 2005). Simultaneity of production and consumption: Unlike in the case of the manufactured good, the services are created and consumed at the same time. You find that once the service has been created, there is no lead time in the middle to buffer against uncertainties. Combined with difficulties in storing these services, it isn’t surprising seen that a flexible capacity is vital to the success of a service supply chain (Andrew & Michael 2005). Customer supplier duality: A good example to explain duality is the electronic repair service. Here, you find that a customer supplies the malfunctioning electronics and in return,

Textron Case Essay Example for Free

Textron Case Essay 1) How does Textron make money? Textron is able to make money as a result of 4 defining aspects of its business model: a. Textron is a conglomerate: by purchasing a variety of companies, Textron is able to share technology between its business units thus increasing its competitive advantage in these respective units. For instance, lessons learned in aerodynamics at Bell Helicopters can be used in the construction of aircraft at Cessna. Additionally, because of Textrons size, it increases its buyer power and can take advantage of economies of scale when purchasing from the common suppliers across business units. b. Diversification: Textron has purchased a variety of companies that complement one another such as different target markets (regular consumers vs. government consumers) and both high and low priced products (ex: hardware tools vs. private jets). Thus, like a well diversified stock portfolio, Textron is able to hedge its exposure to risk between its various business units (if one industry performs poorly one year, another industry may fair better). c. Vertically integrated: in Textrons history it developed a vertically integrated company that controlled every operational aspect of the business from raw goods to processing to distribution. Thus, it has been able to control the costs of many aspects of its business d. Finance business unit: Additional revenue is generated through the earned interest from customers who purchase credit from Textron in order to purchase Textron products. This revenue stream keeps customers in the Textron environment instead of losing customers to other credit-granting financial institutions. This Textron environment also: * Creates a one-stop-shop that can increases Textrons stickiness to its customers (also increase customer retention), which may lead to longer and stronger customer relationships. * Creates flexibility since Textron can offer more favourable interest rates than other financial institutions to promote more Textron sales 2) Assessment of Textrons: Assessment of Exhibit 1: Textron is investing heavily in assets that are not producing the sales or profits required to sustain its growth. Hence, its only choice is to finance its growth, which increases its debt and risk of bankruptcy. Textron needs to improve its asset management by increasing the output of its assets (such as PPE), changing its assets or improving its days inventory. Textron can increase the outputs of its assets by training staff to use equipment and tools more effectively or upgrade equipment and tools that can increase productivity. Textron can decrease its days inventory by improving its sales forecasting in order to produce only enough units that are demanded by the market. 3) Assessment of Textrons Cash Flow: Analysis of Cash Flow Statements 2004-2006 (in millions): * Under CFO * Net income nearly tripled from 2005 (203) to 2006 (601) * Under CFI * Net cash used in acquisitions increased significantly from 2005 (28) to 2006 (502) * Under CFI the Net Cash Used in Investing Activities of Continuing Operations has more than doubled from 2004 (800) to 2006 (2062) however, under CFO, the Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of Continuing Operations has not doubled nor has it grown significantly from 2004 (949) to 2006 (1017). * Under CFF * In 2004 the Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (Net CFO) is 950 and the Net Cash used in Investing Activities (Net CFI) 818. Therefore Textron generated enough cash to finance its investment activity (950-818 = 135). By contrast, in 2005 and 2006, Textron has had to use debt to finance its investments since in 2005 the Net CFO is 1036 million and Net CFI 1195 million (delta = -159) and in 2006 the Net CFO is 969 but the CFI is 1409 (delta = -440). By increasing the amount of debt, Textron increases its risk of going bankrupt in the future should the company not be able to meet its debt obligations. * Final Assessment of Cash Flow Statement: It seems that Textron is making a good amount of cash through its operations but this cash is not enough to feed its investment activities. Even worse, the increased investment has had little impact in increasing cash inflow. * Assessment of Exhibit 2: All of the above ratios are point towards poor cash flow management except Current Ratio. Thus Textrons favourable Current Ratio can be interpreted as Textron has the ability to pay off its liabilities only if it sells its large inventory (indicated by its large Days Inventory value). 4) Textrons use of LIFO and FIFO: e. Textrons income before taxes in 2006 using FIFO * Under current method: * The beginning inventory of 2006+purchase -COGS=the ending inventory of 2006 * 1,712 + purchase 8,528 = 2,069(in millions) let this calculation be called A

