...Course name: Managing Operations Assignment 3 A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON LEARNING CURVE Definition: In General, Learning Curve Theory or Experience Curve Theory is defined as the following: A learning curve is a graphical representation of the changing rate of learning (in the average person) for a given activity or tool. Typically, the increase in retention of information is sharpest after the initial attempts, and then gradually evens out, meaning that less and less new information is retained after each repetition. The learning curve can also represent at a glance the initial difficulty of learning something and, to an extent, how much there is to learn after initial familiarity. For example, the Windows program Notepad is extremely simple to learn, but offers little after this. On the other extreme is the UNIX terminal editor vi, which is difficult to learn, but offers a wide array of features to master after the user has figured out how to work it. It is possible for something to be easy to learn, but difficult to master or hard to learn with little beyond this. The concept of the Learning Curve basically states that there is less and less learning as more repetitive steps are taken. The Boston Consulting Group conducted some empirical studies and below are the conclusions from that study: 1. The time required to perform a task decreases as the task is repeated, 2. The amount of improvement decreases as more units are produced, and 3. The rate of...
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...figure out possible approaches to simplify the job and improve overall productivity. 3. To analyze the activity-time study for the secretary and compute % of time spent on each activity using different methods. 4. To develop learning curve for a jigsaw puzzle activity. Introduction This lab focuses on the study of time study, work sampling, and the learning curve. The three studies can be used to analyze the performance of a production system, thus giving adequate background to improve the system, make planning and scheduling to minimize cost, and increase safety. Time Study In this lab, Time Study data was obtained by measuring the time it takes for a pretend assembly worker to finish a task which consists of four elements. Time was taken by using a stopwatch in two different manners: running time and stop time. In running time, the process time was measured without resetting the time in between elements. In stop time, the process time was measured as individual time taken to complete one element. In this case the stop watch was stopped and reset after the completion of each element. Afterwards the data was analyzed and an evaluation on the current performance and suggestions for improvements were made. Work Sampling In Work Sampling section, an activity-time study for a secretary was used. From the activity-time study, the percentage spent in each activity category was computed by using three different methods: using all the data, using a sequential pattern, and...
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...Case Summary The Boeing 767: From Concept to Production (A) By: Runit Marda (115) The case deals about the issue faced by Dean Thorton, Vice president – General Manager of the Boeing 767 program. The company had lobbied for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for permission to build wide body aircraft with two-person cockpits (rather than 3). Now, being granted the permission, the issue was that already 30 of the aircrafts were into various stages of production. Now, how should Thorton handle this situation? What are the options that he has? The decision had to be taken fast as the delivery dates were fast approaching. Commercial aircraft manufacturings posed various complexities as there were over 3.1 million parts to be connected by wiring over 85 miles. In 1981, three companies dominated the market: Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Airbus. Launching a new plane was a daunting task as the manufacturing required $1.5-2 billion (which was considered to put the whole companies’ net worth on the line!!). But, any successful product was expected to lead to heavy profits and tie up the market segment for at least 15-20 years. Buyers, comprising mainly of the top 50 airliners, negotiated on price, after sales parts and service, design modifications etc. to make the task even tougher. In 1981, Boeing was the industry leader in terms of sales, having net sales of $9.2 Billion ($5.1 Billion of the aircraft manufacturing division). Boeing partnered with subcontractors on a risk-sharing...
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...MEMORANDUM To: Shuzworld From: Robert Hixon Director of Operations When we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it's an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I've learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome. Stay ambitious & determined and you can Never fail. Re: Operations Recommendations Date: November, 06, 2012 A) Work Flow The current workflow needs to address how to best organize the assembly line so that it is most efficient, and what metrics can be provided in determining the correct number of workstations. My recommendation to improve work flow is to utilize assembling and balancing strategies in Shuzworld’s Shanghai Production Facility (SSPF). Due to the circumstances surrounding this issue, I have chosen this decision analysis tool because the goal of using a layout strategy is “to develop an effective and efficient layout that will meet the firm’s competitive requirements” (JGT2 power point presentation). Proper job layouts must support a business's competitive priorities: process, flexibility, customer contact, and quality of work life. Although there are a variety of layouts to choose from, I recommend using the Product Oriented Layout in order to maximize the long run efficiency of operations by achieving the following: Higher utilization of space, equipment and people, improved flow of materials, information and people, improved employee morale...
