Assignment Description

Please note: this is an individual assignment.

This activity aims to enhance operations and supply chain management through the application of Lean principles, operational innovations, and supply-demand matching strategies.

Students are asked to develop a comprehensive improvement plan for a selected process, fostering efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction, addressing what is prompted in the two steps of the assignment structure. This plan must include specific steps, responsibilities, timelines, and resource allocation for each improvement initiative.

Assignment Structure

Step 1: Process Selection and Lean Transformation Plan

Select a Process: Choose a specific process within the Operations and Supply Chain in your company and briefly explain it.

1. Define Value and Wastes: Clearly define the value the process delivers from the customer's perspective. Additionally, identify at least three different types of wastes (DOWNTIME) present in the process and explain their impact.

Lean Assessment: Using Lean Management principles, identify areas for improvement with potential wastes impacting efficiency and customer satisfaction related to the selected process.

Lean Tools Application: Select five appropriate Lean tools from the 26 lean tools covered during week 1. Explain how each tool will address the identified wastes and contribute to process improvement.

Step 2: Operational Innovation and Supply-Demand Matching Strategies

Supply-Demand Matching Tools: Select and explain at least three tools or strategies that can help match supply and demand in the identified process. Consider tools like demand forecasting, capacity planning, or just-in-time inventory management.

Application of Innovations: Propose operational innovations to enhance the selected process. Describe how these innovations will lead to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction.

Impact Assessment: Evaluate the potential impact of the proposed innovations on the process, overall operations, and supply chain performance. Consider both short-term and long-term effects.

Assignment Format

Your assignment should consist of one Word or PDF document with your Operations and Supply Chain Improvement Plan.This plan should be submitted as a formal report or presentation, addressing all the required elements mentioned above. Include data, visuals, or case examples to support your analysis and recommendations. The report should be concise, focusing on the key aspects, and should not exceed 3-4 pages (excluding visuals and appendices).

You will submit your assignment below. Once you have submitted your assignment, the learning facilitator will be evaluating your work.

Grading

The following criteria will be followed to assess the quality and effectiveness of the Operations and Supply Chain Improvement Plan activity:

1. Process Selection and Explanation (12 points) - Students must provide a comprehensive explanation of the selected process, its relevance to Operations and Supply Chain, and its alignment with the improvement plan.
2. Lean assessment (13 points) - The thoroughness of the Lean assessment and identification of improvement areas.
3. Definition of value and waste (13 points) -Clarity and relevance when defining customer value and identifying wastes.
4. Lean Tools Application (13 points) - Explanation of how each Lean Tool addresses identified wastes.
5. Supply-Demand Matching Tools (13 points) - Identification of supply-demand challenges and selection of at least three supply-demand matching tools or strategies.
6. Application of innovations (13 points) - Students have to propose operational innovations to enhance the selected process, and describe how these innovations will lead to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction.
7. Impact Assessment (13 points) -Evaluation of potential impacts of the proposed improvements on the process.
8. Clarity and Organization (10 points) - Clarity, organization, and conciseness of the report. Grading Scale:

• Excellent (90-100 points) - Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding and application of Lean principles and improvement strategies. The plan aligns well with course objectives, and the report is well-structured and effectively presented.
• Very Good (70-89 points) - Shows a solid grasp of Lean concepts and improvement strategies. The plan demonstrates alignment with course objectives, and the report is well-organized and mostly clear.
• Satisfactory (50-69 points) - Indicates an adequate understanding of Lean concepts and improvement strategies. The plan aligns with course objectives, but some aspects may lack depth or clarity in the report.
• Needs Improvement (Below 50 points) - Demonstrates limited understanding of Lean concepts and improvement strategies. The plan may lack alignment with course objectives, and the report may be poorly organized or unclear.

Note: The learning facilitator will provide detailed feedback on the report, including strengths and areas for improvement, to help students enhance their understanding and application of Lean principles and operational strategies in the future.

Considerations

Remember, the purpose of this assignment is to apply the course's concepts and techniques to your own professional challenges. Creating a well-structured and realistic plan will enhance your ability to enhance your supply chain and to achieve exceptional results.

Here is some information that is important for you to consider:

• This is an individual assignment.
• Your assignment should be submitted in Word or PDF format. Please make sure that you follow the assignment structure.
• Your learning facilitator will grade this assessment and will count as 30% of your final grade.
• Carefully read the grading section of this assignment to fully understand what is required and how you will be assessed.

OSC - A.2.1 - Rubric

Criteria

Ratings

Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProcess Selection and ExplanationStudents must provide a comprehensive explanation of the selected process, its relevance to Operations and Supply Chain, and its alignment with the improvement plan.

