Operation Managment case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Operation Managment - Case Study Example In deed Lee (1) points out that the key differentiator between poor performing and high performing companies is the ability to increase inventory turns. Inventory management can be a daunting task for a mass retailing business with hundreds of products coming from a wide array of suppliers. Such a challenge can be even greater when the suppliers are located in different echelons of the organisation’s distribution network. Usually, most retail chains often use central distribution centres which source products from the suppliers and distribute them to the retail stores. Though this proves effective in most cases, if not well managed and executed, it may result to excess inventory in terms of redundant safety stock, stock outs, and product allocations that are not optimal (Lee 2). This paper analyses LuLu’s hypermarket’s inventory management to identify a weakness and propose a re-engineered improved operation. LuLu Group operates some of the biggest and well performing hypermarkets, Lulu Express and shopping malls in the United Arabs Emirates and in other cities within the Gulf region (Retail Business Review 1). The hypermarkets which are the retailing division of EMKE Group, a multinational company dealing in a wide array of sectors, prides itself in providing high quality consumer merchandise across the Gulf region through its 103 stores. Like any other mass merchandising store, LuLu hypermarkets offers a wide array of consumer goods and services under one roof (LuLu Hypermarkets 1; Hemalatha and Sivakumar 52). LuLu hypermarkets deal in a wide array of products ranging from grocery products, apparel products, baby products, cleaning products, beverages, health and beauty aids, electronic products, pet supplies, seasonal merchandise, home furnishings and home decor, kitchen appliances, tools and power equipment, office supplies, outdoor living, gardening products, as well as footwear. All these products are from a wide array of brands, in different

Style of food Essay Example for Free

Style of food Essay Each country has its own unique style of food. Depending upon where you are, even food with the same ingredients will have a different taste. In a way, food has a unique charm in the sense it is able to reflect cultural and geographic differences. For example, in Asia almost all food is served with a bowl of rice, but in Western culture most of the time food in served with bread. When rice is served in America, it has a different taste different from what I was used to eating in Korea because it was grown in a different environment utilizing a different method. Keep in mind, however, each individual person has his or her own distinct classification system of judging whether specific food is good or not. This is why radical changes in food culture can occur. Nowadays, food in Asia is becoming westernized and items such hamburgers and pizzas are among Asian teenagers’ favorite foods. Now, my parents’ generation thinks food of this type is not healthy and believes they are terrible items as a diet staple. My father, for example, he needs to have a bowl of soup, at least four different kinds of dishes, and a bowl of rice for every meal including breakfast. For most my parents’ generation, this is the accepted classification system of eating a meal. Conversely, several American friends of mine think Korea’s most favorite food, â€Å"Kimchi†, literally stinks. This is ironic as when we are introduced to a new type of food, we first judge by smell, how it looks, its ingredients and, finally, by taste. Just as my friends are skeptical of trying new food, I still have trepidation towards food that I have never eaten before. My interest in food has also tied in with my interest in African Studies and I decided to eat at a restaurant called â€Å"MOYA† upon the recommendation of a Professor Lacy. Despite the fact that told me how authentic this place is, I assumed the food would not that much different from what I usually eat figuring the restaurant must be somewhat westernized in order to attract people’s tastes that are not familiar with Ethiopian food. However, my foregone conclusions were wiped away the moment I stepped into the restaurant, as there were a lot of subtle touches and I could feel the air of Ethiopian culture. Along with a strong smell of frankincense, an Ethiopian waitress came out to fit us with traditional Ethiopian clothes. My first impression of MOYA was that the restaurant had strong cultural and spiritual roots. All the tables were made out of wood with dark red color and the chairs were decorated with paintings of ancient African people. In the middle of the restaurant, there were decoration of actual bowls and pots made out of dark red clay that were used for cooking. In fact, all the colors in the restaurants were close to nature. While not fancy, the place was rather cozy. My friends and I ordered three dishes but when the food was served, I automatically thought it was an appetizer because it consisted of one big dish that was put in the middle of the table and only a few bread balls were in it. Soon after, three clay bowls were brought out and the waitress started to pour some soup out of each bowl. She told us to start eating, but there were no spoons or folks. We figured out the dishes we ordered were stew-like food, so we straightened the bread balls and dipped them into the soup in order to eat. We also realized that we had to eat with our fingers as well. The food was unexpectedly delicious and taste was surprisingly not that different from Korean food. In fact, one dish tasted just like curry. The bread balls that were served with the soup were called injera and they particularly made the Ethiopian food taste different. The meal was a departure from the norm for me since we were eating with our fingers, we were not able to take a big bite of the bread so this automatically slowed down our speed of eating and we were allowed to have a conversation while eating, which is very unusual in Korean culture. Korean people always in a hurry at the dining table because there are too many sub-dishes conversation is kept to a minimum. So, the Ethiopian dinner was another good way to unite with a group of friends and have a fun evening with a casual dinner. Since a young age, I learned how to use chopsticks and was taught as eating with your fingers is uncivilized. Therefore, it was shocking to me when I had to use my fingers to eat as it was taboo in my classification system. However, I realized that it contradicts my own ideas because I often use my fingers to eat such as when eating hamburgers, pizza, chicken wings and chicken tenders. It just appeared to be more offensive because I never had Ethiopian food before and I never knew how to eat that type of food before in my entire life. The experience at the MOYA meant a lot to me as it gave me the chance to be more mature as an anthropologist in the way it provided a vehicle for learning and understanding a different culture. Many times, the ability to learn about new cultures is rooted in investing time in new experiences. If a person spends too much time surrounded by the same environment, then there will be a tendency to look at the world through a very narrow vision or, worse, develop a mindset full of preconceived notions or stereotypes. While eating in a new restaurant may seem like a minor affair, the reality is that it can open up a huge window of the mind in terms of becoming more accepting of new people and new cultures.

