Operations Management - Coursework Example

Each unit has different departments and numerous products are manufactured for sale in local market. The different departments is responsible for a specialist function or process such as storing, processing, manufacturing, packaging, shipping. Human resources are well trained but follow as routine procedure as per the nature of the process and the management is conservative of organizational change and sceptical of new technology. The primary problem here is that different processes are supported computer systems even though there are standard processes throughout the group which has resulted in unnecessary costs.

An enterprise resource planning (ERP) IT system is best suited here as it will lead to single universal IT system that can be used across departments and units in the organization resulting improved efficiency of all units and cost savings. Marketing Based out of the headquarters, marketing has small teams consisting of 2 or 3 staff members in all countries that it operates. Staffs very flexible roles and have a hybrid function of both selling and marketing. The number of people is very high and spread throughout the organization.

Marketers are mainly oriented towards the external environment and the internal functions are accomplished by using simple databases and spreadsheets. No system has been employed right now which makes it possible for them to share crucial information with respect to their research with other units. Each marketing department is functioning as though it is independent of the other marketing departments in different units. Marketing teams have a casual approach towards technology and changes. There are open to technology that is external and customer focused rather than those that internal and process focused.

A knowledge management IT system would ideal as it would create a central depository which can be used to share market knowledge across units. Also an ERP would help in managing of internal processes. Research The structuring of research teams is similar to marketing with a large centre at the headquarters and smaller centre spread across the world at different locations. The centres work independently of each other and researcher get associated with other projects only when the management wants to.

There is no central-instantaneous knowledge sharing system available for the centre. The matrix management style is employed occasionally and there are only few researches that worked different projects from different centres. This has created a problem of collusion as some products are created again which are already present in other centre. The need of the hour is an effective knowledge management system that will facilitate effective use of information and optimisation of work process. ii.

Benefits of Proposed Initiatives on Functions Benefits of Implementing ERP system for Manufacturing: There are numerous benefits of implementing an enterprise resources planning system for manufacturing. Synchronicity is greatly increased which keeps everyone involved in the manufacturing process looking at the same real-time data. Everybody is on the same page with respect to information through the company. It reduces the number of times data needs to be inputted and hence reduces the chances of error.

In fact, data needs to be inputted only once. ERP becomes a single integrates system that would replace numerous individual systems and hence