Editha :: essays research papers

Editha   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning Editha is war hungry. She wants her country to go to war, and she wants George to go and fight. Even though the author doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t give the age of Editha, I believe she acts very childish, and immature. I understand loving your country and wanting to fight for it, but one must also realize the danger that comes along with it. She is obsessed with her country and fighting for it. She puts an ultimatum on George. He is unsure of the war, and unsure of fighting in it, but she constantly pushes him to go. She even evolves God in it. Saying à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“God meant it to be warà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (273). She is speaking of it, as if it was a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Holy Warà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. This is not the case, and George does not buy into it, but she keeps pushing him. The ultimatum comes when he says à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll come back to supper, if youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll let me. Perhaps I shall bring you a convertà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (272). She repl ies with à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Well, you may come back, on that conditionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (272). She is putting à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“if, and only ifà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? requirements on his return to her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once he leaves, she gets more demanding, and writes him a letter explaining that if he doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t make the right (or her) decision, then the engagement will be off. Her love of country is more important than the love of her man; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“There is no honor above America with me. In this great hour there is no other honorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (273). Editha is very set in this train of thought, she can see no other way, and no other options but to fight. If George does not fight, then she cannot marry him. She is forcing her morals, and ideals down his throat, and he does not have a chance to stand up for his own. Editha claims, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“She could not accept for her country or herself a forced sacrificeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (273). Yet this is exactly what she is doing. These few rational insights lead me to believe that Editha suffers from some sort of mental instability. She claims not to want a forced sacrifice, yet this is what she does, and when a ratio nal insight crosses her mind, she recognizes it, yet she dismisses it as fast as it came to her. I feel that she guiltà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s George into going to war, and is very proud to have done so, when she learns of his decision.

French and European Architecutre in 1600 :: essays papers

French and European Architecutre in 1600 The Baroque style of painting during the 1600 and 1700’s reflects an intense interest in expressing human emotion through art. Biblical scenes and representations of biblical characters are a common link between art works of that time throughout the different areas of Europe. Caravaggio represents the typical Italian Baroque artist at that time but possesses many artistic qualities uniquely his own. Bartolome Eseban Murillo, represents the typical Spanish Baroque painter. Both these painters demonstrate Baroque style, yet they have truly unique styles from each other. Caravaggio’s St. John the Baptist in the Wilderness is typical of Italian Baroque style during the 1600s and 1700s. Characteristics of Italian Baroque style are sharp contrasts of light and dark, violent movement created through the use of diagonals, and intense emotional expressions of theatrical scenes. Caravaggio’s style exhibits many of these same characteristics. The painting was originally intended for an altarpiece in a small oratory in a town west of Genoa. The massive size of the canvas leads to the belief that this painting would have been the focus in the oratory. The size of St. John is extremely large in comparison to the size of the canvas. His presence encompasses most of the canvas making him the focus of the piece. The actual iconography of Caravaggio’s painting is typical of it’s time period, yet the portrayal of John the Baptist is what makes this piece unique. Unlike most portrayals of biblical figures, that St. John appears naturalistic and not idealized. Caravaggio expresses this naturalism in the dirty, grimy feet of St. John. The fact that St. John is p ictured alone is also nontraditional for this time period. He appears to be resting, his head hung slightly down, in the desolate wilderness, appearing defeated and worn out. The atmosphere intensifies his loneliness. The wilderness behind him feels dark, morose, and lonely. Details are absent from the atmosphere except for a small plant which sits on the ground by itself. The plant echoes the loneliness of St. John. The atmospheric presence enhances the feel of the subject but is not the focus. Caravaggio possesses a unique style in which he manipulates lighting to create a vivid visual effect. The lighting starkly focuses on St. John, putting him into the direct line of view. Caravaggio’s creative use of lighting also becomes apparent in the sharp contrasts of light and dark in this painting.