How Does Light Affect The Rate Of Photosynthesis? :: essays research papers

Biology Investigation Problem: How does light affect the rate of Photosynthesis? The Plan In my experiment I am going to see how light affects the rate of photosynthesis. To do this experiment I am going to set up the apparatus as shown in figure 1. The apparatus I am going to use are the following: - 1 Tripod 1 300ml Beaker 1 Boiling Tube 1 Clamp Stand 1Clamp 1 Boss 1 Ring Binder 1 Lamp 1 1 Metre Ruler 1 Thermometer 1 Stop Clock To do the experiment I will set up the apparatus first. I will firstly place the tripod on top of the base of the clamp stand and fill the 300ml beaker with 250ml of water to create the water bath. I will place the boss in the middle of the bar on the clamp stand and place the clamp in the boss. I would then fill the boiling tube 43ml of water, put the pondweed in it and place it in the clamp. I would place the ring binder around the clamp stand surrounding the water base. Finally, I would plug in the lamp and place it 10cm away from the pondweed. I done a preliminary experiment to get an idea how to do the main and proper experiment and what would happen in the experiment. In the preliminary experiment we didn’t use the safeguards so it wasn’t fair experiment. We did this because it gave us the idea what problems we might face when we did the main experiment and gave us the idea how to do it. The pondweed should create photosynthesis by the following equation: - 6CO2 + 6H2O  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6C6H12O6+ 6O2 Photosynthesis occurs when plants take in Carbon Dioxide from the surrounding air in its leaves and water from the nearby soil in its roots. The leaves then take light energy from the Sun, which is absorbed in the chlorophyll in the cells and passes it along for it to be used in photosynthesis. Glucose is produced and is converted into Starch to be stored. Oxygen is produced from the water and it is a waste product so it is released into the air. The plant uses Carbon Dioxide and water to create Carbohydrates. Glucose is a small, soluble molecule which is useless for a plant to use as energy but it converts it into Starch, which is a large and insoluble molecule, so it can be stored for to be converted back into Glucose. I made this experiment as fair as possible.

