Improvements Registered in the Airport Operations - Essay Example

?Running head: OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Operations Management Insert Insert Grade Insert November 12, Process Chart for anInternational Airplane A process chart provides a diagrammatic presentation of the activities and processes involved in some operations. It is an important tool in identifying the essential features of a given work situation that can be used for future analysis (Institute of Management Services, 2011). The process charts provide a detailed analysis and description of a process to identify the range of adjustments or reinforcements that can be put in place to improve on the process. In this regard, process charts can be used at different levels depending on the details required and the stage of analysis. In all the representations of the process charts, there are common symbols that are used. The symbols were first developed and used by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (Institute of Management Services, 2011). The symbols are presented here below with their implications. This symbol represents an ongoing operation. It is the main step implying that a product or material is undergoing some modification This is a symbol for inspection. It signifies a check for quality of services or products in the process (Graham, 2008, p.1). This indicates the movements (transportation) of products or workers in the execution of a process (Graham, 2008, p.1). This represents storage whereby materials are received in the storage sections or issued from the storage houses (Graham, 2008, p.1). This shows a delay or temporary storage in the process. It can also represent equipment that has been put aside up to when it will be needed in the due course Process charts are significant as they indicate the actual situation at work rather than a theoretical perspective of the situation (Graham, 2008, p.4). The above symbols are used to present a process chart of the operations involved in a trip by an airplane from Gen Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport to some destination and back to the airport. The Logan international airport is the only international airport in Massachusetts and is served by over 40 international airlines (Maps of World, 2011). It involves an air trip from Logan International Airport to Amsterdam, Netherlands using KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines. The forth and back journeys take approximately 7 hours 15 minutes each without any stoppages. The activities involved in the entire process and their respective categories are presented in the chart. Time (hours) Chart Symbols Process description - N Booking of flights by the passengers .5 Arrival of the passengers at the Logan International Airport 1 ? Verification of the reservation by the travel attendants .5 ? Referring the passengers with incorrect information to the travel agency for verification ? Receiving and checking the baggage of the passengers ? Printing the receipts for the passengers’ baggage 1 ? Printing boarding card for all the passengers with or without a luggage ? Issuing the travel documents to the passengers .15 ? Checking the conditions of the aircraft - N Obtaining information on the weather conditions .5 ? Queuing of the passengers as they are checked-in and ushered into the aircraft in readiness for the departure - ? Departure from Logan International airport - On-board services like sales of snacks and other products or services offered by the travel agency 7.25 Air traffic control - ? Ground handling- Coordination with the attendants at the destination airport on the landing condition - ? Arrival at Amsterdam .5 ? Checking out of the passengers from the aircraft by the travel assistants .5 ? Verifications of the conditions of the passengers’ baggage using the baggage receipts 1 ? Verification (checking –in) of the travel documents by the travel agency at Amsterdam airport - Passenger’s departure to their different destination .5 ? Arrival of the passengers in readiness for the return journey 1 ? Verification (checking-out) of the passengers’ travel documents by the Amsterdam travel agency .25 ? Checking the conditions of the aircraft and refueling it. 1 ? Verification of flight documents and ushering in of the passengers - Departure 7.15 Air traffic control activities - Flight services - ? Ground handling - ? Arrival at Logan Airport The Activities Involved in the Process Chart A number of activities are involved in the initial preparations for a flight up to the end of the flight. Firstly, a passenger intending to travel by some airline through this international airport should book for the flight prior to the departure time. The passengers have to be informed of the departure times to the stated destinations. This prior booking is essential for the effective planning of the flight activities. There are categories of seats in the aircraft depending on the quality of the services that one would wish to receive while on board. Thus, early booking enables the appropriate reservation and scheduling of seats. Meanwhile, the passengers are traveling across the borders to a different country. This implies that they should have obtained the appropriate travel documents from the relevant immigration department prior to this flight. The passengers are then informed of the arrival times that are appropriate for the preparation of the flight. A period of thirty minutes is allocated for the arrival of the passengers. It is then necessary to verify the immigration details by the travel attendants at the airport to ensure that the right individuals are booked for the flight. In the event that an irregularity is encountered, a passenger is referred to the airport travel agency for verification. The