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...Stategic Management Boston Consulting Group Toyota World Corporation Alexander Oktaviandri | 008201100007 Daisy Wijaya Kusuma | 008201100025 Ervy Alvionita | 008201100059 Kenny Samuel | 008201100056 Ricky Dhamaputho | 008201100048 Shao Xian | 008201100119 Accounting 3 LITERATURE REVIEW Boston Consulting Group has three main theories regarding strategic management. They are: * The BCG matrix method * Boston consultant group’s advantage matrix * Experience Curve Effects The BCG matrix method The BCG matrix method is based on the product life cycle theory that can be used to determine what priorities should be given in the product portfolio of a business unit. To ensure long-term value creation, a company should have a portfolio of products that contains both high-growth products that generate a lot of cash. It has 2 dimensions: market share and market growth. The basic idea behind it is that the bigger the market share a product has or the faster the product’s market grows the better it is for a company. Placing products in the BCG matrix results in 4 categories in a portfolio of a company: 1. STARS(high growth, high market) - Use large amounts of cash and are leaders in the business so they should also generate large amounts of cash. -Frequently roughly in balance on net cash flow. However if needed any attempt should be made to hold share, because the rewards will be a cash cow if market share is kept. 2. CASH COWS(low growth, high market share) - Profit and cash...
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...Building a Learning Organization ABSTRACT This report is a review on two articles on Learning organizations and the practices followed by them. While the article by Garvin focuses on the building blocks that help an organization to recognize where it is, the second article is a review on a Think Tank meet that focuses on 9 best practices the leading learning organizations have followed. Initially, the importance of the meaning, measurement and management of a learning organization is described. Later the five building blocks that learning organizations need to be skilled in are emphasized. The different stages of knowledge are focused on in the next section. The report ends with comments on benchmarking, half-life curves. The report concludes with the comparisons and differences between the articles and the evolution of thought. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………… 1 LEARNING ORGANIZATION……………………………………………………………………… 1 3 M’S DESCRIBED BY GARVIN …………………………………………………………………. 2 STEPPING STONES OF A LEARNING ORGANIZATION…………………………………3 THE STEPS PERTINENT TO LEARNING……………………………………………………… 5 BENCHMARKING ROLE …………………………………………………………………………….6 LEARNING CURVES...…………………………………………………………………………………6 WHITE PAPER AND GARVIN PAPER……………………………………………………………7 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………………………8 INTRODUCTION: The...
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...and the effects that they have made in these are certainly significant. Shortening the Learning Curve Since video games are known for their appeal to children, they can be naturally used for teaching, due to their interactive nature. They provide an effective teaching tool for schools. These schools use video games to engage children in an activity which requires them to perform a task repeated for their learning and are rewarded for their skills. This concept is gaining a lot of popularity and Wall Street Journal has recently reported that several companies are now venturing into the field of pre-schools gaming ,i.e., designing gaming consoles for pre-schoolers which are then used by schools to aide in learning and development of children (Gentile, 2004). Skills Development Recent Studies at Fordham University has revealed that video games can play an effective role in the development of cognitive and perceptual skills. By rewarding children for performing a function correctly, the computers games can make the children remember and recognize objects in a much more effective and fun way. Requiring to think about how to perform a task correctly and how to deal with a situation which is about to occur (Such as thinking about killing a daemon on next stage of the game) also improves their ability to percept a situation early and solve the problem at hand more accurately. Learning to solve the problem this way, improve children ability to think and plan quickly as well...
