Ikea’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor Essay

IKEA is a Swedish company producing home furnishing products at low prices. The company was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad and kept growing tremendously from 2 stores in 1964 to 114 stores in 1994. It’s very useful to mention the ikea’s vision that says â€Å"Creating a better life for the many people† for understanding the deep credo of saving cost among all the departments of IKEA, everything that IKEA does has the aim of reducing price to the customer. Besides its success stories, the company has faced environmental and social issues. The environmental issue of Formaldehyde was solved but sales dropped by 20% in Denmark. In 1992, the company got the same issue, which cost IKEA around $7 million. IKEA learned a lesson; publicity can bring a big loss in sales, not considering the damage to the brand image. In the spring of 1995, another film is threaten to be shown on German television about children working at looms at Rangan Exports, an Indian company used by IKEA, and the producer then invited IKEA to send someone to take part in a live discussion during the program. These events urged the company to consider environmental and social issues more seriously. It is very important to focus to the long term contract that IKEA establishes with its suppliers, in fact they promote â€Å"to develop long-term business partners†, and they also say â€Å"†¦ We are in this for the long run† always with the aim of reducing cost and creating a faithful relationship. On the process of globalization, IKEA needs to get the cheapest suppliers and therefore goes to countries that offer cheap labor. When IKEA set its suppliers in these countries, it could not avoid these problems. The fact that IKEA does not have its own manufacturing facilities; instead it uses subcontracted manufacturers all over the world for supplies makes it more complex and difficult to keep track of the company’s suppliers and subsuppliers (almost 2300 suppliers in 70 countries and a range of 11200 products). It is even more difficult to keep track of children working in homes where whole families worked on looms from the subsuppliers’ level. The best strategy is to avoid social and environmental issues right from the beginning as when these issues emerge, they immediately affect the products’ sales tremendously. To avoid this threat of loss in profit, IKEA may consider withdrawing from India. However, if IKEA withdraws from India market, it will lose a big opportunity of cheap labor and put the company at disadvantage position as other competitors accessing the same opportunities to compete for lower product prices. IKEA therefore should not look for a new business opportunity by leaving India but keep up with the trend and get ahead of the issue and its rivals. Some people may argue that if the company is actively involved with the issue, it may have a drop in profit compared to its competitors. The threat may be true in the short term also because of the clause of cancellation of the contract. However, IKEA can turn the threat into a big opportunity in the long term by actively involving and publicizing its achievement whit the website and display advertising in the stores to let customers appreciate the effort ,as done before with the forest issue. The strict partnership with all suppliers doesn’t permit IKEA to abandon one of his supplier when problems occur, the supply network will be scared from the behavior of the company when an help is needed; in fact IKEA says that â€Å"We do not buy from our suppliers. We buy unused production capacity† in this way we can observe that the suppliers depends from IKEA. To go or not to go to the show? If the show ensure IKEA the possibility of speaking freely and to defend itself, so to be able to speak and give further explanation of the problem, they should go; if the show doesn’t ensure any freedom of speaking and the show will be only a â€Å"public pillory†, IKEA should not go and do a press conference the day after, where it will explain deeply the press release and all the intention of IKEA for the future. For this complex situation, it is recommended that IKEA should join the program. The company had gained already some positive achievements to the child labor issue since the problem was first raised by Swedish television. IKEA could discuss the information it had collected so far from UNICEF, Swedish Save the Children and the ILO and show it had the same attitude as the director of the documentary film as well as reaching the same goals of deleting child labor. It could show its appreciation to the director for helping spot the child labor at the company’s manufacturer and emphasizing that the company is going to analyze the case more deeply. IKEA possibly mentions its spirit of not avoiding mistakes to search for creative solutions. Moreover with a carefully considered plan, participating in the television program would help save the brand and image. After the television program, IKEA needs to come up with a solution for the case and the long-term strategy to deal with child labor issue, and admitting that the clause of the contract was too strict, and it would be better to establish a plan (3-5 years) for the future with those countries. Barner should make a trip to Rangan Exports and investigate the case entirely and get in touch with the reality of the facts. All the children working there should be collected and offered education opportunities (Corporate Social Responsibility, Citizenship of the company). The company needs to create its own children budget to help children found working. By this way, IKEA could continue its relationship with its suppliers (most of them are in developing countries), calling for the cooperation from suppliers to allow IKEA’s professional random inspection. Working with Rugmark is another good option if IKEA can make sure the child labor problem is under control. Because IKEA does not have its own manufacturers and gets its supplies from other suppliers, it is challenging for IKEA’s ability to manage and control the whole production process. Unless IKEA can be sure that there’s no child labor in the company, it is encouraged to allow Rugmark to monitor the use of child labor on IKEA’s behalf. If IKEA follows the steps explained above, it will improve its level of social responsibility and sustainability. The company could advance itself to the even higher level, an interactive level, by executing more assertive and precise plans. The interactive level promises a long-term advantage in brand image and profit as done before with the â€Å"going green† program. As child labor is considered â€Å"Indian culture†, it requires a lot of time, energy and finance to make progress. The company needs to work tightly with UNICEF, NGOs, and Save the Children Alliance to learn from each other. In India, because of economic initiatives, families send children to work. Therefore, to help improve the situation, IKEA need to fund a budget in the need of education for those families. Besides, the company should lobby to coerce the government to get involved more actively in the process. In the long run, family income boosting plans need to be implemented to obtain a better standard living for Indian families as poverty is the root of the problem.

Japanese Management System Essay

  Management Styles Corporation management is necessary for an institution to survive during times of change as it is the role of management to provide a plan of action, leadership and delegation of authority. Management structure ensures growth will be maintained for the organization and that the corporation will continue to function. Multiple styles of management are determined by who has the responsibility for the delegation of responsibility for decision-making as well as the degree of participation in the decision-making processes across the company. In general, management systems appear to be impacted upon by the aims of the corporation, the magnitude of the organization and the cultural context the organization operates within (Kim, pp. 538-39). Optimal management style is essential to a corporation as the style used will determine how the institutions processes are organized, as well as how efficiently employees will work cooperatively or in competition with each other. Work experiences such as employee cooperation, corporation leadership and employee loyalty to the company will be dependant on the style of management used by the corporation. As such, it is important for different nations to develop human resource management practices that reflect their local circumstances and socio-cultural, political and economic situations. For example, some Asian nations such as South Korea, Taiwan and Japan have adopted a HRM strategy that is grounded in Confucian values of respect for the family foremost, and an emphasis on obligations to the collective (Rowden, pp. 163-64). Japanese Management System Japan is a democratic nation and has a highly refined and formalized culture that is in many ways restrained. The work ethics of Japanese business appears to focus dealing with work pressures in ways that are remarkably different to those of western industries. This is due to the lifetime socialization of Japanese citizens to think in terms of the collective, and behaviours that resemble individualism are highly discouraged. One way to ensure that its people conform to the practice of â€Å"maintaining face† is by the use of ostracism to disengage the non-conforming individualist from the group. Hence, team work and cooperative practices are very salient within the Japanese society. Especially, employees work with a high commitment to their organization, and also display a commitment to the economic welfare of their nation. The Japanese legal system maintains the labour standards that currently exist, a principle one being lifetime employment. Although some employees would prefer a different system to lifetime employment, the ingrained cultural management means that the practice is likely to remain. In fact the government and industry work together most cooperatively. The overall aim of the nation and its industries appears to be steady and continuous growth rather than a focus on profits, shareholder interests are secondary, and investors appear to be content with making minimal profits as long as growth is the focus. The form of management appears to be quite paternal and authoritarian (Mroczkowski, pp. 21-22). Japan tends to be very authoritarian in management style, and so there is little dispersion of power sharing across the company. Redundancy does not seem to be a concern for employees, as lifetime employment ensures that they are receiving a wage at home or they are relegated to another part of the company. As part of lifetime employment the homes of employees may likely be owned by the corporation that they work for. Employees tend to go on leisure trips as a group. Many areas of employee’s lives are influenced by the corporation that they work with. This is one of the ways conformity is expected. There is an emphasis on a team-oriented approach to corporate running. This incorporates Common and consistent goals, Organizational commitment, Role clarity among team members, Team leadership, Mutual accountability with the team, Complementary knowledge and skills, Reinforcement of required behavioural competencies and shared rewards. It s expected that such approaches fulfil the familial and community need that there is a gap present in today’s society, and so the company can fulfil a basic human need. Kaizen   The Japanese style of management is clearly characteristic of its collectivist cultural background. Foremost, the most prominent characteristic of the Japanese corporation is that it is family like in quality. As such, the Japanese corporation can be described as an â€Å"entity† firm, in contrast to a â€Å"property† firm. As an entity, the corporation functions as an institution in that it is maintained across time and has an identity of its own, that is separate and non-dependant on the employees and managers who work within it. This system of corporate governance has existed by way of lifetime employment, seniority of wages and promotion, as well as enterprise-based unions. Lifetime employment is characterized by management being primarily of employees who have spent their entire career within the firm. In this way the seniority wage system could be utilized as a promotion process by way of seniority of age and on the job task ability. Performance merit remained and rivalry was highly dependant on ones ability to cooperate with others (Bamber, p. 303).    What Is The Japanese Management System? This segment sketches the chief management practices that are mostly agreed to have applied in Japan until now, at least in large corporations in the manufacturing sector. As we shall notice afterward, the system as illustrated here is currently experiencing significant amendments. Employment and Personnel Practices Amongst many prominent features of the Japanese management structure, one is the lifetime service. The expression is, however, something of a misnomer and is better expressed as enduring employment with a particular firm. In comparison with much western practice, large firms in Japan aim to sign up all their employees, both blue and white collar, directly from the learning system. ‘Regular’ workers enter the firm at its minor levels and are then projected to keep with it for the rest of their operational lives. Though some movement between firms is bearable, this is generally restricted to immature employees at the start of their profession. Apart from this, there is an indulgent between employer and employee that to depart the firm amounts to a severe contravene of mutual commitment. This system is self-maintaining because large firms hardly ever enlist personnel from other corporations. Once the preliminary ‘exploration’ phase is over, employees cannot leave without rigorously damaging their profession prospects. To westerners, life span employment seems perplexing, not least because it appears to restrain a firm’s capability to amend its employment costs in response to varying business surroundings. But the system is underpinned by the use of transitory workers who can be laid off as the need arises. Lifetime service is therefore far from worldwide in Japan, even in large manufacturing companies. Furthermore, women are expelled from the system. Some approximations have indicated that only 40 to 60% of those functioning in large firms and trading houses are covered by lifetime employment (Coad, pp. 314-16). New employees are given exhaustive technical guidance plus a more general orientation into the firm’s culture covering such subjects as its history and values. Additional training is offered during each step of the employee’s livelihood, and is anticipated to be taken very sincerely. For example, upgrading to better levels may depend on successful completion of the firm’s encouragement examinations. Job-rotation is another major trait of Japanese management approach and is not limited to ground levels and carries on all the way through an employee’s live of business. Besides rewards of job-security, pay and position, Japanese firms offer a broad range of safety benefits. These may consist of financial support with housing and schooling, medicinal facilities, free transportation and social conveniences. Retirement profits are, however, insufficient by western principles. As with life span employment, welfare necessities express the paternalistic relationship among employer and employee, although momentary workers are not permitted to obtain these benefits. They are also disqualified from membership of the organization union.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, the Japanese policy to decision-making involves wide communication and discussion. Suggestions for change are disseminated within the organization and intricate attempts are made to secure agreement from the parties that are likely to be influenced. Ideas for enhancement to operating actions are encouraged from underneath and are considered at every stage until an agreement is completed (House, pp. 6-7). Taken collectively, practices such as lifetime service, constant teaching and job-rotation, seniority-based pay and sponsorship, wide-range welfare necessities, and agreement decision-making provide centre employees with employment sanctuary, non-stop upgrading in pay and status over a long period, extensive all-encompassing safety benefits, proficiency development through training, and a grade of contribution in decision-making. In return, employees are predicted to display full commitment to their job and to their company. Japanese Management in Japan The well-known advocates of learning from Japan be predisposed to assume that Japan’s employment and personnel practices and the Japanese management style were the foremost causes of the success of large firms, and hence of national success. Although Japan’s economy has been triumphant, its industry has not been uniformly so. Industrial and hi-tech competitiveness is one of the burning current issues in Japan. Japan’s dominance in manufacturing has been displayed chiefly in the mass-production and high-technology industries. This could signify that firms in less successful industries have not applied the employment and personnel practices of Japanese management in the way that those in flourishing industries have (Grein and Takada, pp. 19-20). But an alternative and more reasonable possibility is that these practices are less important to success than has been assumed. Conclusion Yet, the Japanese management system should not be conceptualized as if it is composed only by practices within firms. Japan’s system of ‘alliance capitalism’ comprises commonly supportive networks of industrial and financial firms and relations with government which play a momentous role in the economy’s operation.   Theorists argued that Japan’s system is adjusting to new conditions but that its basic model of corporate governance, struggle and employment remains largely intact. So even if the personnel practices practiced by large Japanese firms are uniting with those of the Western States, Japan’s overall management system looks likely to retain its pre-eminent character. Works Cited Bamber, G. and Leggett, C. (2001), â€Å"Changing employment relations in the Asia-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pacific Region†, International Journal of Management, Vol. 22 No.4, pp. 303. Coad, A.F. (2002), Not everything is black and white for falling dominoes, Leadership and Organization Development Journal, Vol. 21 No.6, pp. 314-16. Grein, A.F. and Takada, H. (2001), â€Å"Integration and responsiveness: marketing strategies of Japanese and European automobile manufacturers†, Journal of International Marketing, Vol. 9 No.2, pp.19-20. House, R. (2002), â€Å"Understanding cultures and implicit leadership theories across the globe: an introduction to project GLOBE†, Journal of World Business, Vol. 37 No.1, pp. 6-7. Kim, J. (2000), â€Å"Perceptions of Japanese organizational culture†, Journal of Managerial Culture, Vol. 15 No.6, pp. 538–39. Mroczkowski, T. and Hanaoka, M. (1998), The End of Japanese Management: How Soon? Human Resource Planning, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 21-22. Rowden, R.W. (2002), â€Å"The strategic role of human resource management in developing a global corporate culture†, International Journal of Management, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp.163-164.   