baggage of the passengers should then be checked to ensure that they do not exceed the acceptable weight and that they do not contain any product whose transit is prohibited. The passengers with luggage are then issued with receipts for the luggage for identity purposes. This may serve as a disclaimer in the event of loss or damage of the contents of the luggage. All the passengers are then issued with the travel documents and lined up in readiness of the flight. Meanwhile, the airport engineers should be checking on the condition of the aircraft to ensure that it is fit for the trip. Proper coordination is required from the weather department to ensure that the prevailing weather conditions are fit for departure. The passengers are then ushered in for the departure. While on board, various services are available to the passengers that are provided by the crew. Some of the services have been included in the air ticket whereas others like credit cards are purchased by the passengers. Coordination continues with crew on the grounds both at the departure airport and at the destination. The coordination is especially necessary at the arrival time, where the condition for landing has to be verified. At the arrival at the Amsterdam airport, the passengers are checked-out of the aircraft and the luggage of the passengers verified according to the issued receipts. The passengers are then checked into the country by the travel agency at the airport. The travel documents that had been obtained at the immigration department (back home) are verified here. The passengers then depart to different destinations after being informed on the departure time for their return journey. The arrival into the airport for the return journey takes the same channel with passengers being checked out of the country at the immigration department at the airport. Since they had booked ticket for the trip, the inspection is less rigorous for this case except for a thorough check of their luggage. The condition of the aircraft is checked and it is refueled in readiness for the flight. Information is sought on the weather conditions to ascertain that it is fight to take off. The same services are offered in the return journey. Again, there is need for coordination between the crew on board and flight operators on the ground throughout the flight for the purposes of traffic control and safe landing. Some Improvements Some significant improvements have been registered in the operations of the airport especially on security matters. The Logan airport where terrorists managed to pass the screening for passengers to board two aircrafts that were later crashed in New York City in September 2001 (Thys, 2011). The officials ate the airport took some time before realizing that the event occurred due to poor security measures that had been put in place at the airport. To correct the situation, a number of corrective measures were put in place. These included security checkpoints by the state police and the National Guard that patrolled the airport throughout the day and night (Thys, 2011). Current screening of the passengers involves the use of full-body scanner to detect any harmful substance or device the passenger may be holding. The company has also witnessed significant improvements in its infrastructure that has led to improved quality of the services. The initiative that was implemented greatly by the C&C Consulting Engineers was aimed at designing new directional signs for the facilities at the terminals within and outside the airport (C&C Consulting Engineers, LLC, 2011). This initiative improves on the process of clearing the passengers at the airport, as there was enough space for the taxi drivers as they awaited their clients to be cleared. The airport has also increased on its flights over the past. The airport is served by over forty airlines from different international travel organizations. There are direct flights from the airport to several countries (iFly.com, 2011). This saves the passengers some fee that would be incurred in connected flights. The airlines also provide an arrangement for connected flight from the airport to almost all other parts of the world. Even though security measures have been instituted, there is still need for more initiatives like engaging the members of the public. The attacks may take irregular dimensions and more efforts are needed to mitigate for the ugly incidences. Improved security measures will attract more potential clients to the airport. This will improve on the sales ensure sustainable development of the organization. Reference List C&C Consulting Engineers, LLC. 2011. Massport Logan Airport Wayfinding Improvements, Boston, Ma. (Online). Available at: http://www.cccellc.com/Logan%20Wayfinding.html [Accessed November 14, 2011] Graham, B., 2008. Detail Process Charts – A Common Ground for Business and Development. (Online). Available at: http://www.bptrends.com/publicationfiles/09-08-ART-Detail-Process-Change-Graham.doc-final.pdf [Accessed November 14, 2011]. iFly.com. 2011. Boston Logan Airport (BOS) Flight Deals & Specials. (Online). Available at: http://www.ifly.com/logan-international-airport/book-flights [Accessed November 14, 2011]. Institute of Management Services. 2011. Process Charts. (Online). Available at http://www.ims-productivity.com/page.cfm/content/Process-Charts/[Accessed November 14, 2011]. Maps of World, 2011. Massachusetts Airports. (Online). Available at: http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/states/massachusetts/massachusetts-airports.html [Accessed November 14, 2011]. Thys, F., 2011. 10 Years after Sept. 11, Logan Security Still Up For Debate, 90.9 wbur. (Online). Available at http://www.wbur.org/2011/05/02/logan-security [Accessed November 14, 2011]. Read More