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...Racheal Yorek EDU -230 May 18, 2012 Module 4 journal Classroom Management and Cooperative Learning There were many different things discussed this week in our readings. I have chosen two that stood out to me as being the most important of this week’s lessons, classroom management and cooperative learning. Classroom management might be one of the single most important things to having a successful teaching career. Some teachers have terrible discipline problems, while others create an atmosphere in the classroom that is conductive to learning, with little apparent effort. Of cause it can be some natural talent to captivate students from the very beginning of the lesson, keep them busy and involved in work all the time and easily solve discipline problems if they appear, and all this without bothering much. There is definitely a lot to envy. Especially when your dear students always disappoint you with misbehavior, constant talking over you, fooling around and growing restless and as a result – poor knowledge of the subject. Fortunately there is a way out – start learning rules of classroom management. I think that if you can focus on four major things you can have good classroom management, these are: effective lessons based on a well-conceived curriculum, good organizational skills, good teacher-student relationships, effective discipline (which can be easily achieved after the first three conditions are satisfied.) The first of these...
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...transformation of a Company to a University ABSTRACT : Kao Corporation has thrown open the organization and its people to the invigorating force of continuous learning. It recognizes the need to view the company as an educational institution and recognize that competitive advantage flows from people’s ability to constantly enhance their knowledge and skills. Formal classroom education is only a part of the continuing learning process although an important one. The more difficult part of redesigning a company as a learning centre is to reshape its work methods, information flows and management processes to create self development opportunities for people within their daily routines. The case further deliberates that for maximizing short term static efficiency, most companies have been designed to extract as much value as possible from all their assets including people. In this way they have sacrificed the long-term dynamic efficiencies that come from continuously enhancing and upgrading the capabilities of individuals so as to enable them to create new value. What set of attributes does Kao Corporation posses that differentiates itself from other companies. Basically Kao Corporation is a learning organization which not only “ learned” but “learnt how to learn”. The following attributes exhibited defines the characteristic of a learning organization as exemplified by Kao Corporation- continuing education ,creating a sense of stretch ,organizational fit and disequilibrium ,strategic alignment...
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...OPERATORS TRAINING MODEL To make a model of training and associated knowledge assurance auto sustainable in time, the following steps should be systematically followed: 1. Competence profiles: review and use competence profiles developed by the company for operators, engineers, supervisors and plant managers and maintenance personnel. It is important to note that full powers must include a knowledge component and a component of performance measured through observation of its application. 2. Curriculum maps: Design curriculum maps for technicians, operators, engineers, maintenance personnel and plant managers and supervisors. These curriculum maps will be based on the learning curve of each specialty. 3. Evaluation tools: develop tools required specifically associated with phases of the assessment of knowledge. 4. Evaluation: Conducting initial knowledge assessments and competencies to different groups, to clearly define the starting point current on the levels of knowledge and skills using the evaluation tools developed in step 3 in order to identify the specific areas of improvement of knowledge and the competence profiles developed in step 1. The results of performance evaluations carried out by the company to complement the identification of performance gaps and define interventions required to close them will be used. Skills assessments are conducted by means of: a) Confidential interviews b) Questionnaires and written exercises c) Anonymous...
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...VARK Analysis Paper Family Centered Health Promotion VARK Analysis Paper There are a array of different learning styles, each and every person will learn differently depending on how their brain works and there life style of learning. Learning is a goal-directed act and all human beings and living creatures have different learning behaviors and styles. On the other hand, the process of learning is done over a progression of time and usually includes a learning curve that each person will follow. One familiar assessment used to create a person's learning style is the VARK Analysis (Fleming, 2011). VARK is an phrase for visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic learners. This determination is done online and clusters information on how individuals answer a sequence of questions. Educators and students alike will use this tool become better at teaching and the learning process as a whole. At the conclusion of the VARK questionnaire, a learning type based on four categories that will give your preferred learning type. This will give the individual a beginning foundation on how he/she best learns and retains information. This paper will compare Betty's learning behaviors based from the results of VARK Analysis (Fleming, 2011). VARK Learning Styles The Vark Analysis is separated by four categories: visual, aural, reading/writing and kinesthetic. According to VARK, the visual learner uses pictures and concept maps. These learners retain information best...
