Strategic Management in Aviation - Essay Example

? Strategic Management Strategic Management In the aviation industry, the emphasis is always based on safety. This industry has continued to go through unparalleled challenges both in the domestic and international markets. The aviation industry managers have understood the importance of one preserving the lean six-sigma abilities. These have been seen as a means or methodology to reduce cost, increasing of quality while improving capabilities. This has to be directed to the launching, production, servicing, defense, and universal maintenance and repair overhaul. To understand these issues, we will have to first look at a comprehensive safety measures in the aviation industry, while the focus and strategies that have been used to build a True lean and Six Sigma. They will include; planning enterprise and value streaming and mapping (involves building of a road map for development), carrying out of high impact lean six sigma, checking on reflections of the best practices that work against lean enterprise roadmap, and standardizing of sustainable process development and deployment. Implementation of Safety Measures in the Aviation Industry In today’s aviation industry, the environment is well regulated. The industry players are required to comply with an enormous number of regulations and standards, thus making it a complex industry to deal with (Frenkel, 2009). It is through this proposal that we can simply the process of the players in the industry to comply with the regulations. This will therefore help them to be effective when it comes to complying with regulators and external auditors managing the aviation industry (Frenkel, 2009). To the organizations that want to maintain compliance and improving the safety of the aviation industry, this proposal will be of great help. There is a need for organizations to reduce the risk of non-compliance while improving the safety outcomes. Safety measures need to be easy to implement, use and exceptionally flexible. In this paper, there will be extensive research on how developed safety systems can be of help to the industry. The aviation industry is the pillar of any nation economy. The main reason been that it is the entry point and exit point of a nation; both to its citizens and commercial goods (Frenkel, 2009). It is through ensuring the safety of their economical goods that the economy of a nation will be able to grow. The following are some of the things that the proposal will be covering to ensure that safety measures are implemented in this industry. They include risk management and assurance, promotion and government policies (Frenkel, 2009). In the end of this proposal, it can be used as a tool for formal process and structures that can control the daily risks associated with the aviation mission. Air travel remains to be one of the most complex and multi-faceted means that tackles s huge amount of packages, freight, and mails carried all cargo aircraft and aboard passenger. Additionally, the air cargo system is volatile to various security threats, which include potential ways such as placing explosives aboard airplane; shipment of illegal and hazardous substance; criminal undertaking such as theft and smuggling; potential sabotage and hijackings by people who can access the aircraft. Various technological and procedural initiatives to combat air cargo security and limit criminals and terrorists are under consideration or they have been put in place. After the September 11th attacks, airport security is more advanced. All goods and individuals are required to go through special scanners that help is determining if individuals are concealing any weapons. The procedural initiative involve industry wide consideration and implementation of the “ known shipper” program; addition of cargo inspection; more thorough physical security of facilities of air cargo; increased air cargo oversight operations; advanced security training for cargo handling staff; and more strict control over air cargo operation spheres and access to cargo over airline (Stanger, 2000). The technology initiative primarily includes improving security of air cargo such as tamper-evident and tamper-resistant packaging and containers; Explosive Detection System (EDS) and other cargo screening technologies; aircraft hardening and blast-resistant containers for cargo; and biometric means for staff identification and control access. Contrary to air cargo, passenger air flights have been in existence for a longer duration. As the name suggest this essential means transport of passenger through different airlines. Briefly, “Air Cargo” can be defined as the processing of delivering cargo by airfreight. Historically it is believed that airfreight business started in 1950s as a progression of the passengers’ airlines. However, it was only in 1975 when the business turned to be profit oriented and independent. Notably the demand for air cargo has exponentially increased vitally over the recent past, as more people are recognizing its effectiveness and efficiency. It is booming business front among the short life cycle products and rapid demanded products (Frenkel, 2009). Currently, air cargo includes industrial chain of supply involving customs, airlines, ground services, domestic transportation, brokers, domestic cargo forwarders, integrated international services, and distribution centers. Methods of addressing passenger and air cargo security in airlines Various methods can be