Labelling the Laundry Products - Coursework Example

Work Placement Affiliation Work placement Henkel Home and Laundry Company is a manufacturing Company that creates various chemical products that comprises of cleaners and adhesive products, as well as, other product brands and technologies for customers and industrial businesses. I have been undertaking my work placement at Henkel Home and Laundry for the last three months. During this time, I have been in the production department as a production engineer, whereby I have been helping the company with various issues related to labeling. My responsibility has been to ensure that the products that went to the market were adequately labelled to avoid any liabilities on the part of the organization. This is because if the products are not properly labelled having in mind that there are chemicals used in making the products then people would not understand how to use them and in some instances they may cause harm to the users. Therefore, it is always advisable to label products to ensure that people understand the precautions and instructions for safe use of the products. I took up the work placement at Henkel Company mainly because of the experience I will gain while at the site and involved in the direct engineering process. For that reason, being a chemical engineer requires that a person understands all the processes involved in the production area and all the risks that are involved in every decision that is made, for instances understanding the recycling policy and labeling requirements. In this case, the issue of labelling was the most pronounced, in most cases, bad labelling could lead to an accident to a consumer and this can be held against the organization, which would negatively affect its rating hence performance. The aim and objectives of the placement were to 1. To explain how to labelling and cooperation during labelling laundry products is important. 2. To explain the process of labelling the products. 3. To illustrate how the lack of proper labelling would be detrimental to the organization. Preparation There were various ethical considerations such as acknowledging the work that had been done by the management of the organization. Additionally, consent to interview the employees and understand the labelling process was obtained. Additionally, in order to write about the organization, an ethical approval was made for the purposes of confidentiality when it comes to trade secrets. Literature Review Henkel Home and Laundry is an organization that requires competence and diligence, as well as, care because they deal with products that are used in people’s homes on a daily basis. The production of these products needs to be done effectively and appropriately. Moreover, the objective of the production process is to ensure that the process goes smoothly, economically and judiciously. In production engineering, there is the machining processing, casting, joining process and operation research to ensure that the end product is up to standard. This is the reason as a production engineer a person should be competent, have a wide set of skills and attitudes that are based on scientific knowledge and the market. These attributes are vital because they are allowed for performance that is coordinated, and that they integrate the professionals into a multidisciplinary team. The duty of creating and managing production systems has become more complex over the years. Today, in order to meet the ever changing demand of the consumers and global competition organization managers have had the difficult task of bringing together mass production efficiency with customization of what was referred to as the pre- industrial craft production era (Xiong, 2012). Organizations such as Henkel Home and Laundry products is one of the many organizations that are very exposed to the adverse market conditions meaning that they have to make products that are excellent. Furthermore, the need to pursue more modern ways of production management strategies has been a priority in order to improve the production. At the same time, the organizations have sought this methods in order to minimize inherent drawbacks when it comes to their production systems. For example, although labeling of products may not be seen as a major task in the organization it has proven to be imperative because the wrong labelling would be detrimental to the organization production and also reputation. Such issues would also be bad for the organization in the competing market it would mean that they move a step below; thus, bringing up issues of mistrust. Labelling of the Henkel Products a vital task for any leader that has been given that obligation. This is because labelling products guarantees that the consumers will have full access to the complete information on the content and the use of the product they have purchased. Additionally, labelling helps in protecting the interest and the health of the consumers (Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 2015). It is important for the organizations to ensure proper labelling not only to guarantee the safety of the employees, but also to allow the customers to have the duty to exercise the real choice. However, in order to ensure that proper labelling is done it is the duty of the production manager to inspect the goods before they reach the consumers and make any necessary changes or sort issues in relation to labelling. Various theories have been established in relation to production engineering to help in understanding how the processes work, as well as, how important they are for the organization when it comes to ensuring that the products that reach the consumers are safe. First, there is the scientific management theory whose main objective is improving economic efficiency by synthesizing and analyzing the workflows. The basis of this theory is that it is scientific in nature where Winslow felt that the only way to improve the methods or techniques used by workers. This theory is one of the earliest theories used in the attempt to apply science to engineering processes and also to the management. Taylor (1911) indicates that the appropriate way of doing a job was focused on the belief that making employees work as hard as they could possibly work could not be as the most efficient way of optimizing the way the work should be done. Therefore, the importance of maximizing profits is by having management and labor work in harmony. In the sense that, the profits of the organization can be maximized through the use of scientific and systematic based approaches to helping in studying the jobs. Additionally, in case all persons in the organization are in harmony, then it means that the duties and the strategies of the organization will be met without having to make very high demands. The principles of scientific management state that in simplifying and optimizing the jobs the productivity of the organization would increase; however, an emphasis is placed on the managers and the employees to work together. The four principles of the scientific management theory include replacing the rule-of-thumb work methods that are based on the scientific study of the duties and determining the most efficient methods to perform particular tasks (Jonker & Eskildsen, 2007). Secondly, instead of simply assigning the workers to do any jobs a scientific selection should be conducted and the employees should be trained; hence, developing the employing instead of leaving the employees to train themselves. Moreover, workers should be matched with their jobs where the matching should be based on motivation and capability of the employees. After matching the employees the organization and should train them effectively to ensure that they are up to the task. Thirdly, detailed instructions and supervision should be provided for every employee in the performance of such an employee based on a discrete task. The work performance of such employees should be monitored where proper instructions and supervision should be provided. Lastly, Taylor suggested that work should be divided equally among the managers and workers in order to allow managers to apply the scientific management principles in relation to training and planning the