12 ptsExcellent Thoroughly selected and explained a relevant process to Operations and Supply Chain.

9 ptsGood Clearly selected and explained a process to Operations and Supply Chain.

6 ptsSatisfactory Adequately selected and explained a somewhat relevant process to Operations and Supply Chain.

3 ptsNeeds improvement Insufficiently explained the selected process or chose an irrelevant one.

0 ptsNot met / No submission

12 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLean AssessmentThe thoroughness of the Lean assessment and identification of improvement areas.

13 ptsExcellent Comprehensive and thorough analysis and identification of improvement areas and potential wastes.

10 ptsGood Concise analysis and identification of improvement areas and potential wastes.

7 ptsSatisfactory Adequate analysis with some areas for improvement.

4 ptsNeeds improvement Limited or inadequate analysis or no identification of improvement.

0 ptsNot met / No submission

13 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDefinition of Value and WastesRelevance and clarity when defining customer value and identifying wastes.

13 ptsExcellent Comprehensive and thorough definition of process value and waste with an exceptional explanation of their impact.

10 ptsGood A clear and concise definition of process value and waste with an understandable explanation of their impact.

7 ptsSatisfactory An adequate definition of process value and waste. The explanation can be somewhat understandable but needs improvement.

4 ptsNeeds improvement Unclear definition of process value and waste and/or insufficient explanation of the impact.

0 ptsNot met / No submission

13 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLean Tools ApplicationExplanation of how each Lean Tool addresses identified wastes.

13 ptsExcellent Thorough explanation of how each Lean tool addresses identified wastes and contributes to improvement.

10 ptsGood Concise explanation of how each Lean tool addresses identified wastes and contributes to improvement.

7 ptsSatisfactory Adequate explanation of Lean tools and their potential contribution to improvement.

4 ptsNeeds improvement Limited or insufficient explanation of Lean tools and their potential contribution to improvement.

0 ptsNot met / No submission

13 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSupply-Demand Matching ToolsIdentification of supply-demand challenges and selection of at least three supply-demand matching tools or strategies.

13 ptsExcellent Thorough explanation of at least three supply-demand matching tools or strategies and their potential contribution to supply-demand matching.

10 ptsGood Concise explanation of at least three supply-demand matching tools or strategies and their potential contribution to supply-demand matching.

7 ptsSatisfactory Adequate explanation of three or less supply-demand matching tools or strategies and their potential contribution to supply-demand matching.

4 ptsNeeds improvement Limited or insufficient explanation of three or less supply-demand matching tools or strategies and their potential contribution to supply-demand matching.

0 ptsNot met / No submission

13 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeApplication of InnovationsStudents have to propose operational innovations to enhance the selected process and describe how these innovations will lead to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction.

13 ptsExcellent A thorough explanation of the proposal of operational innovations to enhance the selected process, including how these will contribute to increasing efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.

10 ptsGood Concise proposal of operational innovations to enhance the selected process. Includes a brief explanation of how these will contribute to increasing efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.

7 ptsSatisfactory Adequate proposal of operational innovations to enhance the selected process. The explanation of innovations and their potential contribution to efficiency, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction needs improvement.

4 ptsNeeds improvement Limited or insufficient explanation of innovations and their potential contribution to efficiency, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction.

0 ptsNot met / No submission

13 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeImpact AssessmentEvaluation of potential impacts of the proposed improvements on the process.

13 ptsExcellent Thorough and comprehensive evaluation of potential impacts of innovations on process operations, and supply chain performance. Considers both short-term and long-term effects.

10 ptsGood Concise evaluation of potential impacts of innovations on process operations, and supply chain performance. Consider either short-term or long-term effects.

7 ptsSatisfactory Adequate evaluation of potential impacts of innovations on the process, overall operations, and supply chain performance. Vague considerations of either short-term or long-term effects.

4 ptsNeeds improvement Limited or insufficient evaluation of potential impacts of innovations on the process, overall operations, and supply chain performance. Vague or inexistent considerations of either short-term or long-term effects.

0 ptsNot met / No submission

13 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeClarity and OrganizationClarity, organization, and conciseness of the report.

10 ptsExcellent The plan is excellently written with exceptionally clear and organized information, showcasing professionalism and exceptional communication skills.

8 ptsGood The plan is well-written with clear and organized information, enhancing readability and understanding.

6 ptsSatisfactory The plan is well-written with clear and organized information.

4 ptsNeeds improvement The plan is somewhat well-written with moderate clarity and logical flow of information.

0 ptsNot met / No submission The plan is poorly written, lacking clarity and logical flow of information.

10 pts

Total Points: 100