Explain the Impact of Technology on the Environment

Technology is such a broad term, for technology is not only what first comes to mind like cell phones and computers. Technology is also the crafting of materials, pencils, pens, even your toothbrush is considered a form of technology. All of these objects that most of us use on a day to day basis has altered are lifestyles compared how the world was several hundred years ago. Sadly, the majority of technology has a reverse affect, more so on the environment.To start with, there is some technology that could potentially be a part of global warming. There are parts that make up objects that could cause the after affect to take a negative effect. For instance, technology dates as far back as the Stone Age, when man discovered how to make fire, believed be approximately 1. 4 million years ago. In fact, no one could have thought back then that fire, including its wood burning technology could create an impact on today’s natural environment through its greenhouse gas emissions.Cavem en created some of the first technology, such as fire axes and spears. As time went on technology advanced and even though they seem to make life easier for us after affects take a turn for the worse on the environment. Another fact to consider, is todays mode of transportation. For example In Sidan over 2,000 new cars are on the road each day, the more cars there are the more gases there are being released into the atmosphere.This harms society through the chain affect involving the environment. It starts with just normal global warming, then the people of the world are not recycling and not conserving there electricity. All of these bad habits, are worsening life as we know it. Sadly not all of this can be controlled for there are some natural causes. But overall a big cause of the environments unwell state is the gases let off by cars going into the atmosphere.One last thought to consider, would be ships going back and forth carrying cargo and spilling oils into the ocean. Becaus e of these spills and leakages, coral reefs are being destroyed. Marine wild life is being endangered since their habitats are being destroyed. Ships are a form of technology, very helpful actually. Especially when it comes to transferring objects too large to go by plane. Are actually taking a part in the environments misfortunes.There are too many endangered or extinct animals already from this tragedy, society must do all in our power to prevent this from happening any further. Therefore, ships is a form of technology that is harmful to our environment. In conclusion, there are multiple different ways technology has an impact on the environment. Whether it be by fossil fuels from fires or oils from cargo ships, it is taking a negative effect on the environment. Worldwide problems, more commonly known as global warming, are being started and worsened by technology.

Starbucks Marketing mix

Below is a table for you to apply the elements of marketing mix (7Ps) to your selected business organisation. Starbucks Product and service -Starbucks stores offer a choice of regular or decaffeinated coffee beverages, a special â€Å"coffee of the day,† and a broad selection of Italian-style espresso drinks. In addition, customers could choose from a wide selection of fresh-roasted whole-bean coffees.When you walk into the Starbucks, you notice they are promoting specialty rinks or products within the store. For example they promote their new coffee by giving free samples to their customers and that maximise the publicity of the product and generate revenue for the business. Packaging Creative and innovative packaging is what Starbucks does so that they can be seen and get noticed in the crowded market of coffee. For Example they redesign the packaging of their coffee to recreate the shopping experience and quickly identify the coffee by roast.The new packaging of their coffe e gets the attention of new ustomers because customers can choose what kind of coffee you want Just by looking at the package (different colour, message). Price -Price and pricing is one of the most important elements of the marketing mix, as it is the only mix, which generates a turnover for the organisation/business. In July 2013 Starbucks decided to raise the price of their beverage by 1%, they claim that the price increase is due to rising labour and non-coffee commodity costs.Starbucks raise prices to maximize profits from these price insensitive customers who now depend n their strong gourmet coffee. Rather than trying to compete with cheaper chains like Dunkin, Starbucks uses price hikes to separate itself from the pack and reinforce the premium image of their brand and products. Place -Starbucks takes a thoughtful and strategic approach when choosing their store locations, carefully considering many factors including community demand. We are always looking for great location s to both better meet the needs of our current customers and to reach new ones.They did research on different areas before utting a store there, based on things like demand, traffic and parking, they may conclude multiple stores will serve customers better. People The baristas (employees) are the foundation of Starbucks. â€Å"When it comes to providing Starbucks customers an exceptional experience, our baristas are as important as the quality of the coffee that we serve†. http://www. starbucks. com/ Baristas really are the face of Starbucks. They are an important part of their customers' day, and experts in handcrafting delicious, perfect beverages.Connecting nd creating the moments that make a difference in each person's day. Processes Starbucks uses coffee from different origin. I will choose one of them and describe the process from the supplier to the customer. Decided to take a look at the Ethiopian coffee, as his name says it came from Ethiopia, it is a medium-bodied c offee who offers soft, velvety notes of dark chocolate, subtle hints of peppery spice, and sweet, mandarin-like citrus for a balanced and approachable taste in the cup.From Ethiopia to the Starbucks manufacturer where the coffee is roasted packages and directly end to their stores where the coffee is available for customers. Physical evidence Starbucks provides information on its products, business partnerships, and career opportunities on its website. The famous Starbucks Logo (which is green and features a partially nude siren) has stayed largely unchanged since its origin, However it has been altered to adjust to international sensibilities. Starbucks uses white cups with their green logo on it, it comes with different sizes.It was specially design to resist heat, mainly because they serve hot beverage. It also comes with a lids. Branding The Starbucks brand has amazingly been able to create a reputation for itself as a very hip and mainstream coffee hub. People of all ages, incl uding adults and young teens, are flocking to this coffee franchise to enjoy all the different caffeinated and specialized drinks it has to offer. Over the years, the Starbucks brand has cleverly re- branded its products and coffee cups in order to cater for a more modern generation and the company has benefit from it as a result.

