Optimizing the Apparels Business

Introduction

Operations management not only ensures adequate production and provision of goods and services within the market for a company, but is also a significant aspect of the company that can be used to optimize results and enhance productivity and profitability (Hayes, 2021). MITSDE (2018) describes operations management as the processes involving the planning organizing, managing, controlling and supervising the production tasks and activities with the ultimate goal of ensuring timely production and delivery of products and services to the end users. Among the major aspects of operations management and business dissertation help that will be effectively considered in optimizing the apparels business include the production aspect, the contracts, supply chain and human resource management. According to Exceed College (2021) in addition to enhancing productivity, adequate operations management also impacts product quality, customer satisfactions and significant savings in terms of operations management. These four objectives will include the goals for the decisions made in operations management processes. Through customer satisfaction, the organization can be able to adequately build its reputation and reach out to more customers and build a loyal consumer base. Achieving a loyal consumer base subsequently enhances the sales and revenue of the company’s products which then impact its growth to the achievement of a maximized net worth.

Strategies adopted

Among the strategies adopted in the simulation game for optimized operations management include: Delivering the product on time, achieving the maximum net worth of the company and strengthening the reputation of the firm.

1. Delivering products on time

While the quality of the products delivered is among the key aspects for consideration within the process of production, ensuring that the products are delivered on time to the end user is also significant and contributes immensely towards consumer satisfaction and ultimate retention (XcelPros, 2018). Operations management is not only involved in delivering the highest quality of products that are required by the consumer, rather they are also interested in delivering the products as and when they are required by consumers in order to adequately satisfy consumer needs. This strategy was majorly operationalized through the adoption of large scale productions to take advantage of the economies of scale and deliver enough products for all customers within the market. Through identifying the most commonly requested apparel designs, the company then engaged in large scale production to enhance the delivery of the right number of products to meet the entire consumer demand.

2. Maintaining Good long term performance

Organizations not only deliver products to customers on a one time basis, rather they are set up to engage in continuous production of products and services so as to meet a never ending consumer demand. As such, to ultimately achieve success and profitability, organizations must ensure the maintenance of a good long term performance. According to EY (2020) maintaining a good long term performance requires adequate performance balancing in all aspects related to the production process. This was operationalized and achieved through adequate planning of both the production processes and the supply chain. Through forecasting of the available clientele, the management group was able to develop an adequate plan for the right amount of resources in terms of raw materials, machines and human capital needed, as well as the ample amount of time needed to set up and consistently produce an adequate amount of products to meet customer demand overtime. The forecasting process included the identification and selection of viable contracts with at least a potential for a 10% profit margin which then formed the target base for production processes within the available timelines. This planning enabled adequate production of products to meet clientele demands as and when they are needed which contributes significantly towards the next strategy of enhancing the firm’s reputation.

3. Strengthening the reputation of the firm

According to John Dalton, the managing director for corporate reputation at Studio wide (2021) reputation refers to the sum values that all stakeholders of the organization attribute to it based on their perception and interpretation of the image that the company communicates overtime. It is an aspect of the organization which is achieved through long term practice of positive business strategies, activities and values and as such requires a long time of effective and efficient performance and customer satisfaction to achieve. Halleck (2015) advances that since reputation is intangible; many companies find it difficult to manage thereby ignoring it all together. However not managing one’s reputation may lead to the development of a negative reputation which can ultimately impact the company adversely. The strengthening of the company’s reputation overtime was operationalized by the adequate achievement of the first two strategies highlighted. Through delivering products to consumers on time and managing the production process to achieve effective long term performance, the company was able to keep its customers satisfied and therefore build a significantly loyal customer base. The company also engaged in corporate sustainable responsibility through contributing to community development and environmental conservation on a regular basis. The desire for consumers to interact and be associated with companies adopting a greener footprint leads to the adequate development of the company’s reputation within the market.

4. Achieving Maximum net worth

Another strategy adopted in operations management to ensure eventual productivity and profitability for the firm on the long run includes the progressive development of the company towards achieving its maximum net worth. In achieving the first three strategies including delivering products to customers as and when they need them, maintaining a long term good performance and building a positive reputation for the firm, the company is adequately positioned to take advantage of the market and maximize on its net worth both in financial and social aspects. When customers are adequately satisfied they maintain a loyal relationship with the firm and even introduce the firms’ products and services to their family and friends. This impacts added marketing to the firms products which ultimately lead to its achievement of the maximum possible net worth overtime. Adequate management of other company operations such as resource procurement and allocation as well as Human resource management also ensures the company performs optimally in a consistent manner which ultimately impacts the achievement of the company’s maximum net worth.

Analysis

All four strategies were adequately geared towards enhancing the organizations performance in terms of improving their production capacity while saving costs, enhancing company reputation through building customer loyalty and being consistent in production and product delivery as well as achieving the overall maximum net worth of the company through the optimization of all available operations processes within the company. Among the major factors considered were stakeholder satisfaction, cost reduction and profit maximization as well as long-term company development. The operations management practices adopted were adequately guided by these factors which adequately contribute to the success of the organization both in the long term as well as in the short term.

Through taking advantage of the economies of scale in the production process, the company ensures the delivery of enough products to its customers at the time when the customer need them to maximize on the company’s financial position through increased revenue. In addition the company saves significantly in the process of production through adequate and optimized adoption and use of resources, both outcomes leading to increased productivity and profitability for the company. In addition ensuring constant supply of the products to the customers maintains the organizations business overtime which contributes towards its growth overtime towards the achievement of its maximum net worth.

Along with these operations management strategies that directly relate to production and supply, the company also engaged in building its reputation within the business market to enhance its perception and improve its ease of doing business. In addition to a positive reputation attracting customers who intend to associate themselves with positive aspects of the economy, a positive reputation also attracts investors who may be willing to invest in the company and significantly improve its processes, scope and even market size which ultimately lead to the business achieving its maximum net worth.

Reflection

Ultimately, different strategies can be adopted by different organizations towards the achievement of their set objectives which include business growth and development. While businesses can adopt similar strategies to help its growth, different businesses operate differently and as such the strategies are also bound to work differently. The control of the organization manager in this scenario comes to play and significantly impacts the outcomes of the strategies adopted. The strategies adopted in the operations management simulation in this case are developed to complement each other towards helping the company achieve its ultimate intended goals. Ensuring the products are ready and delivered on time to customers as and when they need it ultimately helps in achieving the consistency of long term good performance. Long term good performance on the other hand impact customer satisfaction and retention which helps to build up the company’s reputation overtime. The positive reputation built alongside adequate production performance then propels the company towards consistent profitability which helps the organization to ultimately achieve its maximum net worth.

References

Exeed College, 2021. Importance of Operations Management in Business Organizations - Exeed College. [online] Exeed College. Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2021].

EY, 2020. Why it’s important to measure and report long-term value. [online] ey.com. Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2021].

Halleck, T., 2015. The Importance of Corporate Reputation. [online] Linkedin.com. Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2021].

Hayes, A., 2021. How Operations Management (OM) Works. [online] Investopedia. Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2021].

MITSDE, 2018. Importance of operations management -. [online] Blog.mitsde.com. Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2021].

Studio Wide, 2021. The Importance Of Corporate Reputation | Studiowide. [online] Studiowide. Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2021].

Xcelpros, 2018. On-Time Delivery (OTD) KPI Your Most Important Metric In Operations - Xcelpros. [online] Xcelpros. Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2021].

Continue your journey with our comprehensive guide to Optimizing Human Resource Functions.