ART110 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ART110 - Essay Example Contour lines are predominantly used as well in the painting to add to the visual effect of the real images of the clouds, the tigers and lions as well as the hunters. Short broken lines gave realization to the texture of the horse’s mane and tail, the lions’ and tiger’s hair and claws as well as the hunter’s clothes and bodies. The blend of primary colors created just the right hues to bring real pigments to the animals and men. The saturation of colors on the gray horse’s mane brings a bright effect reflecting the additive light’s natural influence on the artwork in contrast to the dull colors created in the middle and bottom part of the painting. The illusionistic three dimensional space presented in the painting add color and action to the drama between the animals and hunters, giving it a seemingly photographed picture of real events. The proportion of the images is realistic as well. Reference Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Throu gh the Ages: A Concise History of Western Art (2nd Edition). USA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print

Motorolas Chances in the Wireless Market as of Today Case Study

Motorolas Chances in the Wireless Market as of Today - Case Study Example The market today is rapidly changing as the rise in technology continually affects the future of the use of the mobile technology. Most mobile companies have come up with mobile devices in order to match the harsh competition in the market, just like the Motorola Company. Motorola has hit the wireless market remarkably by its contribution with the wireless devices. The Company has made wireless network infrastructure including the handheld computers, mobile phones, and other security management softwares. Their products are made designed to offer flexibility in the current global network. They provide communication in the real time, which is fundamental to providing solutions to today’s challenges (Burda 2). The Motorola Company has moved up to embrace the wireless technology that is today the common means of communication. So far, the Motorola Company has grown up to meet the competition in the wireless market. Motorola has not only provided the latest mobile devices but has also come up with solutions to the demand of rapid communication in the mobile industry. Thus, Motorola has come up with mobile devices that enhance connectivity, safety, and productivity that lead to everyday solutions to communication challenges. Unlike other mobile companies, Motorola has penetrated rapidly and has been on the forefront, to ensure the delivery of the latest products to the market. In this regard, Motorola has today grown significant as its mobile devices are used widely in the leading industries such as the hospitality industry (Burda 5). The technology industry has since adjusted to making products, which are appropriate to the use of the internet and other new applications. Their devices are safe for use in the schools and colleges. Motorola has since been available to all market segments. Today, Motorola is looks forward to release other devices that will enhance high speed connectivity and improve communication and internet access worldwide.

Anatomy & Physiology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Anatomy & Physiology - Essay Example t concluded studies so far conducted contend the world has approximately 6.3 million people who are experiencing Parkinson’s disease (PD) (Medtronic, 2010). Out of this global population, 1.2 million emanate from Europe whereby according to varied medical practitioners and researchers the number keeps on increasing by the day. (Grosset, Fernandez, Katherine and Okun (2009) in their study claim approximately 750,000 up to 1Million are USA citizens whereas between 120,000 and 130,000 emanate from UK. However, PD’s prevalence and incidence studies for long have been affected by survival rates whereby the former is higher compared to the latter (Grosset, Fernandez, Katherine & Okun, 2009). Consequently, this implies those at risk of contracting PD their respective age is over 50 years as depicted in Figure 1. According to Grosset, Fernandez, Katherine and Okun (2009) study, the earliest symptoms of PD among numerous patients usually start showing up at 60 years. Hence, impl ying the disease is quite common among the elderly especially those whom their ages fall between 75 and 85 years living in Europe and USA’s regions (Peretz et al. 2014, p. 70). People comprising this demography their number in these regions is currently showing a rapid increase besides having complications that contribute to PD problem (Peretz et al. 2014, p. 70). This is because of dysfunction of nigra neurons, which are susceptible to loss with age (Reeve, Eve & Doug Turnbull, 2014, p. 19). Figure 1: Grosset, Fernandez, Katherine & Okun. (2009). Prevalence of Idiopathic PD by age. [E-Book] Available at: [Accessed 1st June 2014] Besides age, studies have also confirmed environmental and ethnicity comprises key predisposing factors towards contracting PD predicament. Globally, PD

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

Discussion - Essay Example In health promotion, wherein about 9 other concepts can be identified (Disu, K.M. and Wooden, D.J., 2012) stated in values and beliefs, SDLC has led to the creation of computer systems that give patients the option to tap their skills, resort to their love for freedom and privacy, and their voluntary decision to seek answers for themselves whenever possible. It makes them feel better to call for a nurse only if they don’t understand what to do in various situations. A virtual nurse had been developed. In wanting to know more about the medications they are taking, at what time, dosage, and for what purpose, patients can be taught to simply type the word â€Å"Medicines† after they log into their account, so that they can view more details about their purpose and the contra-indications. Thus, another concept within health promotion is served – the concept of empowerment. In the other meta-concept which is caring, SDLC can be tapped by allowing the patients to voluntarily submit feedback that can be saved in their database. Patients themselves or the authorized relatives may assist in faster recovery by way of reporting favourable or unfavourable feedback which the doctors can view during their visit. Questions can also be raised anytime if patients are allowed to simply communicate their thoughts with the help of a computer. In fact, SDLC can provide doctors with real time biological response and allow them to become more aware about developments with the patients. Such updated awareness can result in providing initiatives that can show better care and

Integrated Marketing Communications Practice Essay

Integrated Marketing Communications Practice - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that in accordance with Belch, any organization opts to keep an effective way of communicating with its customers. This way, the customers are informed of any improvement or change in the commodity. This ensures that there is a steady flow of information on the customers. Customers who are kept informed, about any change in the commodity produced by a company, have a sense of belonging, and they tend to develop loyalty to the commodity. In addition, Eagle, states that companies that employ IMC as a marketing technique achieve outstanding outcomes. Â  This is because they manage to coordinate the advertising process and enhance good public relations. An enhancement of a healthy relationship between an organization and its customers builds up a long-lasting customer base, which has to be maintained by ensuring trust and goodwill of all the participants. Ford Motors Company has a wide scope of markets of its unique model of vehicles, which co nstitute different models that suit the needs of their market segment. They have segmented the market into different categories that include personal cars, commercials vehicles, and trucks. Â  Since the foundation, this company has used various techniques in advertising their vehicles. Luck stipulates that any business must use an effective and reliable channel of communication so that their message will not be distorted. Ford Company has employed different forms of IMC, in order to reach the customers. The clients include the business sector, operating segments automotive which have distinct needs to be met.

