International Operational and Logistics - Assignment Example

?The Cooperative Introduction The Co-operative Group Ltd is a company based in UK Manchester and it deals with the provision of various products and services to its customers. Its slogan ‘Good for Everyone’ is greatly known to its customers. The company deals with food, pharmaceutical services, financial services like banking and insurance, travel, legal activities as well as funeral services. The company employs about 120,000 employees providing their services to more than 21 million customers per week mainly through online services. The company boasts of over 3,000 food stores as well as supermarkets in the UK. It is widely recognized for its outstanding quality products and services that attract new customers daily. The society also recognizes honesty and good ethical values in its marketing system. The customers enjoys the company’s goods and services at affordable rates and the service speed is outstanding but with quality. The company also operates an impressive food supply chain logistics and Somerfield services which include; collection from warehouse, distribution, consolidation of products delivered to a single point, storage facilities and refrigeration, picking services as well as break bulk facilities. This is successful through well organized transport system. As much as company boasts of outstanding market system, various improvements should be implemented at some operational stages for quality assurance diversity of economy. Current operations and supply chain The company aims to reduce the cost of goods and services they provide to their customers. It has made it successful through online services and delivering goods to various accessible points. The company has several branches all over the UK and has plans to make further extensions. This would make sure that all its operations are accessible to all potential customers due to its wide range of market operations. Through a well organized transport system involving more than 1000 vehicles, the Co-operative food supply Chain Logistics and Somerfield operations ensure quality food supply involving temperature regulated, and facilities for chilled as well as frozen products to more than 4000 stores. The supply chain of food products involves a wide range of services involving timely collection of products from the manufacturer of warehouse, to the required destinations or centers, consolidation of products transported at a single point, temperature regulated storage facilities, picking of goods and facilities for break bulk. Food stuff is made to remain as pristine as fresh by ensuring that they are carried in temperature controlled facilities. The company uses a well transport system and an effective network of which goods can be delivered to various centers or Somerfield RDC within 24 hours. The frozen food supply is based in three center depots namely Harthill, Halesowen and Thedford. This ensures effective collection of goods from the supplier for distribution from those centers. A well established network ensures that all goods are delivered to their designated centers on time whenever needed. Various stations like central hub in Alfreton, Derbyshire and other RDC centers provide most of the company’s effective storage facilities. The company’s warehouse services offer case picking operations for storing the stock, picked and taken care of by the management on the customers’ behalf. The co-operative food supply Chain logistics encourages its people to contribute in the improvement of the business culture through open communication as well as learning. The group is well connected to the investors and its customers because of its good ethical values that render honesty, openness, social accountability and caring for others. This is it operates with the mission of becoming the best performing team in UK food supply and logistics. With various improvements in the company, the Co-operative Food Chain Logistics have experienced fruitful change in culture and behaviors hence creating openness and honesty. This has coupled with a series of improvement in leadership qualities and ensuring talent in the society (Lawrence & Robert 1995). Process type and areas of management The co-operative Group offers diversified services and goods in the UK. The services range from manufacturing, shopping, professional services as well as service to the public. The company as well provides a wide range of products to its esteemed customers. It is generally known for its best food products, being ranked the fifth food marketing company in the UK. Various areas to be managed include the following. Financial services; the company provides financial services in banking such as mortgages, loans, current accounts, credit cards as well as saving as saving and investment. These services are in operation in about 250 branches. The Co-operative Group is the only high street bank in the UK having an elaborate ethical policy depending on the views of the customers. Another attractive financial service that I would like to encourage many customers is the insurance section. a wide variety of insurance services include; car insurance, insurance products for home, life and health insurance, building and building material insurance as well as travel and commercial insurance. In fact, Co-operative Group was the first company to establish an Eco-motor insurance policy as an online motor insurance provider. The services to all centers are provided for 24 hours. The company also offers long term savings investment products which include stock and shares. These services are provided by a team of highly c competent and qualified professionals who offer financial advice to the customers in their homes or through its banking branches. The Co-operative Group also offers asset management program to manage properties. The company also provides a swift banking system known as internet banking whereby it offers on line financial services like current account, saving and investment, loans and mortgages. Funeral services; The Co-operative group not only focuses on its business to make profits but it extends to the public and to offer financial assistance or services at subsidized rates. It offers local funeral services encouraged by the strength and support of the organization that is unique and in a class of its own. The company aims at providing the best services to its clients as well to invest in the community in which the company offers the services. A portion of the company’s profits is transferred to the community projects and fundraising to support the bereaved children. The Co-operative funeral care has a high qualified director who has ensured high quality care and has made the company proud by making it the best funeral trade association in the UK. The company provides its clients and loved ones with excellent care by offering funeral homes, facilities as well as funeral vehicles that are maintained at high standards. These services are not limited to free legal advice to its esteemed clients. This is concerned with legal and administrative procedures that supposed to be followed following any death. Legal services; the company offers legal services mainly dealing with writing of will, probate management, home moving, legal individual assistance claims about personal injury and employment complains. These legal services also include claims related to financial and funeral care. Pharmacy; The co-operative pharmacy is the third largest pharmacy chain company in the UK. It is focused on improving the health status of all the members as well as the community through provision of ethical and caring pharmacy and health care services. The company ensures effective delivery of healthcare advice, medicines as well as health screening and testing. Travel; the Co-operative travel has direct sales through the internet, home workers as well as telephone. It is the largest travel organization operating in over 360 high street travel including call centers, booking online and taking care of passengers. Therefore, the company offers a wide range of holiday services to various families and clients for leisure, luxury, flights, cruises and many other holiday offers. Food; The Co-operative food provides the largest section in the company operating in about 2,900 stores and supermarkets. The company offers a wide variety of food stuffs ranging from fruits, vegetable, meat and snacks. Improvement The Co-operative group has continued to experience a series of achievements with few challenges. However, for better and complete achievement of the company’s goals and vision, various alterations should be done to the company extension system. One of the major Co-operative Group improvements is through total quality management approach. This is a common approach that is usually used by independent companies for improvement of the customer service (Taylor-Powell & Richardson, 1990). Total quality management helps in improving customer service delivery so as to ensure effective customer satisfaction. Total quality management involves the use of various techniques which are developed and implemented in the business processes. Therefore, I would like to encourage all interested members to visit the Co-operative Group society and join others in enjoying the fruits of its services. References Birchall, J (1994) Co-op: the people's business. Manchester University Press . Boone , L E and Kurtz, D.L. (2010)Contemporary Business .John Wiley and Sons. Lawrence D. F, Robert M. L. (1995).Applying Total Quality Management in Cooperative Extension, vol 33 (3), South Carolina Peppers, Don Martha Rogers, Ph.D. (2008). Rules to Break and Laws to Follow. Wiley. pp. 24, 164 Taylor-Powell, E., & Richardson, B. (1990). Issues programming changes Extension. Journal of Extension, 28 (Summer), 16-17. Tenner, A. R et al (1992). Total quality management. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. The Co-operative About the Company Accessed on 28th Feb 2010 fromhttp://www.co-operative.coop/ Turban, Efraim (2002). Electronic Commerce: A Managerial Perspective. NJ: Prentice Hall Read More