SMU MBA SEM 4 OM WINTER 2014 ASSIGNMENTS

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OM 0015 – MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT

1 Write short notes on :

Ø  Need for maintenance management

Ø  Maintenance resources

Ø  Decentralised maintenance

Ø  Reliability Centred Maintenance

2 Optimising Maintenance at XYZ Electricals

XYZ Electricals is one of the leading manufacturers of electrical utilities. The organisation is well known for delivering quality products to consumers. It has adopted

A preventive maintenance (PM) approach for the maintenance of its machines and equipment. However, in the last few months, the organisation has observed an increase in:

Ø  Maintenance costs

Ø  Facility downtime

Ø  Frequent failures of components

After thorough analysis, it has been found that the main cause behind all the problems is the excessive use of preventive maintenance. The organisation also realized that it must adopt a maintenance process that maintains a balance between the requirements and resources of maintenance.

Therefore, XYZ decided to implement maintenance optimization procedures in the plant. Various optimization techniques were developed to convert traditional preventive maintenance into a cost - effective program. These techniques aimed at:

Ø  Identifying assets that affect plant operations

Ø  Identifying assets that may benefit most from preventive maintenance

Ø  Selecting the most appropriate preventive tasks

Ø  Combining appropriate traditional maintenance tasks with predictive

Ø  maintenance tasks

Ø  Implementing appropriate training methods to apply optimization techniques

After implementing maintenance optimisation techniques, the benefits that XYZ received after optimising its maintenance are:

Ø  Reduction in maintenance costs by removing unnecessary corrective maintenance expenses

Ø  Improvement in understanding of assets

Ø  Application of cost – effective preventive maintenance techniques

Ø  Better assessment of functioning of assets when they are in operation

What are the problems at XYZ Electricals? Which was adopted to overcome the problems? Assess if the solution is effective in resolving the problem.

A List the problems at XYZ

Describe the reason behind the problems

Discuss the solution adopted to overcome the problem

List the benefits of the solution

Argue/conclude if the solution is effective

3 Write short notes on:

 Production philosophy

 Mean Time to Repair

 Maintenance documentation

 Online or permanent condition monitoring

4 Which are the common tasks performed in maintenance management?

List the common tasks in preventive maintenance

Discuss the common tasks in preventive maintenance

Give example for each common tasks in preventive maintenance

5 What are the benefits and issues related to predictive maintenance?

List the benefits

Discuss the benefits

List the issues

Discuss the issues

6 Write short notes on

Ø  Structure of maintenance budget

Ø  Role of maintenance auditor

Ø  Codification of spare parts

Ø  Types of maintenance benchmarking

OM 0016 – QUALITY MANAGEMENT

1 Answer the following questions:

a. What is the need for quality management?

b. What are the advantages of ISO 9000 standards?

c. What is the structure of Quality Management System (QMS)?

d. Explain any four attributes of a quality leader.

a. Explain the reasons for need for quality management from the point of view of an organisation, seller or manufacturer.

b. List the advantages of ISO 9000 standards

c. Explain the three levels of QMS

d. Description of any four attributes of a quality leader

2 Write short notes on:

Ø  QS 9000

Ø  Attaining quality culture through employees

Ø  Importance of quality control

Ø  Double sampling plan

3 Forces of change are the factors that drive or stimulate the need for a change in an organisation. Some of these are external, arising from outside the organisation whereas others are internal, arising from sources within the organisation. Discuss the external and internal forces of change.

Describe external forces of change

Discuss the FOUR key categories of external forces of change

Describe internal forces of change

Discuss any FOUR key categories of internal forces of change

4 “Six Sigma In Healthcare

Published: Jun 12 2004, 00:00 IST

Written by Mr. Gopal Kulkarni, Master Black Belt - Six Sigma and Founder & Managing Director, Synagoge Knowledge Services

Six Sigma is a powerful problem solving technique that helps in reducing variation in any process by using powerful statistical tools for analysis. Six sigma has been successfully used by various organizations as an enabler for business strategies leading to huge additions in their yearly turnover and at the same time improving customer satisfaction by quantum leaps. This article describes how this methodology can be used in hospitals to enhance customer care activities and reduce wastage to improve the bottom line.

