Competitive systems and practices

MSS405007 Introduce competitive systems and practices to a small or medium enterprise

This unit is about improving systems and practices to make an organization more effective and efficient. It involves introducing competitive systems and practices (CSP) into a small or medium enterprise (SME) or not-for-profit organization. CSP includes one or more of the following:

  1. lean operations
  2. agile operations
  3. preventative and predictive maintenance approaches
  4. statistical process control systems, including six sigma and three sigma
  5. JIT, kanban and other pull-related operations control systems
  6. supply, value, and demand chain monitoring and analysis
  7. 5S
  8. continuous improvement (kaizen)
  9. breakthrough improvement (kaizen blitz)
  1. cause/effect diagrams
  2. overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
  3. takt time
  4. process mapping
  5. problem solving
  6. run charts
  7. standard procedures
  8. current reality tree.

 

 

How you will be assessed

You will be assessed holistically on the job in a real business based on your application of competitive systems in a SME. You will be assessed through:

 

 

Assignment 1

Describe each CSP listed above briefly in no more than twenty words, and describe the context(s) in which each is most useful. Your explanation needs to be clear enough to be understood by someone who has never heard of them

 

 

Assignment 2

  1. Describe a suitable method for analyzing current operations in your organization.
  2. Describe a suitable method for value stream mapping in your organization.
  3. What is the difference between strategic and tactical approached?

 

 

Your project

Present your work as a project portfolio showing that you have meet done all detailed requirements described below. (You may ask permission to instead do a series of smaller projects,in order to cover all requirements.) You will need access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures. Your project must demonstrate that you understand the following:

  1. analysis of current operations/value stream mapping
  2. relevant CSP tools
  3. strategy vs tactics
  4. kaizen/kaizen blitz applications
  5. how to prioritize proposed actions or plans.

Note: Your assessor may also interview and ask you a variety of what if questions.

 

 

Detailed requirements

1. Analyze current operations systems and processes

  1. Review the reasons for introducing CSP and confirm the expected benefits with relevant stakeholders (i.e. at least one of: managers, supervisors, employees and their representatives, shareholders, suppliers, customers and service providers).
  2. Determine any internal factors that will make it more difficult for you to introduce CSP. (These include consideration of free cash, management time and expertise, machinery, work organization and workforce skills and knowledge.)
  3. Determine any external limiting factors that will constrain the introduction of CSP and consider their effects. These include all of:
    1. lack of bargaining power
    2. lack of effective communication
    3. supplier issues
    4. customer issues
    5. financial institution issues
    6. any other factors.
  4. Quantify expected returns from achieving the benefits of introducing competitive systems and practices. Expected returns include one or more of:
    1. cost savings due to more consistent or higher quality
    2. benefits from greater on-time delivery
    3. savings from lower inventories and reduced waste.

 

2. Develop strategic and tactical plans to introduce CSP

  1. Develop a strategic plan for the SME. It needs to take into account the nature of its business and its relationships with suppliers and customers.
  2. Where required, ask for authority to implement the plan.
  3. Identify components of the strategy that will yield quick returns.
  4. Identify how you will free up resources so that you can introduce CSP. These actions include one or more of:
    1. reduce inventory
    2. reduce scrap
    3. decrease throughput times
    4. change approval processes/delegations
    5. use computers instead of paper
    6. reduce waste.
  5. Develop an achievable tactical plan that is compatible with the strategy.
  6. Develop KPIs for your strategic and tactical plans.
  7. Consult with relevant stakeholders to confirm your tactical plans.
  8. Prioritize plans for order of implementation. This involves consider all the following:
    1. greatest benefit, benefit/cost ratio
    2. ease of implementation
    3. best fit with strategy
    4. available resources.

 

3. Implement CSP

  1. Implement the priority tactical plan.
  2. Determine the benefits from change.
  3. Use the benefits from your priority plan to help implement further tactical plans.
  4. Review your progress towards your strategic objectives. If you need to, adjust your plans in consultation with relevant stakeholders.