a game simulation report

This is a game study that includes information process management as well as supply chain management. It is thus a learning guide with many goals, including a discussion on the practice and functions of an operation manager in a manufacturing scenario, as well as understanding the different principles of time management, production preparation, and manufacturing bottlenecks. Another goal is to help students appreciate the whole production process and how it should be structured so that the demands of different consumers are entirely met to their satisfaction. Practice Operations is a 3D game-based simulation that enables students to oversee the operations of a clothing distribution and manufacturing company. Under this game, the players’ take the tasks assigned to the operation manager in a clothing manufacturing company. Each player of the game has been given a duty to manage both physical and human resources, place bids, order for the materials and turning them into clothing and finally distributing the clothes to the customers. It is designed in such a way that it puts much emphasis on modules such as capacity, production process, quality control, supply chain, customer satisfaction, labour management and order fulfilment. Practice operations is therefore a huge resource for learning which allows for practice of operations management in real life situation hence promotes strategic decision making and critical thinking.

Operations in practice

The production operations involve three steps which include cutting, sewing and lastly packing of the products. The procedures are conducted in machines found on the production floor. A production plan is set up to manage the contracts made with the customers for various products (Castellani et al.2014). In the plan the quantity of the products are set with the most preferred product being at the top in the production process. Each set up has a particular duration of time for completion of every order. The first step in the production involves the cutting of the materials. Each product has its own machine of production for instance, in the production of plain T-shirts, a pressing level of machine. Under circumstances in which a particular machine is missing, a red light is used to indicate that.

Impact of operation performance

The operation is such that the orders of varying customers are well taken care of within the time frame. The demands of the customers are fully met by adequately addressing the specific items in the orders given to the manufacturing company. Moreover, the products are delivered in time to the customers (Naizhen, and Ming, pg. 19 2014). This is made possible by having processing machines timed to operate and pack the products according to the time set for the production for each item. The delivery of products in time and meeting the needs of the customers has contributed to the customer loyalty and retention. Further the customer relationships with the manufacturing company has been improved due to the meeting of the customers’ preferred tastes that best suits them. Another impact is the full satisfaction of the customers’ needs (Castellani et al.2014).

Customers’ needs are satisfied when the manufacturing company produces products that best matches with the needs of the ordered items. The operation practices are such that the processing involves a set of procedures such as cutting, sewing and packing which ensures that the products processed are of high quality thus the meeting the needs of the various customers. Also, the products manufactured are highly dependable due to the right quantity and quality of the products hence meeting the needs of the customers.

Supply chain management responsibilities

Factors to consider when scheduling production of products

Schedule

A schedule is involved in ensuring that the particular orders are completed in time and have them delivered in time to the various customers. The schedule also helps in the prevention and lowering of certain additional costs due to an extended production cycles. In the preparation of the schedule, both the internal and external factors are taken into consideration (Kerzner, 2013). Such internal and external factors would include, technology, human resource, cultural factors, and legal factors among others.

Available resources

The resource available should be taken into account to determine the production capacity and ability to produce the particular products as per the requirements of the customers in their orders (Kerzner, 2013). Also, the decision to purchase a new equipment to aid in the production should also be considered just like in the case study of the game simulation in the processing machine has to be bought for production to take place.

Budget

The success of every manufacturing company entirely depends on the budget prepared by such a company. In the budget, the sales projections are indicated. The projected revenues are also shown to enable the company to maintain a production level targeted at achieving the company’s overall objectives. Changes could be may be made in the budget under certain circumstances needs as per the production plan.

Ways in which machine time can be spent in Practice Operations

Receiving

Here the various orders of the varying customers are received by the managers in charge through sending of their preferred samples to the production department for review. The received orders could be paid immediately or after a completion of a particular order that has fully met the needs of the diverse customers (Graham 227, 2011). Upon receiving the orders, a list of the orders is compiled based on the time of submission of an order to ensure that the products are delivered in time to the particular clients according to the time each placed an order.

Production

After the receival of the various orders, production of the production of the products begins to take place. Certain procedures are involved in the production process, for instance, the cutting of the materials which is closely followed by sewing to convert the materials into finished products which are consumable by the diverse clients (Robinson, and Godbey, 2010). Once the products have been produced, the last stage involves the physically distribution to the customers. The products are usually delivered in time to ensure the customers’ needs are satisfied.

Shipping

Once the products have been fully produced, the production managers together with the logistics mangers will be in charge of delivery of the products to the customers. It involves a number of stages (Amorim et al.2012). For example, trough stage, collapse stage, recovery and peak stages. The different orders of the customers according to the products are packed and shipped to the different destinations where the customers are situated in.A thorough checking is usually done to ensure the packed products matches the orders placed by the customers.

References

Amorim, P., Günther, H.O. and Almada-Lobo, B., 2012. Multi-objective integrated production and distribution planning of perishable products. International Journal of Production Economics, 138(1), pp.89-101.

Castellani, F., Garinei, A., Terzi, L., Astolfi, D. and Gaudiosi, M., 2014. Improving windfarm operation practice through numerical modelling and supervisory control and data acquisition data analysis. IET Renewable Power Generation, 8(4), pp.367-379.

Graham, M., 2011. Time machines and virtual portals: The spatialities of the digital divide. Progress in Development Studies, 11(3), pp.211-227.

Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.

Naizhen, L. and Ming, L., 2014. Factory operation practice in Su 53 block in Sulige gasfield. Oil Drilling and Production Technology, 36(6), pp.16-19.

Robinson, J. and Godbey, G., 2010. Time for life: The surprising ways Americans use their time. Penn State Press.