Logistics & Operations Pov.
1. Choose a specific operations system and brand within a specific industry.
2. Describe all the main processes and activities of this operations system. Identify the nature of these processes and draw a flowchart of these processes indicating all the main activities, processes and resources involved.
3. On your criteria where is the bottleneck and propose different measures and actions to take to enhance productivity and the quality of this system. Justify your answer.
Sample Solution
Operations System and Brand
Industry: Food and Beverage
Operations System: Just-in-Time (JIT)
Brand: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Main Processes and Activities
Chipotle's JIT operations system is designed to minimize inventory and maximize freshness. The main processes and activities of this system include:
- Order forecasting: Chipotle uses historical sales data and other factors to forecast demand for its food products. This information is used to plan production and procurement.
- Supplier management: Chipotle works closely with its suppliers to ensure that ingredients are delivered fresh and on time.
Full Answer Section
- Production: Chipotle's production process is designed to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. Ingredients are prepared and cooked just as they are needed.
- Assembly: Chipotle's burritos and bowls are assembled to order, ensuring that each customer gets a fresh meal.
- Service: Chipotle's employees are trained to provide fast and friendly service.
- Cross-train employees: Cross-training employees allows them to perform multiple tasks, which can help to reduce wait times during peak hours.
- Use pre-prepared ingredients: Pre-preparing ingredients, such as chopping vegetables and cooking meat, can save time during the assembly process.
- Invest in automation: Chipotle can invest in automated equipment, such as tortilla presses and rice cookers, to further speed up the assembly process.
- Implement a quality control system: Chipotle can implement a quality control system to ensure that burritos and bowls are assembled consistently and meet Chipotle's high standards.