Choosing Materials and Suppliers - Assignment Example

Choosing materials As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world in undertaking the activity of "choosing materials". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -Set up criteria for buying materials by asking the designers in every season to set their collections and based on the theme of the collections, we can choose the best materials. -Hiring staff whose responsibility is checking the quality of the materials rather than depending only on the production managers, we can have a department under the supervision of production manager to provide materials, check its quality and ensure that it matches with the designers’ collections theme -Increase the budget of buying materials so that we increase the variety of materials. This also contributes in enhancing the quality of the materials and consequently the products. Further, when we increase the budget, we can buy better quality materials offering at higher prices than we used to buy before. -There is a need to look at wider range of materials, perhaps by travelling aboard to choose the materials, where such materials can be cheaper and still produces better quality. Choose supplier As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world experience of undertaking the activity of "choosing suppliers". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -Setting regular meetings with production managers and CEO to decide the best suppliers to choose. These meetings should be held each time they are going to choose new suppliers. -On the meetings, a review study about the chosen suppliers will be done and based on the information they have about their services, materials and prices. This way, they can decide which supplier they are going to choose. Go through the entire supplier lists and select the best one who can follow the following: Reliable–no late delivery or faulty supplies Quality–This need to be consistent Flexibility–This will help the business to respond to customer quickly if demand is changing in term of fashion Value for money – The product is good enough for what the company is willing to pay. Financial security–It is essential to make sure that the suppliers have sufficiently strong cash flow Good service and communication–Good delivery and honesty of the suppliers Appreciate the experience of the senior staff As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world experience of undertaking the activity of "appreciating the experience of senior staff". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -set a new policy that gives departmental managers more freedom to set rules and take actions in their departments without limiting them by CEO interferences as long as they keep up with the company strategy and goals. -apply new policy to give more promotions and incentives to staff that have long experiences and have served in the company for long. This can motivate them more, to come up with new methods based on their knowledge and experience, which will enhance productions and other issues in the company Having the supply of sufficient workers As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world undertaking the activity of "Having the supply of sufficient workers". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -Hire professional workers and give them special training programs so they keep up with achieving management goals -Hire people within the industry so they might know the process inside out -Regularly evaluate workers performance. This will be done by departmental managers to ensure high level of performance and proficiencies among their workers. -Based on their evaluations, promotions and incentives will be given to the ones who perform well and fire any worker who perform badly -By adopting this process the company can ensure the efficiency and proficiency of their workers Be aware of supply of good designers As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world in undertaking the activity of "being aware of supply of good designers". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -Regularly check the designs and quality of the collections that are made by designers to measure their work and how well they perform. This will be done by production management department. -Hire only good designers whose work will meet the high standards of quality products for the company. -Hire designers from different nationalities who will come up with various collections so that they can target variety of preferences of different customers. -Recognize the importance of product development. Determining efficiency and efficacy criteria As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world in undertaking the activity of "determining efficiency and efficacy criteria". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -Reviewing and evaluating the work of every department on the weekly meetings -Evaluate the work of sales department and the profits gained for every season and adopting new accurate methods to measure daily sales forecasting. -Consulting and taking advices from market analysts to increase its sales -Setting short term (monthly) goals for each department e.g. increase profits in sales department, and evaluate it on a monthly basis, to see whether it has been achieved. -Review this through revenue, cash, new customer, customer royalty, market differentiation and innovation. Monitor operational and other activates As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world in undertaking the activity of "monitoring operational and other activities". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -Holding weekly managerial meetings to assess how well operational activities are performed -Based on the weekly meetings, the performance of the work will be evaluated and if something is going wrong in terms of operational activities or other activities, changes will be made to improve the situation. -In the weekly meetings, managers will prepare weekly detailed reports that include all details of their department work during the week, to be assessed by CEO. Hold formal meeting every month is also essential to see how effective departments are. Take appropriate control action As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world in undertaking the activity of "taking appropriate control action". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -To face any critical situations that may happen suddenly or to take appropriate actions, the senior management should hold meetings to discuss the situations and come up with the best action or solutions -These meetings are held before taking any actions or in the case of any problem or crisis that needs to be solved. -These meetings differ from the weekly managerial meetings that assess and evaluate the performance of the departments. -Managers need to understand the contributing factors to problems, and how the factors impacts on the key processes. Manager must figure out a workable solution. -Once the problem is identified, the manager must decide what corrective action to take by identifying and solving the problem in the key process. -Organisations may decide to discuss a problem and potential solutions with stakeholders. Monitor all activities within As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world in undertaking the activity of "monitoring all activities". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -We need to change monitoring strategies, by setting up a department with some extra staff to monitor company activities on a weekly basis, rather than on a daily basis, and then report back to the manager of each department at the end of the week. Take control action As mentioned in stage 5 there is a difference between the conceptual model and the real world in undertaking the activity of "taking control action". Thus, we suggest the following changes to be done: -Based on evaluations and assessment of the performance of the weekly meetings and based on the meetings that are held to solve problems and crisis, departmental mangers will have capabilities to take actions and to solve any crisis. -The managers will have weekly detailed reports for the work performance in addition to the weekly meetings. All of this helps managers to take appropriate actions. -Getting feedback is also important for the meeting because any feedback presents a room for improvement, allowing the opportunities to do better for the future. Read More