Healthcare In India

A huge percentage of the expenditure in the healthcare segment is borne by the government sector. A large chunk of money spend on healthcare by private organizations is limited to urban areas. There is a growth in investment from private organizations in the tertiary healthcare sector. They provide for the multi-specialty hospitals and super specialty hospitals. A large part of the government funds go into primary healthcare and the rest goes into the upkeep of large hospitals.

When we consider the large hospitals (private or government) there is increasing pressure on the organization to better their performance in customer care and at the same time suffer huge price pressures because of the increasing influence of insurance in healthcare. Rapidly changing technologies, escalating manpower costs, increased regulations and consumer activism leads to further pressures to reduce costs and enhance productivity and ROI.

How does six sigma help? Let us take an example of a patient undergoing a diagnostic examination. The process steps for the diagnostic examination would be: Let us look at this process from two angles: One from the customer’s (patient) point of view and another from the hospitals’ point of view. From a patient’s angle his need would be that of a defect free report in the shortest possible time. He would also expect reasonable charges for the service, comfortable environment and a courteous staff. From the hospitals angle, the need would be to maximize the number of patients attended to within an available time period so as to minimize the cost of examination and ensure customer loyalty. Given these two needs you will find that the goals of both the hospital and the patient are one and the same. If the hospital is able to minimize the time for turnaround, it can maximize the number of examinations and utilize its diagnostic equipment to the fullest. This is where six sigma can help. It can reduce the variation in the time taken for a particular process. For example, let us try to reduce the variation in the time taken for a diagnostic scan. The time taken is defined as the time period from when the patient enters the hospital / clinic to the time he gets the report. When data of this time is collected over a period of time, it can be represented by a normal distribution curve as shown below. As the curve becomes flatter, the variation is higher. Let us assume that the mean time is 4 hours and standard deviation (a measure of variation) 1 hour.

Going by the characteristics of the normal curve it would mean that 99.73% of the patients get their reports between one and seven hours. If the standard deviation is reduced by half it would mean that the same process can give an output within 2.5 to 5.5 hrs. How does one go about reducing the variation or even the mean? The output (time taken for scanning) can be represented in a mathematical form: Y is the output and the X’s are the variables affecting the output. The power of six sigma lies in identifying those X variables that have the maximum impact on the variation and also those X’s that have the maximum impac on the mean time. Using tools like hypothesis testing, simulation design of experiments etc, we can arrive at the critical X’s. When we control these X’s, we can reach our goal of minimizing the time taken for scanning.

What benefits does the hospital derive from this?

• Reduced output time, leading to better utilization of time

• Higher productivity, savings on manpower cost per patient

• Improved cycle time, leading to customer satisfaction and more loyalty

We can replace the diagnostic time by any other parameter like: Reduced pharma inventories, Reduction in discharge time, Price realization, Cost/bed, Bed utilization, Plugging revenue leakage, Asset utilization and Reducing patient queues.

Improvements

Six Sigma methodology can still be applied to improve these parameters. The robustness and foolproof data collection needed for the application of Six sigma in services is achieved by the increased use of information technology. Although, the solution itself is derived from the six sigma process the use of IT in the method ensures consistency and reduction in variation.

In conclusion it can be said that the absence of a physical product as in the healthcare sector does not stop or limit the usage of this excellent tool that can streamline your business and increase the turnover. All that is required would be rigorous data collection and data based decision making.”

Source: Kulkarni Gopal. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/six-sigma-in-healthcare/107164/0

Question:

From the above articles evaluate how six sigma can aid enhance healthcare.

List the areas where six sigma can be applied in health care

Describe how six sigma can improve processes in healthcare.