The Impact of 19th Century European Colonialism on the Third World Essay

The Impact of 19th Century European Colonialism on the Third World - Essay Example While this has been the case, it is a fact that very little has been done or is being done to curb this menace, and this has been mainly because of the continued dominance of the former colonial powers over the world economy. The colonial policies were adopted by many of the European governments that led to the deprivation of the natives of the land that they colonized while at the same time ensuring that the colonizers became the biggest beneficiaries. This can be considered to be the origin of the inequalities that have come to exist between the developed world and the Third World, as the gap between them continues to widen. The governments of these countries have caused the prevalence of poverty in the third world a very common state that can be found in most of the states that are categorized as poor, with the most common belief being that this situation. It has been suggested that it is either the governments of the poor countries, which are to blame because they are corrupt or that they make poor decisions. Furthermore, these governments are also blamed for pursuing policies that actually harmful to the successful development of their people. There are, however, deeper, colonial causes of poverty which are rarely discussed because their effects are mostly indirect. Among the factors, which have led to the prevalence of poverty in the third world, is that the colonial governments rarely set up industries in their colonies, instead using them only as sources of raw material. There were behind those decisions, which mainly dealt with economic policies and practices, which are typically influenced or formulated, by the rich and powerful on the European states who wanted to have absolute control over the markets and this required that the colonies do not manufacture their own products (Haynes, 2008). This practice continued long after most of the countries in the third world gained independence and this was because of the fact that while they gained political independence, their economic development tended to rely heavily on the former colonizers for support. It has been found that the former European colonizers often continued to emphasize the raw material producing role of their former colonies, and in the face of such great external pressure. The governments of the third world countries and their people have remained powerless, as a result, the few developed countries continue to become wealthy while the majority, most in the third world struggle with or fall further into poverty (Allen & Thomas, 2004). The former colonizers have played a role in ensuring that these countries remain poor so that they can accumulate more wealth through having a ready market for their products as well as having less competition in the market. The former colonial powers have been behind the introduction of reductions in the expenditure for health, education and other vital social services in countries from the third world as conditions for any form of ec onomic assistance from them. Most of these conditions have come because of the structural adjustment policies prescribed by the major international financial institutions, which are mostly dominated by the former European colonial powers. When most of the European powers left their former colonies, these countries were in dire need of financial assistance in order to develop themselves to the level of their former colonizers. The leaving colonial powers often left their colonies in dire financial situations and this forced the newly independent states to take loans in order to ensure the

How can microeconomics help small business owners Essay

How can microeconomics help small business owners - Essay Example Microeconomics derived from the Greek word â€Å"mikros† which means small, deals with a part of the economy rather than the whole. It deals with total output, total employment, total spending but in relation to single firms and single households. Microeconomics seeks to understand the individual consumer, the buying decisions that are made at this level and the different factors that affect the consumer behavior. The subject matter of microeconomics is mainly commodity pricing, factor pricing and welfare theory. Commodity pricing entails how prices of commodities are affected by market forces of demand and supply. The price of commodities usually determines the demand of the products by the consumer. Factor pricing are the determination of rewards for the different factors in the production process that include land, labor, and capital. These earn the business rewards in terms of wages, rents, interest and profits. Welfare theory explains the optimum allocation of resources in order to maximize utility. It is therefore crucial for small business owners to understand more about the consumers and different factors that affect the spending behavior of consumers such as price of products, income and supply Any business whether start-up or on-going needs to undertake a research of the market and actually draw up its business plan before starting operations. This gives the business its objectives and goals and provides sense of direction in the market. The following are some of the ways in which micro economics aids small business owners achieve their business goals and objectives: Understanding the individual behavior of the consumer. Consumer decision making is the most critical aspect of the micro economics as consumer spending makes up the highest part of the economy. Consumers after spending usually save surplus invest and put away for future use. Microeconomics determines how much a household save, for how long and

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death Essay Example for Free

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death Essay Edgar Allan Poe’s short horror story entitled ‘The Masque of the Red Death: A Fantasy’ was published in Graham’s Magazine in 1838, and talks about a plague that the main character, Prince Prospero, attempts to evade (Laurent 2003). He holds a masquerade ball, each in different color, inside seven rooms in his abbey. On the other hand, Irvin Layton’s horror (or suspense) poem entitled ‘Rhine Boat Trip’ was written in 1977 and talks about murdered rabbis and the ghosts of children in the events in Nazi Germany, especially those that occurred during the Holocaust (Rhine Boat Trip, n. d. ). These two texts are both horrific, but aside from being different in terms of the format and the length, both display contrasting perspectives in their artistic, textual frames. Poe’s short story and Layton’s short poem display a suspense story; yet, as a whole, they display different styles and time frames. While Poe’s style displays something that is currently happening and distinctively described, Layton displays one that had already happened in the past and is directly described. Main Body The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe This short story attempts to describe how a plague called the Red Death enters Prince Prospero’s dominion, a prince who is being described as â€Å"happy and dauntless and sagacious† (Poe par. 2). The plague that has swept over the land is horrifying. As described, Blood was its Avatar and its seal –the redness and the horrors of blood. There were sharp pains, and sudden dizziness, and then profuse bleeding at the pores, with dissolution. The scarlet stains upon the body and especially upon the face of the victim, were the pest ban which shut him out from the aid and from the sympathy of his fellow-men. And the whole seizure, progress and termination of the disease, were the incidents of half an hour. (Poe par. 1) From this paragraph, Poe specifies how horrifying the plague is. The victim loses most of the blood within the body, which is the cause of sudden dizziness and dissolution. Poe’s use of blood is enough to make the story appalling to the reader. Using pictures that signify awfulness and terror, Poe makes the story one that makes the reader horror-struck. However, the plague is said to have stricken only his dominions and not Prince Prospero and his â€Å"hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court† (Poe par. 2). Poe makes it appear that the plague only strikes those that are not hale and light-hearted or only those that are wicked, depraved, or poor. When his dominions were cut in half and the depraved dominions were already cast out, Prince Prospero is said to summon his friends, and using a masquerade ball inside seven rooms, each in different color, of his castellated abbey, he entertains his friends amid the plague. Poe describes the abbey: This was an extensive and magnificent structure, the creation of the prince’s own eccentric yet august taste. A strong and lofty wall girdled it in. This wall had gates of iron. The courtiers, having entered, brought furnaces and massy hammers and welded the bolts. (Poe par. 2) The exact description of the castellated abbeys indicates that Prince Prospero and the one thousand light-hearted friends are being protected from the killing plague that has stricken over the land. Then Poe begins to describe extensively the seven colored rooms: It was a voluptuous scene, that masquerade†¦ There was a sharp turn at every twenty or thirty yards, and at each turn a novel effect. To the right and left, in the middle of each wall, a tall and narrow Gothic window looked out upon a closed corridor which pursued the windings of the suite. These windows were of stained glass whose color varied in accordance with the prevailing hue of the decorations of the chamber into which it opened. (Poe par. 4) Poe mentions that, having to describe the decorations of the castellated abbey, Prince Prospero is actually eccentric, august, voluptuous, and bizarre. Poe also mentions that â€Å"[t]he tastes of the duke were peculiar. He had a fine eye for colors and effects. He disregarded the decora of mere fashion. His plans were bold and fiery†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (par. 6). A mystifying figure suddenly appears, one that is described as â€Å"a masked figure which had arrested the attention of no single individual before† (par. 9). When Prince confronts the mystifying image, he suddenly falls dead, as specified in these lines: â€Å"There was a sharp cry – and the dagger dropped gleaming upon the sable carpet, upon which, instantly afterwards, fell prostate in death the Prince Prospero† (par. 12). The Red Death has entered the ball, and as the prince falls dead in the carpet, the people surges to the figure to remove the mask, only to find it empty. Each one falls to the ground, as the plague enters each of the one thousand guests in the ball. The Red Death surges upon all of the dominion. The Masque of the Red Death is one horror story in which Poe exemplifies great and immense description in every detail and part of the story. Poe uses symbols, such as colors and lines, in order to describe each detail magnificently and make the reader see distinctively. Rhine Boat Trip by Irvin Layton This 16-lined poem attempts to describe how the castles of the Rhine are haunted by ghosts of Jewish mothers and children in the lines: â€Å"The castles on the Rhine / are all haunted / by ghosts of Jewish mothers / looking for their ghostly children† (Rhine Boat Trip, L1-4). In contrast to Poe’s distinctive description, Layton’s style is simple and easy to read and understand. It does not describe each detail individually but rather, puts the picture and leaves the reader free to describe each picture. It allows the reader to put in detail what the castle looked like at Rhine. Having to put the exact name of the castle in the line is enough to picture the detail distinctively. Unlike Poe’s style, which provides the exact picture by describing immensely the detail in the story, Layton’s style is one that uses words in order to describe immensely what the picture or detail appears to be. However, instead of describing the castle as something that is enormous, fantastic, or incredible as Poe has done, Layton pictures the castle in a horrifying manner: â€Å"[A]nd the clusters of grapes / in the sloping vineyards / are myriads of blinded eyes / staring at the blind sun† (Rhine Boat Trip, L5-8). Layton instantly pictures the castle as horrifying, which is different from Poe’s style, wherein the latter pictures the castle as magnificently decorated before interpreting it as horrifying in the latter portion of the story. Each word that Layton uses carries a specific meaning. This is different from the manner in which Poe writes, wherein he describes in detail only to prove that the place is magnificent and is owned by a splendid duke living in the castle. In lines 5-8 of Layton’s poem, for example, the clusters of grapes of line 5 does not just depict the Jewish families but may depict families or communities that include everyone, including the reader. However, because Layton uses ‘sloping’ when he describes the vineyards, it may conclude to something that is negative, since it goes downhill, which is symbolic. Something negative, such as negative customs or culture that are found in the family or community, might have been included in the clusters of people. The use of grapes also depicts meaning, since grapes are used by the Jewish during the Passover and Holocaust. Having depicted too, that the clusters of grapes are actually â€Å"myriads of blinded eyes† (Rhine L7), it appears that the Jewish families (or German families) are blinded to what is about to happen to them and the surrounding community. They are staring at the blind sun because there is no hope for them in the end, since God is about to punish them, it is like God is nowhere in sight. In lines 9-10, wherein it says that â€Å"the tireless Lorelei / can never comb from their hair† (Layton L9-10), it appears that Lorelei is praying and doing sacrifices to God; and because she can â€Å"never comb from their hair† (Rhine L10), it symbolizes that important people in the community, such as Lorelei, pray and do sacrifices to God, so that the latter may show mercy to them and then remember His covenant with them. Lastly, lines 11-16 depict the rabbis that have been murdered and are wailing: â€Å"[T]he crimson beards / of murdered rabbis / however sweetly they sing / one hears only / the low wail of the cattle cars / moving invisibly across the land† (Rhine L11-16). Crimson is used to signify blood or death. The word ‘one’ is being used to mean both the person that hears only the wailing rabbis, as well as, the One God that appears to have turned His back on the Jewish people despite their prayers and offerings. Cattle cars are wailing in line 15, meaning that these cattle cars that are â€Å"moving invisibly across the land† (Rhine L16) are not with cattle but with people, which signifies a state that is inhumane and atrocious. The cattle cars are invisible because, first, no one had paid attention to them during their crisis; and, second, what the author has been describing is something that had already happened in the past. This poem also depicts strong emotional response because of distinctive images that were used by the writer. Like Poe’s story, this poem uses images, such as castles, grapes, vineyards, sun, rabbis, and cattle cars. However, unlike Poe’s story, Layton’s style is one that is simple yet direct; one that is more symbolic than that of Poe’s. Conclusion Poe’s short story entitled The Masque of the Red Death, as well as, Layton’s short poem entitled Rhine Boat Trip are both horrific, symbolic, and descriptive. However, Poe’s story is distinctively descriptive in detail, with an enormous, fantastic castle. Layton’s poem on the other hand, is simpler and direct, easier to read and understand, more distinctive in word, more symbolic in style, with a horrifying castle. Layton and Poe are alike; yet diverse. Works Cited Laurent, Sabrina. Metaphor and Symbolism in The Masque of the Red Death. July 2003. United Nuke. 14 March 2009 http://www. boheme-magazine. net/php/modules. php? name=Newsfile=articlesid=46. Poe, Edgar Allan. The Masque of the Red Death. 2009. Jalic Incorporated. 14 March 2009 http://www. online-literature. com/poe/36/. Rhine Boat Trip (1977). N. d. Gonzaga University. 14 March 2009 http://barney. gonzaga. edu/~rolson3/Layton. html. Other Sources Roberts, Edgar. Writing About Literature – Brief (11the ed. ). White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman, 2005.