works and also actually ensuring the performance of the work. This theory has been criticized because it is costly, and it requires the organization to put in a lot of investment. However, the theory has been found to be appropriate because it has increased production, in the sense that it reduces any inaccuracy and autocracy from the management. Additionally, employees manage to relate properly to their managers as they help them during training, which is important for the development and the growth of the organization. As a production engineering as stated above requires competence and any individuals who hold the department to ensure that issues in the organization, especially in relation to productivity of the organization are met. The situational leadership theory as developed by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey in 1960 explains that the leaders must adjust to the situation in order to ensure that the people working under him develop through their leadership (McCabe, Smith & Harriott, 2005). In this case as the production engineer as a person has the obligation to ensure that all the labels and the waste products were recycled and put in place respectively to avoid any liability on the part of the organization. This theory sees leaders as varying their emphasis when it comes to dealing with tasks and relationships in order to deal with different levels of maturity depending on the maturity levels of the employees. This is because different employees have different characteristics making it the obligation of the leader to adjust to every worker attitude towards their roles and responsibility in the workplace. According to the situation leadership theory there are four leadership styles that suggest that the leaders should put greater or less attention on the task in question or in the relationship between the leader and the follower. This relationship should depend on the developmental stage of the follower. First, there are the directive behaviors where the task given to the employee reflects on how much the leader is concerned with the task at hand, as well as, ensuring that the individuals following him complete the task. The directive behaviors enable the followers to achieve their goals by ensuring that they get clear directions; thus, establishing their goals and objectives. Secondly, there are the supportive or relationship behaviors where the relationship behavior reflects on the much a leader is doing for the people who work with him or her or how much support or encourage he provides. This attribute helps the employees to feel motivated and for that reason, they managed to feel and motivated to do their task. Very little research has been on labelling of products where in many countries it a mandatory rule to ensure that all products are well labelled. Therefore, in order to avoid any unnecessary issues that may arise liability and cost of the organization; thus, taking up their profits and time while dealing with lawsuits. Many organizations choose to have qualified and diligent production managers who will ensure that all products are well labelled and produced before they get to the consumers. The law requires that all products that have Ozone depleting substances that are Class I and Class II should be properly labelled. This is a regulation that has been provided for under section 611 of the Environmental Protection Agency. Although products made by Henkel Home and Laundry Products do not contain any ODS, they still comply with the regulations by ensuring that they label their products. Additionally, they insert a sign on the cans and the plastics used to products a sign that indicates that the products can be recycled, reused and reduce to ensure that the consumers are aware of ensuring that the environment should also be clean, and they should dispose such products appropriately. Processes The Labelling process is not complex in the sense that, it only requires that space has been left out in the places where the labels will be inserted. However, many employees doing the job finding themselves making errors. First, the cans are prepared with the product, and they are brought to the production department. At this level, all the employees have been informed of their duties and obligation. Then the name of the product is placed on the can or the plastic bag, which is followed by the instructions which are inserted at the back of the product informing the consumer about the product and the substances that were used in manufacturing the product. Then a trademark sign is inserted at the bottom of the can or plastic bag as well as the barcode and contact informant ion of the organization. However, various factors are taken into consideration such as bleed of the letters, the size and shape of the label. This is because some of the consumers are attracted by the product depending on the exterior designs and the labels that have been inserted. The end product should manage to inform the consumer about the product. Image 1: Henkel end products after labelling Outcomes Labelling and sorting out issues on labelling was very successful, especially for the production department. A method was formulated whereby the products would be passed from one individual to another in order to inspect the different labels and ensure nothing missed. The outcomes of the end product were good as the department was given an award for achieving the goals of ensuring that minimal products had mistakes in terms of labelling. For example, before arriving at the organization, there were about 90 errors in labelling per 6,000 plastic bags and cans. However, at the end of the three months during placement there were about 20 errors in labelling 7000 plastic bags and can. This shows that after modification of the errors there were productivity and improvement in the department. Discussion The main aims of the placement were to explain how to labelling and cooperation during labelling laundry products is important. Secondly, to explain the process of labelling the products. Lastly, to illustrate how the lack of proper labelling would be detrimental to the organization. It is clear that scientific management theory is important in ensuring that scientific methods are found to ensure that the employees and the managers work hand in hand to ensure that the goals and objectives of the organization are achieved. Additionally, using the situational behavior theory in this is good because the employees used are diverse and for that reason they require a different understanding and approach. By so doing, the labeling of products becomes and easy task allowing the organization to achieve its ultimate goal. Conclusion The process of Labelling and labelling of products in any organization is important. This means that the organization should comply with the set rules to ensure that the products are labeled appropriately. Additionally, it is the obligation of the production manager to ensure that the employees remain motivated and satisfied with their work to not only reduce mistakes or errors, but also to increase productivity. This can be done by rotating employees or by encouraging them and ensuring cooperation among that; thus, providing harmony. Recommendation The organization should come up with a way of rotating employees to ensure that they tap the potential of different employees; hence, finding those employees who can work under pressure. Secondly, the organization should motivate the employees by adding some bonus in cases where they exceed their production in order to make them feel appreciated and motivated. Lastly, the organization should come up with programs to inform the employees and managers on their roles in different departments. References Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. (2015). Henkel. Retrieved from Henkel AG & Co. KGaA: http://www.henkel.com/ Jonker, J., & Eskildsen, J. (2007). Management models for the future. Berlin: Springer. McCabe, W. L., Smith, J. C., & Harriott, P. (2005). Unit operations of chemical engineering. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Xiong, G. (2012). Service science, management, and engineering: Theory and applications. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press. Read More