Victimology: Crime and Deviant Place Theory

Victimology: neither a victim nor an offender be. Caution is a parent of safety. Victimology is the scientific study of victimization, including the relationships between victims and offenders, the interactions between victims and the criminal-justice system, and the connections between victims and other social groups and institutions. Victimology as an academic term contains two elements: one is the Latin word â€Å"Victima† which translates into â€Å"victim† and the other is the Greek word â€Å"logos† which means a system of knowledge, the direction of something abstract, the direction of teaching, science, and a discipline.The concept of victim dates back to ancient cultures and civilizations, such as the ancient Hebrews. Its original meaning was rooted in the idea of sacrifice or scapegoat — the execution or casting out of a person or animal to satisfy a deity or hierarchy. Over the centuries, the word victim came to have additional meanings. The fie ld of victimology emerged in the 1940s when two European criminologists named Von Hentig and Mendelsohn, often called the â€Å"fathers of victimology,† began studying crime victims. They suggested the theory that the victim's behavior and attitude caused the crime to be committed.The field of victimology originally devoted most of its energy to examining the numerous ways victims shared the responsibility of specific crimes with the criminal offenders. For a long time, criminologists focused their attention strictly on the role of the criminal. But over the years, it has been discovered that the role of the victim is actually very important as well, as it can influence fate and shape and motivate a criminal. Today, there are a number of theories attempting to explain victimization and its causes.A few of the most common and important theories are the victim precipitation theory, the lifestyle theory and the deviant place theory. The victim precipitation theory suggests that some people cause or initiate a particular confrontation that may eventually lead to that person becoming victimized by injury or death. Such precipitation on part of the victim can either be active or passive. Active precipitation exists when the victim knowingly acts in a provocative manner, uses fighting words or threats, or simply attacks first.Passive precipitation however, occurs when the victim contains characteristics that unknowingly motivates or threatens the attacker. Such crimes can exist due to personal conflicts such as two individuals competing for a love interest, a promotion, a job, or any other desirable or rare commodity. A woman may receive a promotion and become a victim of violence because of the jealousy of someone she may or may not even know. Such precipitation may also exist when a victim is part of a particular group that offends or threatens someone's economic well-being, status or reputation. Next is the lifestyle theory.Many criminologists believe that those whose lifestyle increases criminal exposure are more likely to become victims of crime. Behaviors such as going out late at night, associating with younger men, and residing in cities increases the chances of falling victim to crime. Those who choose high-risk lifestyles which include taking drugs, drinking, and participating in criminal activities run a much higher risk of becoming victims. Also, the more time someone is exposed to street life, the greater their chance of becoming victims. Young men in particular have a very high risk of victimization.College students who tend to spend several nights partying each week are also more likely to be at risk than those who avoid such unstable lifestyles. Those who commit crimes increase their chances of becoming victim of crimes as well. Another theory is the deviant place theory. This theory holds that victims do not motivate crime but rather are prone to becoming victims simply because they live in social areas that are disorgan ized and contain high-crime rates and therefore have the highest risk of coming into contact with criminals regardless of their lifestyle or behavior.The more someone visits a high-crime area, the more chances they will have at becoming a victim. However, there is a lot we can do to prevent ourselves from being a victim. Some of the ways to prevent yourself from being victimized are: protect your vulnerability, be careful about the company you keep, lock up your valuables, spend some extra money on security. These are just a few of the things an individual can do to protect themselves from becoming victims of crimes. They may seem easy, yet not everyone takes advantage of the precautions.To protect your vulnerability basically means to not let your guard down in front of too many people that you do not know on a personal level. Do not allow yourself to become involved in anything where anyone may have the chance to blackmail you. Live your life in reproach and protect your reputatio n. Protecting your vulnerability ties in with being careful about the company you keep. Keep a small group of friends instead of letting yourself become impersonally involved with large groups of individuals. In addition, do not let strangers enter your home.Sometimes when an individual’s car breaks down they may need to use the phone, well if this ever happens to you, ask them what number they want to dial and you dial it for them. Also, developing a pattern of behavior allows bad guys to plan an attack or ambush, to track someone’s comings and goings. So they can plan when they can safely break into apartment. The time variation of coming and going, routes to work, school, gym or sometimes even coffeehouse seems to be solution to some extent. President Barack Obama goes for a run, or even travels anywhere, he never goes the same route twice.Sometimes we become a victim of situation. For example, you leave work late one night, and get stuck in the elevator, long every one else has gone home; you fall asleep on the subway and wake up lost; you get in a car wreck and skid off the road, down a 200 foot hill into a ravine, hidden from sight of the road. For that reason letting someone know when you are doing something different or going someplace you have not been before is probably would be better. It goes without saying that some of the crimes we attracting when we look like a potential target.Victims of violent crimes like a mugging or robbery call attention to themselves by either being oblivious to their surroundings or by looking helpless. It reminds one joke about attention that tells: â€Å"You probably won’t be robbed by screaming out ‘Rob Me! ’ but you definitely will be by walking and texting at the same time†. It is not a paradox but underworld has more victims than anything else.People who involve themselves in criminal activities for example such as fraud, assault, forgery, manslaughter, terrorism, robbery etc .  considered to be at the high risk to be a victim. Some of them become addicts or have nothing but debts to the old age and others found dead somewhere. Criminal world has his own fictional rules, which creates a vision of order and stability for â€Å"beginners† but in return of unquestioning obedience. Of course living by such â€Å"rules† breaks our real laws approved by society and government. But the thing is law enforcement’s chances to help if you are in criminal world become null and void.So even someday if you will be ready to get rid of a criminal past, criminal past probably will not be ready to let you go. From my point of view, today when we are living in technologically developed era proverb as â€Å"Caution is a parent of safety† should be taken into account more seriously. Consciously involving in criminal activities means big percentage of ending up dead or at least in jail because it is easier to trace illegal actions now, but at the same time naked photo of yours could be seen everywhere once you put it on Facebook.