Computer Hardware And Software

Computer Hardware And Software In this topic Management Information System is about the information systems knowledge is essential for creating competitive firms, managing global corporations, adding business value, and providing useful products and services on the way to customers. What is an information system? The information system is defined technically as a set of interrelated apparatus that collect, process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization. In other also determination supporting decision making, coordination, and manage, information systems may also help manager and workers analyze problems, visualize complex subjects and create new products. So information system contain about significant people, place, and things within the organization or in the environment surrounding it. Selecting the global system is from other countries, such as United States, Europe and Asia. Then local is just at state to state or city to city. While want to work outstation or management company, it must know local environments, with different, culture of countries, and local knowledge, time deliver service on a global, and time intense platform. In this question ask that become a mangers hot develop a company in many countries. By the way, management, organization, and technology are one point to show global application how to work and manage it. Question 1 Why is selecting computer hardware and software for the organization an important management decision? What management, organization and technology issue should be considered when selecting computer hardware? Answer of Question 1 Nowadays, computer is a device that accepts information and manipulates on a program or sequence of instructions on how the data to be processed. The computers also include the means for storing data. Computers variable have two parts are software and hardware. Computer hardware is physical foundation for the firm`s information technology infrastructure. Information technology infrastructures include software, data and networks. Computer hardware requires their storage or operation. Then, computer software is detailed instructions that control the operation of a computer system. However, hardware is without software to perform the tasks to associate with computers. Subsequently, in this question ask that why is selecting computer hardware and software for the organization an important management decision? Computer hardware is accordingly representing an important organizational benefit that must be properly managed. Managers need to balance the cost of acquire hardware capital with the need to provide a responsive and reliable platform for delivering information system applications. The most important issues in managing hardware assets are understanding the new technology requirements for electronic commerce and the digital firm, it also determining the total cost of ownership of technology assets, and identifying technology trends impacting the organization`s information technology infrastructure. While the software is represents a major organizational software asset that should be carefully managed. System software coordinates the different parts of the computer system and mediates between application software and computer hardware. As a result, the application software is used by application programmers and some end users to develop specific business application. Then, operating system is system software that to manages and controls the activities of the computer. This system acts as chief manager of the information system, allocation, assigning, and scheduling system resources and monitoring the use of the computer. Computer system resources allow to be used more efficiently such as multiprogramming, multiprocessing, virtual storage and time sharing are operating system capabilities. In PC operating systems have to developed complicated capability like support for multiple users on networks. PC operating system is leading area include Window XP, Window 98 and Window Me, Win dow CE, Window 2000, OS/2, Unix, Linux, Mas OS and DOS. Software also have general trend, can toward user-friendly, high level languages that both increase professional programmer productivity and make it easily for end users to work information systems. Principal programming languages used in business include C, C++ and Visual Basic and each is designed to explain specific types of problems. Software assortment should be based on criterion such as efficiency, compatibility with organization`s technology platform, vendor support, and whether the software tool is appropriate for the problems and tasks of the organization. Another view computer hardware and software technology can enhance or organizational performance. Two of them are major organizational assets that must be carefully managed. By the electronic commerce and electronic business have put new strategic importance on technologies that can store vast quantities if operation data and make them immediately available online. So manager and information systems specialists need to pay individual attention to hardware capacity planning and scalability to ensure that the firm has enough computing power for its current and upcoming needs. Then they also need to balance the costs and benefits of owning and maintaining their own hardware and software versus renting these assets from external service providers. In the online storage service provider (SSPs) rent out storage space to subscribers over the Web, to selling the computer storage as a pay-per-use utility. Type of application service providers (ASPs) is rent out to the software applications an d computer services from private network or remote computer centers to subscribers over the Internet. The companies will pay technology service provides only for the amount of computing power and services by a utility computing model. Cost is one of the point for calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the organization`s technology assets can help to provide managers with the information they want to manage these assets and decide whether to rent or own these assets. Finally, the total cost of technology resources includes not only the original cost of computer hardware and software but they also same costs to upgrades, maintenance, technical support, and training. Management Computer hardware technology is to profound impact on business performance. Thus, it represents an important organizational asset that must be properly managed. Then, the alternative computer hardware topologies are available to processing and storing data while they are using this technology for their business. Computer system have many modern and can be categorized into six major components such as a central processing unit (CPU), primary storage, input devices, output devices, secondary storage, and communications devices (in figure 1). Figure 1:hardware components of computer system CPU is the part of computer where the manipulation of symbol, letter occurs and numbers. CPU has two types of components such as an arithmetic-logic unit and a control unit. CPU is a closely tied primary memory, or primary storage, which are stores data and program instructions temporarily before or after processing. However, more than a few difference kinds of semiconductor memory chips is RAM ( random access memory) is use for short term storage of data and program instruction, then ROM (read only memory) eternally stores important program instructions. Computer processing power depends in part of speed in microprocessors, which is computer`s logic and control on a single chip. The input devices have included keyboards, computer mice, magnetic link and optical character recognition devices audio input devices and radio frequency identification devices. Maintenance of computer hardware is one of a series of cost components that mangers must consider when selecting and managing hardw are technology assets. Total cost of ownership (TCO) is designates the total cost of owning technology resources including cost of hardware, maintenance, and training. Anywhere, to improve firm of management and information systems specialists, so they must pay more attention to hardware capacity planning and scalability. For this system of capacity planning, is the process of predicting when the computer hardware system become saturated. For issue of capacity planning, most of the users that using the system can accommodate at one time. Second issue is the impact of existing and the future software application. Then, is a performance measure like minimum to response time for the processing business transaction. Currently, capacity planning is ensures for the firm has enough computing power and upcoming needs. Salability is refers for the ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to provide a large number of users without breaking down. Organization Computer hardware technology can either improve or delay organizational performance. Computer hardware selection should consider how well the technology meshes with the organization`s culture and structure with its information processing requirements. Technology Information technology today is not incomplete to computers but must be viewed as an array of digital devices networked together. Thus, type of computer and arrangement of processing that should be used by business in the nature organization. Computers type as well as mainframes, PCs, midrange computers, workstation, or supercomputer. While, computers also can be networked together to distribute processing among different machines. Network computer can help organization to maintain the central control over computing, linking PCs, workstations, peer-to-peer, or other computers through the internet or sharing data by private network, and disk space. Different ways of configuring hardware components in management side. Question 2 If you were a manager in a company that operates in many countries, what criteria would you use to determine whether a new system should be developed as a global application or local application? Why? Answer of Question 2 In this question is asking that if I am a manager will chooses global application or local application to operating a new system in many countries of the company. What is global application mean? Global application is for a world order is sweeping away many national corporations, national industries, and national economies control by domestic politician. Most of the countries like United States, Europe and Asia, many of their local firms will be replacing by fast-moving networked corporations that rise above national boundaries. Global application is the overall market forces, or business drivers, that are pushing to industry toward the global competition. So, want to be a good manager must known how to management, organizational and technology using a new system to operate the company in many countries. To develop a global application in new system, a manager would need to learn the cultures, face political and legal uncertainties, global environmental and social expectations, develop a global position and reorganize business strategies. The global market may run up against governmental or cultural restrictions. One of the criteria to be considered to develop the global application is global cultural which include the forms of religious, nationalistic, ethnic, regionalism, and geopolitical position. The differences of culture influence the concept of a shared global culture and reject the penetration of domestic markets by foreign goods and services. The expansion of international communication has created a world culture with stable expectations or norms. However for some of the middle and low level, software systems will equip with their local languages. Every country have their own terms of business trade, therefore political stability and a growing global knowledge base that is widely and essential for the world culture during develop of global application. These common factors are also creating the conditions for global markets, global production, coordination, distribution, and global economies of scale. In addition, different cultures produce different political and legal issued. Many countries are using different laws to lead the movement of information, information privacy of their citizens, origins of software and hardware in systems, and radio and satellite telecommunications. For instance in Germany, a vendor cannot accept payment via credit card until two weeks after an order has been sent. While in Malaysia, a vendor is accept payment via credit card before order goods deliver. Moreover, the criteria of social expectation are another point will need to be concentrate. Different of working hours are vary across countries. So the specific like the reliability that phone network not reliable. For the developing global business have four basic international strategies such as domestic exporter, multinational, franchiser, and transnational. The domestic exporter strategy is characterized by heavy centralization of corporate activities in the home country of origin. For second strategy is multinational, it is concentrates financial management and control out of a central home base while decentralizing production and marketing operations to units in other countries. Third strategy of franchiser is an interesting mix of old and new. Last strategy is the transnational, this for managed the activities from a global perspective without reference to national borders, optimizing sources of supply and demand wherever they become visible. In the information technology, the global telecommunications must improve because they are giving for international firms more flexibility to shape their global strategies. Thus, the protectionism is serve local markets better encourage companies to disperse production facilities. To develop a global company in many counties, how a firm organize and how to control the information support structure by manger? By the way, the entire branch in other counties needs to follow these principles. There are including organize, develop, and establish. For organize value adding activities along lines of comparative advantage. For example, marketing or sales functions should be located where they can best to present, for least cost and maximum impact. Other organizes like production, finance, human resources and information system. Second is develop, it to operate system units at each level of corporate activities regional, national, and international. Local company and global company, theirs develop not same to manage. For local company, there should host country system units of some magnitude. Then the global company is using regional systems units to handle telecommunications and system development across national boundaries that take place within major geographic regions. Last is establish, at world center of operations is a single office responsible for development of international system. Management Managers are responsible for devising an appropriate organizational and technological framework for international business. Global business strategies have four basic for global firms organizational structure. Transnational firms should develop networked system configurations and permit considerable decentralization of development. Second strategies are franchisers, nearly to duplicate systems across many countries and use centralized financial controls. Multinationals is third strategy, it typically rely on decentralized independence among foreign units with some movement toward development of networks. Lastly is domestic strategy is exporters typically are centralized in domestic headquarters with some decentralized operations permitted. To develop a global firm or company and information systems support structure, be a firm or company needs to known these principles. To identifying core business process is to perform a business process analysis. There have three type are organize develop and establish. Hence, organize is the value adding activities along lines of comparative advantage. After that, develop and operate systems units at each level of corporate activity regional, national, and international and establish is at world headquarters a single office responsible for development of international system, it is a global chief information officer (CIO) position. Managers must know how to handle the most vexing problem facing managers developing the global information systems architectures. Applications developed just about the global by different divisions, different people, and for different kinds of computing hardware. If the problem are magnified in an international environment, then just to imagine the challenge of integrating system based on Window, Unix, Linux and many other hardware in many different operating units in many different countries. Organization Global information systems pose challenges because of culture, political, and language diversity magnifies in organizational culture and business processes and encourages proliferation of disparate local information systems that are difficult to integrate. Usually, international systems have evolved without a conscious plan. The remedy is in the direction of a small subset of core business process and focus on building systems to support these processes. Usually, for managers must have to get somebody on board widely dispersed foreign units to participate in the development and operation of these systems, being careful to maintain overall control. Technology Global systems also must using hardware, software, and networking pose special technical challenges in an international setting. Mean that want finding some way to standardize a global computing platform when using have variation form operating unit to operating unit and from country to country. The universal acceptance of the internet around the global has greatly reduced networking problems. While, the internet does not guarantee that information will flow seamlessly throughout the global organization. Because all business units not use the same applications, and the quality of internet service can be highly variable. Other way, the hardware and telecommunications issues are systems integration and connectivity. Integration is to go either with a proprietary architecture or with open systems technology. Then the global networks are particularly difficult to build and operate. However, firms or company can build their own global networks or also can create global networks based on i nternet.