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...Disruptive or negative behavior is harmful to the academic of students, because it affects the learning process; holds back the ability of instructors to teach effectively, redirects the momentum and resources away from the educational task and may point out a substantial level of problems or trouble on the part of the disrupter. By understanding customary roles of students elected in the classroom, teachers will be able to work more effective with each student in the classroom. Teacher need to have more consistency whenever they are trying to change or encourage any type of behavior. The Know It All Student These students are always commenting on everything the teacher says, lifting their arm at every question and just annoying everyone in the class. These students are difficult, because they are very academically outspoken, but their always tend to have the need to be heard, which can disturb the class or teacher (Ehow, 2013). The Negative Student These students are not interested in anything that has to deal with classwork or anything the teacher has to say. Students with this kind of attitude will often refuse to do assignments or activities within the class (Ehow, 2013). The Class Bully These types of students often are unruly in class. They do not get along with their peers, often verbally or physical abusing them. They have no respect for teacher or the rules of the classroom, which can make them not shy about voicing their opinion (Ehow, 2013). Grandstanding ...
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...red flag that the vendor is unwilling to sign any contracts stating such. The fact that Zara is the only customer on the old system should be motivation enough for Zara to upgrade its system. The system will eventually need to be upgraded anyway, and the longer that Zara’s executives wait, the higher the risk of loss as a result of trying to quickly upgrade the unsupported system in the case that the vendor discontinues DOS support. As we assess the current system compared to the future benefits of an updated POS system, it is easy to see that the current version has become decrepit and out-dated. The current system offers the benefits of a low operating cost, stability, and easy installation for new setups. After a relatively short learning curve, a new system would offer those same benefits. Most of the benefits of the current system are just a result of managers being familiar with the system. Given the time to learn a new system, installation would be just as easy, and stability comes with improvement, the same way the current system came to be stable. We shall see in further analysis that the low operating cost of the current POS system is overshadowed by the cost and time that employees have to take to work around the current system as well. Although the cost of a new system would initially be quite substantial, that initial expense would more than pay itself off in the long run. The POS system needs to be updated to also include the ability to look up in-store inventory...
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...Literacies Learners in Scotland A overview of the E-learning Support Project August 2007 – March 2008 Scottish Government Peter Lanigan Development Co-ordinator Learning Connections [pic] Background to the Project During the period 2004 to 2007, funding was provided by Learning Connections for some 26 innovative projects around Scotland using ICT in adult literacies learning. The funding provided small grants of up to £6000 to support developments and has encouraged the use of ICT / e-learning in various different context and locations. In reviewing this programme in 2007, we decided to adopt a different approach for 2007/8 which would encourage and support local integration of e-learning into literacies learning. We engaging the services of Sheerface Ltd. to work with individual literacies partnerships across Scotland. Project Aims The contractor appointed worked with Learning Connections to develop and support local initiatives for integrating ICT / e-learning into adult literacies learning in their particular area. Funding was available to support local initiatives to try out ideas for using ICT which were new to their literacies partnership. The aims were • to raise awareness of the lessons learned from the ICT Innovations projects undertaken 2004 to 2007, and other work undertakes by Learning Connections during that period • to promote and encourage the use of e-learning in literacies provision. We were particularly...
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...topic. What is essential in a facilitator of this workshop are the following. • A robust understanding of clinical teaching practices. • Knowledge of clinical teaching theory. AbouT THIS GuIdE The purpose of this brief guide is to help you facilitate the clinical teaching skills workshops. Contained within it should be all the information that you need to run the workshop on the day. The notes contain copies of the slides that are provided with the course. The slides and notes suggest approaches to sessions. However, you may decide not to use some of the slides and may use instead slides or activities that you develop for individual sessions. • The ability to draw effectively on the experience within the group, in order to make full use of the knowledge and understanding that different participants bring to the workshop. • The ability to present clearly the different activities contained with the workshop and manage the time effectively so that the necessary material is covered. • The confidence, if necessary, to challenge participants if they are unduly cynical about educational supervision or about...
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