utilized in order to implement security measures for passengers and parcel airlines. These measures include implementation of the physical security facilities. This shall act as the first line defense from all kinds of intruder, especially in cargo storage and handling facilities both in foreign and domestic locations and ought to have deterrents and physical barriers that protect against prohibited access. This can be achieved through constructing reliable fencing units. This units shall be vital on loading zones, this is because the probability of theft or lost of cargo is higher here than other areas. Having a secure loading zone with reliable gates and gatehouses is a wise and practical methodology of curbing cargo security. The other means is installation of magnetic sensors, the fence around the cargo storage and handling zone should be equipped with magnetic sensors that need to be activated if pressure is inserted (Frenkel, 2009). The other means of enhancing physical security is by controlling gate access, airport authorities and shipping company’s needs to issue a time controlled means for departing truckers to enforce compliance with unloading and loading intervals. Using technology to control and monitor is the other way of achieving physical security in air cargo transport. This can be done by installation of alarms, magnetic sensors, and motion detectors. The employees in the airport too will need special passwords or access codes for each of them when it comes to accessing of restricted areas or privileged information. With the advancements in technology, it has helped or helps determine the identity of the individual who accessed these restricted areas. The use of CCTV surveillance cameras is also part of physical security. Outreach Outreach is a powerful approach that airline can use to stabilize security of passengers and cargo. For instance, collaboration with Local Law Enforcement is the different airports. Airlines need to work hand in hand with the Local authorities to curb any form of insecurities. Local authorities have the strength of knowing the predominant nature of insecurities and consequently are well placed to tackle that nature of insecurity. They can facilitate this by training all the partners that contribute in one way or the other in passenger and cargo security (Stanger, 2000). This training shall ensure that the partners are knowledgably aware of the threat and consequences of insecurity. The training can be documented and the partners exposed to some kind of testing to ensure the required understanding and information is instilled. Incident Reporting The airline need to establish a Hotline, this is a 24/7 communication channel that is available to all vendors and employees to report an incident or suspicious conduct. This number need to be communicated as widely as it can get. This number also needs to be easy to grasp and understand as majority of the users will be in transit and with less time to concentrate knowing it. To ensure that the incident reporting initiative is effective, the airline may need to set up a center for responding to emergency or any incident. This centre will also need to be equipped with state of the art emergency responding facilities such as ambulances and fire fighters (American Management Association, 2000). The rate at which incidents are reported and acted upon show how secure and interconnected the working environment is. This will greatly help when it comes to responding to emergencies and could lead to saving of lives. Incident awareness is also closely related with awareness creation strategies. This includes integration of security training for new employee orientation and refresher courses for the existing staff. This shall boost making of informed decisions when responding to the various situations. The company can also provide information received from reliable such as the government, thus keeping the staff posted on the current unfolding incidents or accidents. This is critical in terms of major happenings such as terrorists’ attacks (Institute of Electrical Engineers, 2005). Strategic Issues In the Aviation Industry, strategic issues are very significant and are considered to make sure that the goals of the business are achieved. These determine how the business will be managed and run to satisfy the needs of the customers. These are the four major strategic issues that have to be addressed in this industry; Strategic Issue 1 Problem Addressing Competitiveness of the Company The competitive advantage of any business determines its overall success. Competition has remained a major concern for all the major players in the aviation industry. This is because there are very many competitors in the industry making it impossible for the company to emerge on top of its business. For the last two years, the company has been concerned with its competitive advantage in order to competently compete with other the other players in the food industry. Different approaches have been adopted but they have not offered positive results. Currently the changing consumer patterns have greatly contributed to more challenges at this field (Frenkel, 2009). Different companies have better opportunities and strengths, which as a result have contributed to the failed performance of this company. Different approaches such as production of new materials and packaged food products have never in the least helped to address the problem. Within the last one year, statistics show that the