Social Issues Essay -- essays research papers

The democratic society consist of the working class, it determines how much money they gain or how much tax they will be paying for the year. So they’d wanted o chose a candidate that will benefit them. He democratic society also seemed like it wanted to be heard in this year’s election. They spent million of dollars on making ads, posters, and billboards that would interest the average middle class citizen to go out and vote. The democratic society also was aware that the republicans were going to meet this election head on because a democratic had served two terms in office, and they are very anxious to change that.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another significance that the elections have in a democratic society is that it made people pay more attention to what each candidate was saying. The democratic candidate didn’t nessariarly have to be voted for, that is if he wasn’t promising what we was looking for. But majority of the time it doesn’t happen that way, and the democratic society votes in a fellow democratic into office.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The final significance about a democratic society in elections is that the majority of the democratic society is in the middle class. They want someone that will make their lives better. After getting a pay raise, or better working conditions, from a democratic present the last eight years, it would be close to impossible to not support a fellow democratic if he is running for office.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, the Democratic Party has not always been as strong as it is today. In the 1950s and the early 1960s, the Democrats far outnumbered Republicans and despite their lower turnout, were successful at both the state and national levels. (150) Democrats have won one in five presidential elections since 1964, and in 1980, for the first time in twenty-four years. Although proportion of â€Å"strong Democrats† has dropped sharply, and voting defection from party devotion has increased at all levels. (150) Democratic candidates can no longer count on almost automatic majorities among urban workers, white southerners, union members, and members of certain ethnic and religious groups. This wearing away of traditional voting support cannot easily be explained by some momentary event or prominent personality. (151) Conflict over race within the Democratic Party is not a new phenomenon.   Ã‚   ... ...gations too, along with the pain and embarrassment of losing the election and the victory of winning the election.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The presidential candidate that I had planned on and voted for is in deed Vice-president Al Gore. I agree with what he represents, and from what he is campaigning, it seems as if he will help me with financial aid to attend school. And I also believe that he will keep minimum wage at a reasonable rate, because with these things thing, life as I know it would be the same. The issues that he addresses throughout the whole election are issue that I am very interested in. But the main reason why I believe that Vice-President Al Gore would make is an excellent chose for President of the United States of America because he has been in office with President Clinton for the last eight years, and I have seem nothing but progress for the United States of America. By President Clinton’s side, he has help make the country a little better for every race, culture and different income class. That is the type of work that I want to continue in the United States now and fou r years from now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

The Many Faces of Pride :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Many Faces of Pride   Ã‚   Pride is idolatry, boastfulness, and the failure to recognize deficiencies (Peters 87).   With time, people have become more accepting of pride in their societies.   This progression of acceptance has led to alterations in the definition.   It is the slight tweakings of the definition that have allowed us to perceive pride as a deadly sin and simultaneously an essential for success.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The beginning of all sin occurred when Eve listened to the evil snake, in the garden of Eden, who told her that she could acquire God's knowledge (Peters 87).   God forbid Eve to eat the apple of knowledge, but she did regardless.   Eve committed the first sin of humankind in an act of pride because pride has been defined as "an attempt at human self-divination" (Peters 87).   Since she was only the second person to walk the earth, Eve had few examples of how to act.   It seems to be that it was her sheer curiosity and amazement with Eden that caused her to eat the apple, not an attempt to become like God.   Despite her intentions, according to the ancient definition of pride Eve sinned the first sin of self-divination.   Another example of ancient, religious pride can be seen through an ancient Jewish sect, the Pharisees.  Ã‚   These men claimed to be the most religious of the land.   Although they did not seek to be at the same leve l as God, they sought answers and results for their village among themselves when they should have been talking to God.   Often times, the Pharisees bent the rules of the Ten Commandments for themselves but forced the villagers to strictly obey them. To make matters worse, these men wanted to be rewarded for their good deeds of "helping their community."   The Pharisees refused to admit their faults and were condemned "proud" by Jesus (Yancey & Stafford 1125).   God gives us a final example that pride is a deadly sin. Lucifer was created to be one of God's right hand cherubs, "the seal of perfection"   (Ezekiel 28:12-15).   However, one day Lucifer decided that he wanted more knowledge and power than God.   When God found out, Lucifer was kicked out of heaven and fell to the earth, bringing one third of the stars (fallen angels) with him (Isaiah 12:12-14 & Revelations 12:4).

