Logistic and Supply Chain Management Process - Coursework Example

NАLYSIS ОF А САSЕ STUDY – LОGISTIСS АND SUРРLY СHАIN МАNАGЕMЕNT Name Class Date LОGISTIСS АND SUРРLY СHАIN МАNАGЕMЕNT Introduction Logistic and supply chain management involves the process of moving goods from one place to another. These goods are moved in either raw-material or finished goods. Storage facilities are equipped to provide efficiency in monitoring, execution and planning of logistic and supply chain management activities to enhance good performance. In the context of engineering projects, managing maintenance knowledge is a key element in all managerial fields and department (Handfield, 1998). The practices of supply chain are practiced to ensure the flow of goods is not affected hence facilitating efficiency in producing and delivering goods globally. Therefore this paper aims in finding out the elements of logistics that are related in managing maintenance knowledge through the analysis of engineering projects. Keywords: logistic and supply chain management, goods, managing maintenance knowledge. Elements of logistics related to managing maintenance knowledge The elements of logistics in relation to the context of engineering projects that are related to the managing maintenance knowledge vary from their goals and objectives. Equipment design refers to the ideal process of selecting the most relevant tool to facilitate the logistic and supply chain processes. Design has to be made clear from the available samples that can easily be applicable and flexible in maintenance. The equipments chosen will have to affect all the functions of the supply chain management. Failure to choose better equipment design, many of the services and products produced will be of bad quality (Handfield, 1998). Therefore in managing maintenance knowledge, organization offering logistic and supply chain management services have to obey and provide a room for better equipment design. Equipment design is both applicable in the engineering context and also in supply chain management. The use of computer resources is an element that is related to managing maintenance knowledge. Computer resources are largely used in many fields today to facilitate many processes in product development. Computer resources such as hardware, software, identifying the facility, support tools, manpower and software development assist in operating this computer system to achieve its objective. Software development has been the current trend in many organizations intending to improve their organizational systems. According to William (2005), he argued that they had to use WordPerfect which used to automatically process content rather than using human beings. The automatically processing of content was based on computer software where maintenance knowledge was captured and was understood by both computer system and the humans handling it. Therefore the use of the computer software element in the logistic and supply chain management relate to managing maintenance knowledge technique. Quality improvements have been the other goal in managing maintenance knowledge in engineering. This also has been a key concern in logistic and supply chain management. For a business organization to succeed in transporting of goods from one place to another, final goods produced must be of good quality. Better quality goods fetches high costs and customer are even satisfied with them too. In managing maintenance knowledge, final goods are also to be of high quality standards. This is the reason why product developments processes are fully developed in the engineering field as urged by William (2005). Quality improvements standard should be a major aim gained at all fields including both engineering and the logistic and supply chain management to meet the standards of their customers. Managing maintenance knowledge integrates supply and logistic practices in improving and providing better quality of goods. This will help in improving the level of quality products being produced. Managing maintenance knowledge also integrates the use of rapid response where they satisfy the requirements of their customers based on timely deliverance of commodities. This element is practiced in the logistic and supply chain management activities. Timely deliverance of goods enhances good participation in solving the needs of customers. Rapid response is facilitated on shipment-to-shipment basis rather than stocking commodities and supplying them when demand is high (Ann, 2001). This is to ensure that commodities reach to the intended party on time. In this process the use of computer system software helps in providing logistical activities based on the time to execute when the customer needs such commodities. With the introduction of these computer techniques, rapid response is being practiced too in managing maintenance knowledge. Rapid response has contributed a lot in managing maintenance knowledge by provide key concepts on delivering customer goods on time and also keeping track on the level of stock. Information system that can be used for the development of maintenance manuals Maintenance manuals refer to the set guidelines principles that provide personnel maintenance procedures for taking care of any system. These maintenance manuals focus on unique facilities, materials, techniques, equipment and other relevant information to support the activities of an organizational department such as logistic and supply chain management. This manual provides operating guidelines that are uniform but not of total standards (Copacino, 1997). Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is one of the best information systems that can be used to develop maintenance manuals in this world today. It is an information system that helps to manage, record and communicate daily activities of an organization. It can also produce reports that an organization can use in establishing the growth and development process. The use of computer software to prepare reports has been made easy today compared to the past years where all data were to be entered manual (Copacino, 1997). The goal of having a maintenance manager is to practice the management system using limited resources such as equipment and manpower to maintain an organization (William, 2005). The computerized maintenance management system should maintain inventory, history recording, cost reduction in terms of planning and customers mission among many other logistic and supply chain management functions. CMMS therefore should meet these maintenance requirements to help in performance, controlling, planning, work reception, reporting and evaluation of developments in the organization (Zephany, 1997). In order to evaluate these functions managers should establish electronic data and data requirements of the computer system. In comparison, computerized maintenance management system and Tenix defense computer system software are both unique in the functions they offer. In both cases they have a work management module that’s help in determining specific orders in dispatching and planning. In planning each individual person activities are enumerated for future plans through the use of computer systems software where shifts are determined automatically whereas dispatching involves assigning labor activities to be carried out quickly (Autry, 2008). Therefore both systems use work management module to promote and deal out with their activities. Tenix defense also uses key performance indicators or metrics measures same to the computerized maintenance management system. These metrics are used to evaluate and measure maintenance programs of the organizations. In order to measure progress, maintenance management should select indicators and utilize on them. These computer systems also share the same comparison in tracking work order, work request and purchasing through requisition of materials (Leenders, 1992). The use of the two computer systems by different companies can meet same organizational objectives by producing same results in the organizations. They are therefore user friendly in any different role they are being used. Despite these computer systems having similar goals to meet, they are also different in another way. In CMMS there is a continuous failure in implementation by the experts in the organization as opposed to the systems used by Tenix defense. This software is complicated hence it requires experts who have completed the study modules in CMMS (Handfield, 1998). Those who have not incorporated all modules will definitely fail hence difficult to implement compared to the other systems which is easy to implement. Decision making is most important in the Tenix defense organization as high research is involved in it compared to the use of computerized maintenance management system where no research is required. When using the Tenix defense system, it is required that experts should be ready in making research work a priority so that they can solve complex situation easily. The use of computerized maintenance management system does not require the use of excessive research to solve complex situations quickly (Autry, 2008). This provides a distinctive factor in differentiating the two computer system for maintenance manuals. Tenix software have independent data redundant compared to the use computerized maintenance management system. Information gathering in Tenix defense requires that all writers to assemble and transform the inputs using personal knowledge hence making the whole process to be redundancy. The CMMS therefore is the best system software that inputs all data automatically hence there is no data redundancy (Leenders, 1992). Many organizations should embrace the use of these systems in all aspects of their organizational use. Conclusion Logistic and supply chain management has been the best tool in enabling a steady flow of goods from one point into another. Finished goods are to be supplied to the relevant customers in time. Computerized system software is to be used in all activities of the logistic and supply chain management. The introduction of computerized software system will enhance the development and growth of many organizations in any concept including the engineering in managing maintenance knowledge. All departments should introduce the use of computerized systems in their departments to ensure effective and efficiency management of organizational objectives. References Ann M. J., Button, D. A., Hensher. A. M., (2001). Handbook of logistics and supply-chain management ; New York, Pergamon. Autry C. W., and Griffis S. E., (2008). Supply Chain Capital: The Impact of Structural and Relational Linkages on Firm Execution and Innovation. Copacino, W.C., (1997). Supply Chain Management: The Basics and Beyond. The St. Lucie Press/Apics Series on Resource Management. Handfield, R. B., and Nichols E. Z., (1998). Introduction to Supply Chain Management, Prentice Hall, (ISBN 0136216161). Leenders, M. R., (1992). Purchasing and Materials Management, 10th Ed., McGraw Hill, (ISBN 0256103348). William P. Hall. (2005). Biological nature of knowledge in the learning organisation. The Learning Organization 12:2, 169-188. Zephany A. N., (1997). Logistic Engineering: 2nd Ed. London: Mitchell Beazley. Read More