Drunk Driving and Its Consequences

Drunk Driving and Its Consequences Driving involves the mind of the driver; for safe driving, drivers should make the right decision when on road; they should follow traffic rules as required by the law. When driving under the influence of alcohol, the risk of causing an accident is high. When someone is intoxicated with alcohol to a state of high blood alcohol content (BAC), his or her decision making capacity is hampered.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Drunk Driving and Its Consequences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Different states have different laws and legislations to legal drinking limit (blood alcohol content (BAC)), that someone can be allowed to drive. For instance some countries have blood alcohol content  in excess of 0.05% or 0.08% defines the offense while others have higher levels. Despite the varying rates, the underlying principle is that drinking under the influence of alcohol is risky (Laurence Gusfield, 1994). This paper dis cusses issues and consequences relating to drunk-driving. Issues around drunk-driving In all states of the United States, it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol beyond the set limit per state, according the countries legal definition, drunk driving is driving when one has taken alcohol to the extent that his or her mental  and  motor skills  are impaired. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 40% of death on road accidents in 2006 was as a result of drunk-driving; it estimated that 17,941 people died in 2006 in alcohol-related collisions. It is the realisation of such statistics that each state in the country has its own drunk-driving reinforcement measures and methods. Consequences of drunk-driving When driving under the influence of alcohol, the driver ignores traffic signs, symbols, and lights; with the ignorance there is high chance that he will do the forbidden causing an accident. In the United States for instance, the leading cause of deaths for people under the age of 24 years is motor vehicle wrecks, of which 40% are alcohol related. When driving, the driver is in control of the machine with the decisions that he will make, when someone is drunk, the decisions that he or she will make are likely to be triggered by the intoxication resulting to the wrong decision. Some of the common forms of accidents that drunkenness leads to include getting into ditch, rolling, hitting another car (either stationary or otherwise), using the wrong lane resulting to head on collision, hitting pedestrians, and unnecessary hooting. When any form of above form of accidents occurs, the passengers/pedestrian risks the chance of dying or suffering from permanent disability (Buddy, 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Accident related medical bills are a challenge to the authorities, they led to economic retard ation and stretching of medical facilities. When someone is a victim of an accident, the paid and the psychological trauma is likely to affect his lifestyle thereafter, the rate at which he will be producing or contributing to personal economic development will be hampered; the United States is among those nations with high rates of drunk-driving. The United States of America has enacted various laws and legislations to control drunk-drinking in the country. The policies include strict penalties on arrested offenders; the penalties include cancellation of one’s driving licence, imprisonment, and fine. Of the late, the country has enacted the Paradigm Developmental Model of Treatment (PDMT) which aims at rehabilitating drunk-driving drivers. To ensure that the laws are being followed, state governments’ works with traffic police to enforce the laws (Appel, 2009). References Appel, M. (2009). Must physicians report impaired driving? Rethinking a duty on a collision cours e with itself.  The Journal of Clinical Ethics, 20  (2): 136–40. Buddy, T. (2007). Drunk Driving The  Dangers. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/drunk-driving-the-dangers-63002 Laurence, R., Gusfield, F. (1994).  Confronting Drunk Driving. Yale: Yale University Press