Just In Time Systems Essay -- essays research papers

Devising an efficient system of counting and maintaining a stock of inventory items has long been an arduous task for many business owners. The old method of cataloging by part or item number has all but disappeared since the proliferation of electronic catalogs and the use of computer software and web-based ordering/monitoring systems. Inventory management is necessary for owners who want to maintain a stocking service for quick turnaround to help ensure total customer satisfaction. An item on a managed inventory list must be maintained to avoid shortages of frequently used items. Even when utilizing an inventory management system, occasional shortages will still occur. To be successful in today's fast-paced, highly-competitive environment, business’ need to have the necessary parts in stock or have reliable suppliers to meet customer demands at a moment's notice. Either way, shops must have a practical, efficient method for managing inventory in order to stay in business an d satisfy their customers. The most efficient way to get this done is through the use of a Just-In-Time (J-I-T) system of inventory management. The service that Cardinal Health provides is an example of this type of J-I-T system which allows them to get the right quantity of goods to the right place and at the right time. Efficient inventory management is essential in order to provide the customer with a high level of service. The ability to ship inventory on schedule and get just the right amount of product where it needs to be in a timely manner is one of the major factors that helps determine customer satisfaction. Consumers do not like to wait in lines, come back later, or shop somewhere the product is often out of stock. These are the types of problems that lead to a customer walking across the street to the find a particular product somewhere else. In addition, efficient inventory management leads to a more cost-efficient operation (Reid Ch 12, 2002). The goal is to keep inventory on the shelves for the least amount of time as possible. This prevents a high percentage of capital from being tied up in inventory. Through the use of automation and computer based systems, companies are able to control their inventory based on real-time needs instead of historical projections. This helps reduce the g uess work in how much inventory to stock and when to stock it. Regardless of whether or... ... out without the hassle of long lines or confusion. This is directly related to how the inventory is managed throughout the supply chain. Just-In-Time inventory management is an attempt to create the perfect inventory system. The idea of getting the right product to the right place and at the right time is at the core of this system. Although not always perfect, the goal is to identify problems and always strive to make it better. This can only be implemented through the use of automation and technology. Cardinal Health has integrated handheld technology, wireless web, the internet, and many other cutting edge technologies to provide just this type of service. They provide inventory management that is flexible, relatively simple, and gives power to the consumer to help control inventory based on what is actually needed instead of historical models or guesswork. REFERENCES Frederick, James (2003). Upgraded distribution network grows supply chain, inventory capacity. Drug Store News, pg 15. Reid & Sanders (2002). Independent Demand Inventory Management. Operations Management, Ch 12. Reid & Sanders (2002). Just-In-Time Systems. Operations Management, Ch 7.

How Significant a Role Do Multinational Corporations (Mncs) Play in Today’s Uk Economy in Terms of Their Impact on Employment Relations (Er) and Labour Conditions?

How significant a role do multinational corporations (MNCs) play in today’s UK economy in terms of their impact on employment relations (ER) and labour conditions? This is the question the paper attempts to evaluate through drawing on academic literature and empirical evidence from the 2004 Wers survey. The first section profiles MNCs in the UK, currently dominated by US and German firms. Following this, there is a brief analysis of employment relations in the UK. The third section reviews literature from leading commentators on the subject, highlighting contrasting views and evidence of foreign IR and ER practices. The fourth section looks at key factors that influence the way labour is managed within MNCs subsidiaries. The country of origin effect, the home country effect, the global dominance effect and a global interaction effect as identified by Edwards and Ferner. This is important to assess to what extent MNCs use these factors in the management of labour. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn and a consideration whether MNCs have diffused home country employment relations practices to their UK foreign subsidiaries and if they have affected labour conditions for the UK workforce. Introduction Foreign direct investment (FDI) as a percentage of GDP (Ferner Industrial) in the UK is the highest of any developed country in the world. Since the deregulation of the labour market in the 1980’s the UK has seen a rise in foreign owned companies. According to the WERS 2004 survey, 19 per cent of private sector workplaces with 10 or more employees had some degree of foreign ownership, an increase of 4 per cent on the 1998 survey. Similarly, a rise from 8 per cent to12 per cent of companies were predominantly foreign owned and controlled. For what reason do MNCs choose to set up subsidiaries in the UK? Could it be to take advantage of the nature of the 1 open and deregulated national business system and transfer home country ER practices? Margaret Thatcher and the conservative government came to power in 1979 and in favour of capital markets rather than labour markets; legislations were put in place to weaken the power of unions. The national business system has changed dramatically resulting in an institutionally weak British system. These factors have altered the employment relationship, weakening the statutory and long established support for collective representation. A small proportion of the UK workforce is now covered by collective bargaining (McDonalds) in the employment relationship, although remains the principal form of pay setting (Primarily in the public sector). Union membership has decreased from 13. 2 million members at its peak in 1979 to 6. 7 million in 2005 and union density1 has declined from 32 per cent in 1995 to 29 per cent in 2005. Commentators suggest that MNCs are an important source of innovative work practices, such as a specialist HRM functions. Moreover, that they are able to transfer business models from parent companies, the ‘country of origin effect’ to UK subsidiaries with relative ease. This has been described as a ‘forward diffusion’ of practices. However, evidence suggests that some MNCs, dependant on their country of origin, will adhere to the host country practices even though they conflict with the parent companies policies and practices. This will be explored in more detail further into the paper. The following section of the paper will profile MNCs in the UK. Profile of MNCs MNCs are not homogeneous but are now heterogeneous and are spread across sectors, although are dominant in the fast food and manufacturing industries in the UK. At the 1 The unionised workforce expressed as a percentage of potential membership 2 turn of the century there were 18000 foreign subsidiaries (Contemporary Employment Relations) operating in Britain, with 5000 of these employing more than 1000 employees. They stem from the US, Europe and Asia. The US is dominant with 25 per cent of total FDI to the UK followed by Germany (Bach) with 21 per cent. Foreign subsidiaries employ 18 per cent (Warwick) of the workforce in the production sector in the UK and the incidence of foreign-ownership of UK workplaces has risen since 1998 (Wers 2004) by approximately a quarter. They tend to have commonality it its products and services across its subsidiaries with 52 per cent (Warwick) having an international product. It could be argued that for these reasons they have significant economic and political power and the potential to significantly impact UK employment relations and labour conditions. Employment Relations and Labour conditions in the UK Throughout the 1980’s the Thatcher government and the neo-liberal labour movement stripped unions of their power, collapsing the traditional IR pluralist system under the previous labour governments. Historically unions played a powerful role in the UK economy, with the emphasis on centralised collective bargaining over the employment relationship. Union recognition and membership has since been on the decline. Although, sectorial shifts from manufacturing industries were unionization was predominant to an increase in the services sector is a possible conclusion. Moreover, the increase in small enterprises were unions find it hard to organise is another possible answer. It is evident that unionisation in the UK has lost its appeal and there is a marked shift towards alternative means by firms to regulate the employment relationship. The emphasis is shifting away from the pluralist view to the unitarist view on the role of the individual. Successive Labour government under Tony Blair 3 supported the regulative reforms of the conservative government, although amended the union recognition procedure. This stipulates that unions must be recognised in a workplace if there is a majority consensus of employees. The UK is now under EU directives, most recently the information and consultative directive (ICE) which came into force in 2005. This stipulates that companies with more than 1000 employees must establish a works council. This gives the workers rights to information and consultation on company decisions. Employees are also protected by many employment legislations in areas such as discrimination, unfair dismissal, minimum wage and working time regulations, directives from both the EU and the UK. With the general trend away from union involvement and collective agreements there has been a rise in union substitution strategies in the form of HRM policies in domestic firms. ER in Foreign Subsidiaries The following section reviews business systems of different countries that have foreign subsidiaries in the UK and their stance towards trade unions and practices and policies on employment relations. The US is similar to the UK with respect to the national business system. The framework for union representation in the