OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Operations Management

Operations Management

Introduction

The manufacturing/service process design is based on a considerable number of different variables and represents, in essence, a number of trade-offs. Relying on the design of the business, the characteristics of the product or service, the nature of the market place, the chosen process design will obviously be different. The discussion will take an example of a product or service from a familiar industry and critically discuss the main factors that influence the choice of a manufacturing/service process. The discussion will highlight this researcher's perspective of the manner in which project management discipline aids the operations manager/manageress in introducing changes to the process.

Product

The product that has been chosen as a sample is polymeric composite automotive bumper. The manufacturing involves different processes.

Factors Influencing the Selection of a Manufacturing Process

The selection of the best manufacturing process for the polymeric composite automotive bumper beam depends upon the variety of factors and most of these factors are interrelated. Determining the right manufacturing process is a complex activity. Thus, the methodology of determining the right manufacturing process is required to help make the approach to process selection more systematic. Various factors have been identified which include as follows:

Geometry of the design (GD)

The selection of a suitable manufacturing process for the automotive bumper beam design can be determined by geometry of the design. Figure 4 shows the best design concept of automotive bumper beam has been determined during design concept selection process at the early stage of product development process (Ackoff, 2003). This design influences in determining the right manufacturing process in selection process. Various selection factors related to the geometry of the design need to consider as follows:

Shape of the design (SH)

Shape of the product is the most important factor that must be considered in determining the most suitable manufacturing process of automotive bumper beam (Argris, 2008). As the shape of the automotive bumper beam becomes more complex such as curvature shape, selection of a suitable process becomes important.

Complexity of the design (CD)

Complexity is defined as the presence of design features such as non-uniform wall thickness, non-uniform cross section, ribbing pattern, holes, etc. These design features need to consider in order to avoid the additional process and increasing production time during manufacturing process (Boje, 2001). It is also to avoid designers to modify the geometry of the design in order to match up for the chosen manufacturing process.

Size (SZ)

The size of the design (the maximum dimension of design) is a factor that needs to consider. The maximum size (length, width, height) that can be handled by a process is limited (Bridges, 2005). The size of design in this case study was determined in product design specification stage.

Wall Thickness (WT)

The wall thickness of the design is also required to consider which influences the selection of a suitable manufacturing process.

Weight (WG)

The weight of the design is also factors that influence the selection of a suitable manufacturing process. The weight of the design is also limited the selection of ...