Identify The General Facts Of The McLaren F1 Essays - Sports Cars

Identify The General Facts Of The McLaren F1 Essays - Sports Cars Identify the general facts of the McLaren F1 The McLaren F1 is capable of 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 240 mph. This makes it the fastest production car in the world. During development work, McLaren driver Jonathan Palmer drove F1 prototype XP3 around Italy's 7.5 mile Nardo test track at 231 mph. But for the tight nature of the track, the car could have gone even faster. Early in 1998 this record was broken at Volkswagon's test track with a recorded speed of 241 mph. Powering the McLaren is a quad cam, 48-valve, 6.1-litre BMW V12 engine with variable valve timing. It produces a staggering 627 bhp. The F1's engine uses competition inspired dry sump lubrication. More complex than a conventional wet sump, it shaved vital inches from the oil pan, allowing the engine to be mounted lower. Everywhere you look on the McLaren, attempts have been made to reduce weight. Like the front and rear wishbones which are machined from solid aluminium alloy; or the wheels, constructed out of magnesium alloy. McLaren Cars built five F1 prototypes before assembling 001, the first car. There was XP1 (experimental prototype 1), destroyed in a fire after three months; XP2, used for crash testing; XP3, used for durability testing and the 231 mph Nardo run; XP4 responsible for gearbox validation work; and XP5, a marketing department car. One key design feature of the McLaren F1 is the positioning of the driver - in the middle, with two passenger seats aft of either side. That makes everything equi-distant from the wheel. The F1 uses sophisticated double wishbones at the front and rear to give superb handling characteristics, but an absorbent ride, too.

Principles of Direct Marketing Example

Principles of Direct Marketing Example Principles of Direct Marketing – Research Paper Example Principles of Direct Marketing The Facts: The direct media used for this communication is internet. This email had arrived on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at around 8 O’clock in morning. The Device: Description: The communication was in the form of an email. The subject line was â€Å"Grab the opportunity before it elapse†. The email was quite colourful, having a picture of Santa holding a bag. From the bag, gifts were continuously coming out and on each gift, the word â€Å"discount† was flashing. The whole body of the e-mail had small pictures of gifts, balloons, stars and bells. I received the mail early morning, and as soon as I clicked on the inbox, my attention went straight to that mail. Offer: This email was regarding Christmas sale taking place in a shopping mall in which high discounts were offered on different gift items, clothes, jewellery electronic items, toys and many more. It was stated that one can avail discounts up to 80 percent on different items. The creativity: The email was designed in a manner that would seek immediate attention. The email used different icons like Santa, gifts, balloons and other decorative objects to create a Christmas feel. The colour combination was restricted to bright hues like red, white and black. Flash was used to make things livelier. Cost: Since the mode of communication was an email, hence the cost of sending the document was nil. However, the company had to pay for developing the graphics of the email. The single mail was send to millions of persons at a practically negligible price. Analysis: The shopping mall was trying to reach out to shoppers purchasing for Christmas and thanksgiving. The company attempted to target that customer base that uses internet on a regular basis to communicate and prefers to purchase goods from shopping malls. This email was used as a tool by the shopping mall to motivate the target customers to purchase gifts and other goods for Christmas and thanksgiving from them. With time, the degree of competition has increased in the retail market. The companies thereby resort to aggressive advertising and attractive promotional tools to attract customers. This mail was a part of the marketing campaign of the company. It was used for making people aware of different marketing promotional tools like high rate of discount, coupons for free lunch and free passes for the theme park to selected customers. The reason for targeting me is, I believe, that I visit the mall far too often. There I filled a form for luck draw where I was asked to provide my name, some personal details along with my email id. The company might have accessed my personal details from such data base. The email was indeed very attractive. The graphics and texts were designed in manner that grabbed immediate eyeballs. However, some information was exaggerated that did create a negative impression on the reader’s mind. If I wasn’t in this class I might not have responded to this email. The fact that Christmas and thanksgiving is just a month away is a reason good enough to respond to this mail. I think this communication process will help the shopping mall to attract more customers in this festive season. Though the email was quite effective in conveying the information but more innovation could have been done in the manner in which the information is presented. This would have made the mail more comprehendible and attractive for the readers. Bibliography Kimmel, A. J. Marketing communication: new approaches, technologies, and styles. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press. 2005.