List the benefits of six sigma in healthcare

Assess if six sigma can improve processes and deliver value to the patient/customer

5 Elaborate on Quality Function Deployment (QFD).

Define QFD

List the elements that are required to facilitate QFD

List the components of QFD

Describe the QFD process

List the benefits of QFD

6 a. Explain the different modes of failures.

b. What is terotechnology?

c. What are reasons for using gap models?

d. Explain the types of Knowledge Support System (KSS).

a. Outline the THREE modes of failures

b. Define terotechnology, list the tasks it performs and who uses it and why

c. List the reasons for using gap models

d. Explain the TWO types of KSS

OM 0017 – ADVANCED PRODUCTION AND PLANNING CONTROL

1 a. What is the importance of production planning and control?

b. What factors affect inventory planning and control?

c. What is the difference between batch and mass production?

a. List the importance of production planning and control

b. Discuss the three factors that affect inventory planning and control

c. List the differences between batch and mass production

2 What is a master schedule? Explain.

Ø  Define master schedule

Ø  List the features of a master schedule

Ø  Discuss the process of master scheduling

Ø  List the uses of master schedule

Ø  List the characteristics of master schedule

Ø  Describe the factors related to demand management that should be kept in mind While developing the master schedule

3 What are the different types of planning and scheduling tools? Explain.

List the three types of planning and scheduling tools

Discuss the three types of planning and scheduling tools

4a. What are the pillars of lean production?

b. What factors should be considered while implementing a production planning and control system?

a. List the pillars of lean production

Discuss then pillars of lean production

b. List the factors that help in the successful implementation a production planning and control system

Explain each factor in brief

5 Case Study: Planning and Scheduling at John Smith Pvt .Ltd

John Smith is a manufacturing organisation of apparels and accessories, specialising in both men and women segments. The organisation started in the US and gradually extended its different branches and merchandise to other nations as well. The organisation was not only favoured by customers but was also loved by its employees for the work environment it provided. Employees were not only paid well but were also provided good appraisals that motivated them to give their best to the organisation.

Current planner Mr. Jackson had been working with the organisation for the past 15 years and now wanted to take retirement from his work due to his age. The organisation bid him farewell and Mr.Max was hired as the new planner for the organisation on the basis of his qualifications and experience. After Mr. Max completed 1 year, the organisation observed dissatisfaction

Among its employees. The reason was that employees were not happy with the way production was carried out. There was too much pressure on employees, and Mr. Max was accepting more orders than the workers could manage.

This was demotivating workers and employees, and as a result , the company observed the highest attrition rate in its history. The management immediately reacted to the situation and called back Mr. Jackson as an external planning consultant to address the issue at the earliest,

Because management was losing its manpower, which was affecting the business.

Mr. Jackson paid a visit to the organisation and studied the records for the past 1 year.

He also

Had a discussion with the new planner, Mr. Max, for the current appraisal system. On the basis of his observations and discussions, Mr. Jackson made certain conclusions. He stated that Mr. Max was not following the appropriate production process, because the number of orders accepted for production was more than the resources available at the production unit. He also stated that the problem was not completely Mr. Max’s fault, because the organisation did not train him on the existing production process and neither did they make him aware of the competitors and the market.

Question

What is main issue in the case study? Evaluate why this issue was caused and provide a solution to resolve it.

A Describe the main issue in the case study.

To evaluate why the issue was caused

o   Assess if the recruitment of the new planner was done correctly

o   Discuss if the planner has the requisite skills and knowledge

o   Argue if training the planner would have resolved the problem, would performance measurement helped in identifying the issue

o   Provide the solution from point of view evaluation made

6 Write short notes on:

Ø  Cost centre

Ø  Objectives of sales and operations planning

Ø  Bills of Distribution (BOD)

Ø  Advanced scheduling

OM0018- TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT

1 a. Explain Technology Management at various levels

b. Discuss briefly about strategic technology management.

a. Explaining Technology Management in 3 levels

b. Explaining strategic technology management

2 a. Write about the changing trends in the industry

b. Explain the methods for Strategic Analysis and Decision Making

a. Write about the changing trends in the industry

b. Explaining the three methods for strategic analysis and decision making

3 a. Explain about the concept of strategic planning

b. Describe the concept of technology maps.

c. What is technology forecasting?

a. Explaining the concept of strategic planning

b. Describing the concept of technology maps

c. Briefing on technology forecasting

4 What is the impact of the technology change on the following:

a. Organisational productivity

b. Quality of work life

a. Impact of technology change on Organisational productivity

b. Impact of technology change on Quality of work life

5 Demonstrate Global Information System with neat diagram.

Neat diagram of GIS

Demonstration of GIS

6 Explain the conceptual framework of Management of Technology with a neat diagram

Diagram

Explaining the conceptual framework