Strategic Operations Management

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the constraints experienced in the supply chain of ABI and identifies seven forms of waste at the company. The paper also explains eight distinct work streams that will drive the improvement of the beer and soft drinks supply chains and looks at two areas where the company can improve these processes. In addition, the paper provides suggestions and recommendations for change and presents an action plan. The paper concludes with a personal note from the author on what he has learned about managing a plant. The paper includes many color graphs and diagrams.

Outline:
Introduction and Background
Application of Operations and Logistics within Your Business Unit or Section.
Key Issues - 7 Forms of Waste
Areas for Improvement
Account Manager-RTM Processes
Stock Ordering, Control, Levels and Management Systems
Action Plan - ABI Vaal - Projects Garmin/Kopanang
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The business under discussion is ABI, the Soft Drink Division of SAB Ltd. The core business model focuses on the provision of a wide range of beverages to the South African market, in the specific provinces where ABI operates. The plant at which I am employed is in Vanderbijlpark, commonly known as the Vaal.
"Our plant used to be a production plant, focusing on production and haulage southwards to the Free State including Welkom, Klerksdorp, Bethlehem and Kroonstad, which was not viable from Johannesburg. This production has ceased and we now receive our product from various manufacturing plants including Midrand and Devland. The plant is now a sales and distribution depot for the Vaal area."

Sample of Sources Used:

• ABI Intranet, Kopanang Website, 2008
• Project Kopanang launch document, internal document, unpublished, ABI Vaal, May 2008)
• Slack, N. Chambers, S. Johnston, R. Operations Management, 5th Edition, 2007, Pearson Education.
• Total Quality Management document, Laxton, D., Milpark courseware, Milpark Business School, Jhb 2008)
• http://beernet/kopanang/

More papers on Strategic Operations Management:

• Essay # 8646 : "Solving Problems in Operations Management"
• Case Study # 114462 : "Operations Management at Danone Group"
• Case Study # 115587 : "Operations Management at Dell Corporation"

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