US is weak and the support for collective bargaining is declining. Throughout the 1990’s unionization rates have declined rapidly from 30 to14 percent (Policies) in US firms leading to widespread non-unionism and anti-unionism. Do US firms then transfer this stance to their subsidaireis? One argument is that many US MNCs, especially in the services sector, with low paid, low skilled workers will use strong union avoidance strategies, the ‘low road’ approach to industrial relations. McDonalds is a key example of this with union membership (MCDonalds) bordering at zero. UK 4 unions find it impossible to organise in the company. According to Royle, a possible reason is the strength of the corporate culture disseminated by management. The chief executive of McDonalds stated that ‘unions do not bring much to the equation of the company’s philosophy of service and employee motivation’. To many US MNCs unions are seen as conflicting with their corporate strategy, the philosophy geared towards shareholder value. This gives them the competitive edge in terms of financial markets in the ever increasing globalising world. However, this has only been observed in certain sectors and it is argued that strong anti-unionism is only existent in few MNCs. If it is existent then exploitative HR policies are commonplace (Policies) which is a ‘Bleak house’ model. Non-union US MNCs use innovative union substitution polices, introducing incentives such as favourable pay and conditions to gain commitment from employees. US firms are characterised by centralised decision making and formalised procedures stemming from the HQ. There is a high degree of employee participation involving direct communication and individualised HR function and pay is predominantly performance related. In contrast to the US and UK, Germany has a strong institutional framework to protect the rights of workers. Collective bargaining in firms is under the force of the law (Royle) and 80 to 90 per cent of the workforce is covered by collective agreements. Conversely to the US, German MNCs tend to adapt to their host country environment, not recognising unions in their subsidiaries, which is divergent to their home country practices. 5 Influences on Labour Management According to Ferner and Edwards there are key influences that affect the way labour is managed in MNCs. Firstly, the ‘country of origin’ effect as mentioned earlier. This is when the MNC exerts its parent company’s management style to their foreign subsidiaries. This contends that MNCs transfer ER practices to subsidiaries in order to converge the firm’s practices and policies across international boundaries. This comes under the convergence theory, were globalisation is pressurising companies to standardize ‘best practice’ policies across its international operations. According to Bach, the pace of convergence is increasing with growth of international trade and integrated financial systems, resulting in the erosion of distinctive national differences in the field of ER and industrial relations. This theory is argued by Traxler, who states that national differences remain intact and national variances will always occur due to differing cultural approaches. This is important as it determines the way employees are managed. Autonomy is not left to the subsidiary and policy making is in the hands of the parent company. This is evident in the report by Warwick that identified 61 per cent of MNCs having a worldwide philosophy on the management of employees. With a loosely regulated framework in the UK it is possible for MNCs do ‘forward diffuse’ certain practices and are able to circumvent the national business system if it is in their interests. The characteristics of a flexible workforce and the ease of dismissal in the UK is an example. This is taking advantage of the host country’s business system. Whether this is a positive or negative impact is dependant on the parent company’s country of origin, the culture of management and the sector of operations and of course their strategic objectives. The extent to which they are able to impact on UK ER through the country of origin effect is questionable. US MNCs 6 are the most likely to diffuse home country practices such as union avoidance and antunionism, as evidence suggests. It is argued that US MNCs will challenge traditional pluralist industrial relations. Although, it is evident that union recognition has been declining in the UK over the last twenty years so to suggest that US MNCs are at the forefront of this change is unsound. Companies are finding alternative methods of managing the employment relationship without the need for intermediaries (unions). A further example of forward diffusion is that of Japanese work practices transferred in the 1980’s. Renowned for the innovative work practice of lean production which was successfully transferred to their UK subsidiaries in the manufacturing industry. The ‘host country effect’ is when the MNC is influenced by the country of operation. Certain factors attribute to the extent to which subsidiaries adopt host countries practices. The regulatory framework of the UK is weak compared to its European counterparts so; therefore, open to MNCs devising policies to suit their strategies and the environment. The global dominance effect is associated with how dominant the MNC is and its country of origin in the global economy. It may either enable or constrain (Edwards, Ferner) MNCs to implement ER practices to foreign operations. This has an effect alongside the home country effect. The US is dominant in the global economy thus its practices of ER are seen as influential and innovative, as did the Japanese form of work organisation. There is evidence to suggest that European countries will adopt such characteristics of this liberal model in order to compete effectively in the ever increasing competitive global economy. The US has brought specialised HRM practices, such as recruitment and training and implemented them across foreign sites. 7 The global integration effect is when the MNC is globally integrated on their policies thus becomes one powerful global company. The best practice to standardise all operations in order to meet their oibjectives. Conclusion It is apparent that MNCs have the economic and political power to impact UK employment relations and labour conditions. Foreign direct investment is crucial in ensuring a progressive economy and creating employment. Margaret Thatcher favoured capital thus deregulated the labour market to encourage FDI. The institutional framework of the UK is now weak and open to the transfer of MNCs IR policies. There is evidence that foreign companies will take on union avoidance strategies but there are few that openly challenge the UK IR system. A possible reason to adhere to the national system could be to ‘keep the peace’ with employees and to maintain good community relations within the areas they operate. The UK environment is such that models of unionism, non-unionism and the ‘Bleak house’ exist in MNCs in the UK and that a cross fertilization of these strategies are forming. There is little impact on the UK framework for IR as it is already evolving from collectivism since the 1980’s towards individualism. Although, there is an increase in the services sector were MNCs are dominant and non-unionism is the preferred strategy. The global dominance effect is a crucial factor on the impact of employment relations in the UK. This is closely related to the country of origin effect and global integration effect. The US at present is the most dominant. The main emphasis is now geared towards the shareholder and a short-termist view is the leading strategy. This is impacting on the labour force as MNCs will use their power to dismiss employees if 8 the strategy is focused on shareholders returns. ER is fairly regulated in the UK, workers are protected by legislation, although MNCs do have the power to circumvent some areas. However, there is evidence that they have been influential in terms of HRM in the UK. There impact can be seen in other foreign subsidiaries and indigenous MNCs in creating specialised HR. The main issue is the speed of globalisation and firms will want to compete in countries that have a weak institutional framework, as capital is favoured compared to labour. It will be difficult for countries to keep their national identities with regard to their IR and ER framework. 9 References Alpin, C, Kersley, B (2006) Inside the Workplace: Findings from the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey, Routledge Chapter 2, 11. Clark, I and Almond, P (2004) ‘Dynamism and embeddedness: towards a lower road? British subsidiaries of American multinationals. Industrial Relations Journal (IRJ), 35:6. Edwards, T. , Ferner, F, Bach, S (2002) ‘The renewed ‘American Challenge’: a review of employment practice in US multinationals’. Industrial Relations Journal, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 94-108. Edwards, T and Ferner, A (2005) ‘Managing Human Resources in Multinational Companies’. Managing Human Resources: Personnel Management in Transition (4th Edn), Oxford: Blackwell, Chapter 3. Ferner, A (2003) ‘Foreign Multunationals and Industrial Relations in Britain’, in Edwards, P (2003) Industrial Relations Theory and Practice (2nd Edn), Oxford: Blackwell, Chapter 4. Ferner, A et al (2005) ‘Policies on Union Representaion in US Multinationals in the UK: Between Micro-Politics and Macro-Institutions’, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 43:4. Lee, E (1997) ‘Globalisation and Labour Standards: a review of the issues’, International Labour Review, 136:2. Michael Muller-Camen, Phil Almond, Patrick Gunnigle, Javier Quintanilla, Anne Tempel (2001) Between Home and Host Country: Multinationals and Employment Relations in Europe Industrial RelIations Journal 32 (5) , 435–448 doi:10. 1111/1468-2338. 00210 Royle, T (1999) ‘The reluctant bargainers? McDonalds, unions and pay determination in Germany and the UK’. IRJ, 30:2. Tuselmann, H. , McDonald, F. , Heise, A. (2002). ‘Globalisation, nationality of ownership and employee relations – German multinationals in the UK’. Personnel Review, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 27-43. Williams, S and Adam-Smith, D (2006) Contemporary Employment Relations: A Critical Introduction, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp 61-82. http://www. berr. gov. uk/files/file11423. pdf http://www2. warwick. ac. uk/fac/soc/wbs/projects/mncemployment/conference_papers/ voice_in_mncs. pdf http://www. certoffice. org/annualReport/index. cfm? pageID=annual 10 11