company’s competitive advantage has reduced by about 2.1 percent. This is caused by the changing economic patterns, changing consumer behaviors, and overall inflation rates in the American continent. Different strategies applied have not been effective in addressing the issue of competitiveness at all the aviation levels. Security and competition, thus makes it one of the major strategic issues faced here. Strategic Issue 2 Problem with Strategic Focus Strategic focus is a wide field exploring performance of businesses from a wider perspective. These might include ethical performances, social concerns, customer service, and future business prospects. During global meetings, one of the currently discussed strategic issues is the company’s strategic focus. Strategic focus is addressed in order to resolve the major questions faced such as the quality of products to be sold to the consumer, how to sell them, and how to serve the consumer in the right manner. However, while the management has been incorporating all employees and other players in decision making to ensure the right planning is done in order to make sure the organization, very little has been achieved. This has made this strategic issue a major concern that needs to be addressed each day (Frenkel, 2009). This problem has been faced within the management structures of the organization. In addition, issues that are more concurrent need to be addressed occasionally so that the business focus is never lost. Environmental, political, economic, and social changes have constantly been resulting in new problems for the company thus calling for a change in the strategic focus. As a result, US aviation industry has been undertaking a series of strategic approaches in order to reshape the brands and add value to its foods as a part of its presenting a new strategic focus. Although statistics show that, the industry is currently among the 10 best suppliers of packaged foods, this strategic issue is still persistent despite the measures undertaken occasionally. Strategic issue 3 Delivering Best Products and Services to Customers The greatest worry faced by every organization is how to satisfy the needs and expectations of every customer and consumer. Every time the industry is faced with this strategic issue because every the needs and expectations of consumers change from time to time. Since this is a company in the Food Industry, the quality of the products and customer-guarantee is something always very important. However, different problems are faced such as changing consumer behaviors and patterns thus forcing the organization to implement newer approaches towards the same (Stanger, 2000). Although this has been resolved for very many years in the company, it still remains the most recurring strategic issue because the customers’ needs are dynamic and need different products from season to season, and time to time. That being the case, the management of this industry is making that sure the new foods products are healthy and fit for consumer consumption and also provide the best nutritional contents. However, it should be observed that this issue is far from being completely addressed. Although currently available data shows that currently the aviation industry tops the list of the organizations bringing the widest and newest varieties to its consumers, the need and pressure to offer the best products to the consumer is still very huge for the company. Strategic Issue 4 Problem Addressing Organizational Change Organizational change is very significant for any business organization. In a business, organizational change is always widely debated and discussed. This is because it determines the performance and realization of goals. The employees and management have been facing challenges with their organizational structure. The management of the human aspect in the organization is usually hard because different individuals have different expectations and requirements form the company (Frenkel, 2009). To make sure organizational change is managed appropriately the company has been launching what is calls ‘Forward-Looking’ statements to make sure the right channels are followed towards improvement of business performance. This has, however, remained a major issue that is hard to address. From one season to another, a new change in the organizational practice has always been proposed but this has become very hard to achieve (Stanger, 2000). The management team in this company has been applying a different leadership approach thereby making it hard to eventually promote business performance. Although every aspect that needs to be resolved is addressed to ensure the business is aligned to the present requirements of the economy, the business strategy, and expectations of the consumers, the company has not been able to address this issue of organizational change. It should be observed that all the above strategic issues have been a major barrier towards realization of the organization’s goals. Most of these issues have been hard to address at the industry and management levels. References American Management Association. (2000). AMA Management Digest. New York: The Haworth Publishers, Inc. Institute of Electrical Engineers. (2005). Science Abstracts: Issues. New York: Random House. Frenkel, M. (2009). Policies on how to Implement Aviation Safety. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Stanger, R. (2000). The Stanger register. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Read More