The Crowdfunding Craze

The Crowdfunding Craze Crowdfunding sites pop up all over the internet, competing with the two big early giants Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Some crowdfunding sites cater more to creative artists, others to charitable projects or tech startups. A few dedicate themselves to fine writing, pushing the evolution of the publishing industry. These platforms create unique communities that pair writers and readers, letting them mingle online. The three currently vying for writers and supporters of fine prose are: Unbound: UK based. Believes that people who love books deserve a say in what gets published. The model is simple: The author pitches an idea. Readers support it. With enough support, the book is published Pubslush: (featured in 05/09/2014 FFW newsletter) similar to Kickstarter with tiered rewards. Allows authors to raise funds for books, publishing and literary events. All projects must raise a minimum of $500. If no one funds the project in the first 2 weeks, it disappears. The site provides authors with a platform to gauge reader interest. Once successfully funded and the manuscript has been uploaded, the fund button morphs into a purchase icon, driving sales. Inkshares: For novels, illustrated books and articles. Combines traditional aspects of legacy publishing houses, such as editing, marketing, book design and distribution with do-it-your-self entrepreneurial spirit, so authors play an active role throughout. Successful projects are edited I decided to test drive the Inkshares system, launching an article for Pollinator Week: Stung: In Search of Honey Bees. I set a modest goal of $540 for a 6,000 word piece. A big chunk of the funds will go towards editing. Believing that an early push helps drive others to fund, Inkshares kicks in an extra $5 for every new backer during the first 10 days of the campaign. Experience taught me crowdfunding requires diligence, especially if your audience isn’t web savvy. Although I reached over 35% of my goal in the first 3 days, in retrospect it would have been better to develop a clear marketing strategy before launching. Due to the lag time in magazine publishing some of my media blitzes will not appear until early August, near the end of my campaign. If I ever decide to launch a larger book crowdfunding project, this footwork will come first: = Line up 10 supporters in place to back small amounts immediately = Draft personal campaign letters to potential backers in advance; send immediately when project launches = Let relevant magazines, blogs and clubs know about the campaign in advance, identifying relevant tie-ins so they announce the project to their members/readers. = Engage in public events locally, spreading the word via flyers = Have a greater social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, etc. prior to launching, so I have increased name recognition and my campaign spreads online. All three sites allow the author to share drafts or excerpts during the funding phase, building excitement and enthusiasm in their sponsors. These sponsors turn into advocates, driving others to your work. Readers will often offer advice, comments and suggestions, creating a two-way exchange between the author and their audience.   Crowdfunding platforms have the potential to revolutionize the publishing industry, but they require dedication, enthusiasm and lots of advance planning.