Six Sigma Applied to Warehouse Operation

A project Report on â€Å"DMAIC App to improve Warehouse Operation† Undertaken At xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Warehouse In fulfilment of Capstone Project of Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering (PGDIE) By Rajul Agarwal (103) Puneet Jain (107) PGDIE- 41 Under the guidance of Dr. K. Maddulety Professor NITIE, Mumbai National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai-400087 Acknowledgement â€Å"Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the guiding light† -anonymousI take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to HCCB, India for offering a unique platform to earn exposure and garner knowledge in the field of Warehousing Management. I wish to extend my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to my guide Mr. Sudhakar Nair, Warehouse Manager HCCB who guided, supported and encouraged me during the entire tenure of the project. I sincerely thanks to Dr K. Maddulety, my faculty guide, who has been guiding me throughout the project. 1. Executive SummaryThis p roject illustrates an approach to address the complexities faced by beverage industry by identifying critical supply chain activities which indirectly affect Customer Satisfaction. The solution is based on Six Sigma implementation through DMAIC Approach at these critical nodes. It has been established through various experiments that Customer Loyalty & Retention is very low in such industry; hence the customer satisfaction is directly affected by product unavailability. So the product availability is found to be a major concern here as it directly affects the customers buying decision.It is observed that in this industry, Product availability is majorly affected by the inconsistencies at the warehouse. This project particularly focuses on these warehousing processes which include the transportation of goods from plant to warehouse, then storing goods at warehouse and finally dispatching of goods to the customers. Based on this we have attempted to provide a blue print of possible ad vantages such as improved fill rates and better service levels. An empirical study was conducted at XYZ Beverage Company which produces carbonated soft drinks (CSD) and Non-Carbonated Beverages (NCB).Subsequently, its complete warehousing operation process was understood and DMAIC approach was used to improve the process dynamics. In the measure phase, using Process Capability Analysis it was found that the warehouse process doesn’t follow six sigma levels owing to the high level of damages/defectives and additionally there was a vast scope of improvement. Henceforth, Root cause analysis was done to identify the various causes of damages/defectives. The major causes identified here were lack of standardized operating procedures (SOP), over stacking & overloading.In the implementation phase, an action plan divided Phase wise, is proposed here so as to take into account variability caused by the two shifts in which the warehouse operates. A strict control needs to be followed s o as to maintain six sigma levels, for which p-chart type should be used in combination with proposed Warehouse Operation check list. Table of Contents: Acknowledgement| †¦1 | 1. Executive Summary | †¦2| 2. Literature Review| †¦4| 3. Introduction| †¦4| 4. Process Mapping| †¦5| 5. Define Phase 6. 1 DMAIC project Charter Worksheet 6. 2 CTQ tree 6. Voice of Customer 6. 4 Voice of Business | †¦5†¦5†¦5†¦6†¦6| 6. Measure Phase 7. 5 data to be measured 7. 6 Process sigma calculation 7. 7 Statistical summary of defectives 7. 8 Control chart 7. 9 Process capability analysis| †¦6†¦6†¦7†¦7†¦8†¦9| 7. Analysis Phase 8. 10 Root Cause analysis| †¦9†¦9| 8. Implementation Phase 9. 11 Proposed action plan 9. 12. 1 Dividing process 9. 12. 2 Major Changes Identified| †¦10†¦10†¦10†¦10| 9. Control Phase 10. 12 identifying the controlling elements 10. 13 FMEA 10. 4 SPC charts| †¦11†¦12â € ¦14†¦15| 10. Conclusion | †¦16| 11. References| †¦16| 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 1. DMAIC Approach to Improve the Capability of SMT Solder Printing Process This paper implements the Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control (DMAIC) approach to improve the capability of the solder paste printing process by reducing thickness variations from a nominal value. Process mapping and identifying key QCH are carried out in the â€Å"Define† phase here, while mean (x) and range R control charts followed by the estimates of process capability indices are adopted in the â€Å"Measure† phase.Then, the Taguchi method including L18 orthogonal array (OA), signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for S/N ratio is implemented in the â€Å"Analyse† phase. Taguchi’s two-step optimization is conducted in the â€Å"Improve phase. † Finally, the x and R control charts for solder thickness are used in the â€Å"Control† phase. This pa per was used to understand the DMAIC implementation process methodology followed by any process. The insights obtained were how Process capability analysis was carried out and furthermore how use of control charts be validated. . Applying Six Sigma Techniques in Plastic Injection Moulding Industry This paper presents an approach to implement a six sigma technique to decrease the scrap rate in a plastic injection molding plant. The primary tools used here are SIPOC, MSA, FMEA, P-Control Charts and Hypothesis Testing. In this case study we compare the average scrap rate for the â€Å"Before† study period with the average scrap rate of the â€Å"After† study period. This paper was used to understand the use of p-charts and how they can be applied in processes were defectives are being looked at.The insights obtained were effective use of FMEA and p-charts in such processes. 3. Introduction: HCCB operates a warehouse in Sewri. It caters to South and central Mumbai. It has a capacity of around 2000 Pallets or approximately 3-4 Lacs bottles (includes Recyclable Glass Bottles + pet bottles + can). It has around 35 mini trucks which daily carries around 38 thousand of bottles dispatched from the warehouse and deliver it to the different stockist/Retailers. The warehouse operates in two shifts every afternoon consignment comes from plant to the warehouse which is unloaded there and then stacked.Every morning at a specified place called floor the pallets are arranged inspected and then containers are loaded to the mini trucks which deliver it to the stockists/retailers. 4. Process Mapping: When a truck containing pallets of soft drinks is loaded at the plant it is fully inspected and then move towards the Warehouse * Once it is reached to the Warehouse, forklifts unload the pallets and then arrange it in the warehouse * FIFO is followed for outflow of goods Now the pallets are arranged at a floor where all the pallets are inspected * Simultaneously with in spection carriers (small trucks) keep on arranging inside the warehouse * During inspection if any damage is found then it is replaced by the same fresh item * After inspection the containers are loaded (Manually) to the carriers * While loading some bottles gets damaged that is also replaced by the fresh one and a count is kept for damaged goods * Once the loading is done the carriers move towards their destiny i. e. either to Stockist/retailers 5. Define Phase: 4. 1 DMAIC project charter worksheetDMAIC Project Charter Worksheet| Project Title: To reduce the damages& improve the productivity of warehousing process| Project Guide:Prof. Madhu Letty,MrSudhakar Nair| Team Members: Rajul Agrawal, Puneet Jain| Business Case: Reduce the cost of warehousing & last mile delivery| Problem Statement: The task is to identifythe sigma level of warehousing process including last mile delivery as a single processand then analyse the process and find the scope of improvement| Goal Statement:To imp rove the warehousing process & reduce damages| 4. 2 CTQ Tree: Reduce damages Men Machine Method * Proper Training Learning Curve * Commitment * Proper Maintenance * Proper Stacking * Use of Rodent boxes * Inspection 4. 3 Voice of Customer: Here the customers are stockists/retailers to whom the goods are delivered. The Voice of Customer (VOC) is used to describe customer’s needs and their perceptions of product or service. The customer requirements from process and product are: * No damage/deformed item should reach to customer * If any damage is found then on the spot replacement * Customers don’t want to keep the track of damaged items which needs to be replaced next time when delivery van will come 4. Voice of Business: VOB is something which is critical from the perspective of stakeholders (WHse managers, Operators, All sorts of employees etc. ) in the business. * Improve profitability * Reduce cost * Least damages * Improve fill rate * Improve customer satisfaction 6. Measure Phase: 5. 1 Data to be measured: The following table shows the defective items noted in the month of October- November. From this data we calculated the defective proportion & defects per million opportunities. Defective Items| Total Items loaded| Defective proportion| DPMO| 145| 392732| 0. 000369209| 369. 2087| 55| 392700| 0. 000394703| 394. 7033| 132| 378243| 0. 000348982| 348. 982| 159| 332345| 0. 000478419| 478. 4185| 165| 402389| 0. 000410051| 410. 051| 145| 345673| 0. 000419472| 419. 4716| 123| 326789| 0. 00037639| 376. 3897| 190| 389023| 0. 000488403| 488. 403| 120| 334565| 0. 000358675| 358. 6747| 110| 324123| 0. 000339377| 339. 3773| 121| 306543| 0. 000394724| 394. 7244| 156| 402489| 0. 000387588| 387. 5882| 212| 437698| 0. 000484352| 484. 3522| 138| 290873| 0. 000474434| 474. 4339| 112| 238945| 0. 000468727| 468. 7271| 119| 367545| 0. 00032377| 323. 7699| 129| 263421| 0. 00048971| 489. 7104| 56| 463752| 0. 000336387| 336. 3867| 145| 375643| 0. 000386005| 386. 0 048| 123| 342356| 0. 000359275| 359. 2751| 90| 289532| 0. 000310846| 310. 8465| 225| 462163| 0. 000486841| 486. 8412| 121| 284532| 0. 00042526| 425. 2597| 175| 404512| 0. 00043262| 432. 62| 180| 403212| 0. 000446415| 446. 4153| 127| 329261| 0. 000385712| 385. 7122| 212| 431962| 0. 000490784| 490. 7839| 132| 337961| 0. 000390578| 390. 5776| 198| 326781| 0. 00060591| 605. 9104| 109| 392861| 0. 000277452| 277. 4518| 5. 2 Process Sigma Calculation: Average no. of items loaded each day = 360418 Average no. of defective items per day = 148Average defective proportion = 0. 000411328 Average DPMO = 411 Value of Sigma = 4. 9 Since the process sigma is 4. 9 which is less than 6. Now the next task is to analyse the process to find the scope of improvement. 5. 3 Statistical summary of â€Å"No. of defective items observed at various days† Observations: * Since P-value >0. 05 so the data passes the normality test * From the histogram it is visible that frequency distribution of defective data can be approximated to normal distribution * Since the data can be approximated as normally distributed we can apply process capability and SPC analysis . 4 Control Chart: Here in this case when the goods are inspected either they will be accepted to be shipped or simply discarded. So here we are not concerned with the no. of defects but concerned with the non-conformances (defectives). So the P-chart has been selected for SPC analysis:- Observations: * The above P-chart shows that all the observations lie inside the natural control limits. * It can be said that the process is under statistical control. * Since the process is under statistical control we can check for its capability. 7. Process Capability Analysis using MINITAB 15: * The desire is to minimise the damages to nil so the target valueis set to be zero. Observations: * Process sigma = 3. 34 * PPM Def = 410 which is lesser than 3. 4 ppm 7. Analysis Phase: 6. 1 Root Cause Analysis: 6 Implementation Phase: 7. 1 Propose d Action Plan: 7. 1. 1 Dividing the whole process of warehousing to deliver goods to the stockist/retailers into 4 stages: The process is divided into 4 stages on the basis of people& machines involved. In stage 1 goods are transported to the warehouse by one set of people (3 PL).Since warehouse operates in 2 shifts so when the trucks come from plant to warehouse that is unloaded by different set of people & in stage 3 â€Å"stacking at floor+ inspection + loading containers to carriers† are done by different set of people (working in 2nd shift). In stage 4 the goods transported from warehouse to stockists/retailers by different set of people and different carriers are involved. The purpose of dividing the whole process into 4 stages is to get more specific causes stage by stage and to get more insights.Since the different people and machines are involved in each stage so some specific plans may be put in place to reduce the damages. The following table shows the different ca uses and actions: Stage| Causes| Action Plan| 1| * In-Transit Damages * Bad Road Conditions * Mishandling by the operators| * Since in stage 1 the transportation is done by the 3PL so while selecting 3PL service provider company can bring some clauses in the agreement related to minimum breakage acceptable * Operators can be nstructed to follow the best route * Maintenance of carriers periodically after a specified time| 2| * Jerk in forklift * Over stacking * Improper training * Mishandling by the operators| * Establish SOP for the forklifts operation * Periodic maintenance of forklifts * Company currently uses diesel run forklifts that can be replaced by battery operated forkliftswhich require less maintenance * Provide incentives to the operators for achieving a certain level of damage free work * Provide ergonomically fithandles to the containers * Pet bottle packets as shown below gets unwrapped sometimes that needs proper packaging * Above kind of packaging can be either repla ced by carton (but that would not be a cost effective solution) or same packaging can be improved | 3| * Improper operation/jerk in forklift * Improper inspection * Mishandling | * Try not to rotate the people involved in inspection so that their learning curve makes them more efficient in that particular task * Provide incentive to the employees * Encourage employees | 4| * Overloading * Improper truck operation| * Avoid overloading * Proper training to the truck operators * Hire experienced operators * Provide incentives| | Environmental Causes * Rat Bite| * Especially tetra packed drinks are attacked by Rats * Use Rodent boxes to kill the rats * Daily check the rodent boxes & clean it if needed| 7. 1. 2 Major changes which can be brought in future to improve the overall process * SOP for forklift operations * Proper maintenance of forklifts and Trucks * Use of battery operated forklifts * Avoid overloading * Avoid over stacking 7 Control Phase: 8. 1 Identifying the Controlling El ements:The Critical-To-Quality Elements needs a proper control and inspection and hence the following Steps can be taken for the same: 1. Fork Lift Inspection Check Sheet: 2. Training Check List/ Regular Knowledge Tests 3. Rodent/ Insects Check List 4. Better Stacking Procedures a. Increasing the strength of the pallets from by increasing the cross pieces by 8 from 5 for the same 5cm x 10cm boards. b. In case of need to over stack during peak demand, we can keep the crates at a cross position so that the load gets distributed 8. 2 Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA): Use of FMEA tool for better analysis of damage reasons will help establishing a better control procedure. FMEA Flow Diagram 8. 3 Use Statistical Process Control (SPC) Charts:The case here is for graphing defectives for a varying sub group set. Hence use of p-chart should be used for continuous control. It will check when the variation is natural and when it needs correction. The following excel template can be used where directly data can be entered and the resulting p-chart will be generated. Excel template for Formulating p-chart 9. ESTIMATED BENEFITS OF PROJECT The biggest benefit of the project is in terms of reducing the risk of product unavailability downstream. The probability of defects can be drastically decreased and remain in specification limits. * 4-Stage Implementation phase for reducing defectives * Increased Sigma Levels approaching six sigma standards Increased Customer satisfaction and Product availability * Laid down Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for better warehouse operations control 10. CONCLUSION The reasons for the excessive defects are found. Over-stacking, Over-Loading & improper forklift operation were found out to be prime reasons using Cause and Effect Diagram. These were considered the CTQ’s for the warehousing operation. Project benefits were estimated and it is found that this improvement can bring the improvement in fill rate. 11. REFERENCES: * ww w. dmaictools. com * www. sixsigmatutorial. com * www. sixsigma. in * Six Sigma Way ? Team Field book by Peter S. Pande, Robert P. Neuman and Roland R. Cavanagh * Six Sigma for managers by Greg Brue