Implementation Of TQM In Furniture Company’s Supply Chain Management

Innovative operation policy and management

Questions :

Develop a set of process documents with explanation to assess and evaluate effective operations management at the furniture supplier company.

1. Explain linear programming and evaluate critical path analysis and network planning.

2. Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning.

3. Explain the need for operational planning and control in producing a furniture.

4. Design and discuss possible layouts for producing furniture and clearly define operational outcomes. (Candidate may consider specific product category when designing the layout).

5. Produce a network plan and indicate the resultant critical path for any design process of the company.

6. Identify approaches can be used for project management and quality control in sales, stock or purchases process.

This report would highlight on the implementation of innovative operation policy as well as management that will provide an insight of implementing effective management of operations with the company supplying furniture (Yang, 2003). Also, this study would emphasize on the network diagram as well as incorporation of TQM in the present process of designing of operation management.

Since this company providing furniture is aiming at implementing TQM in its operation management, it must understand the easiest method of producing products. One of the key methods is to utilize linear programming within decision-making process (Wong et al., 2002). This programming supports the firm to minimize the cost as well as maximize profit. The company would be able to utilize linear programming to reduce cost as well as maximize overall sales to enhance the company profits. Thus, the firm is aiming at implementing TQM in the manufacture supply chain.

Critical path Method: This method is useful in implementing total quality management in the processes of company by assessment of selective activities. Beside, CPM may also support in making of order whereby implementation would occur in presence of activities that would take place as followed by others (Kun-Chang Lee, 2010). One of the key aims of CPM is to use the taken time period while accomplishing the project and that of resources.

Network Planning: This concept supports in reducing the task complexity, here in this study, implementing TQM in the present supply chain system of the company, network diagram would denote the project time that would enable scheduling of the entire project (Wankhade and Dabade, 2006). Besides, this diagram would give variables as well as framework to conduct trade off in presence of analysis of sensitivity of the firm’s present performance. This involves validating work sheet as well as evaluating every available options by means of analyzing cost as well as intangible analysis that may support implementing TQM.

Operational planning	Conversions	Expected benefit
Forecasting demand	The demand for the particular furniture  is forecasted by the company or assess the demand of the product and accordingly order the wood	High
Assemble stock	Assembling the stock like wood, nails, paints, steel and adhesive	low
Cutting the wood	Items are being machine rather than assemble from the parts. Manufacturing as per the order of the clients (Apte et al. 2011).	Low
Designing and using adhesive and various other materials	Innovating the style of furniture along with selecting the design, greasing and polishing the furniture (Sukarma, 2014)	High
Checking the quality	Quality controller check the quality by assessing the furniture strength and weight and size as per the client demands  (Trietsch and Baker, 2012).	High
Inventory	Entire finished product are being keep for the dispatch by using the batch processing’s.	Low
Logistics	Final send into the stores and from there to consumers.	Medium

Layout design for chair production	Analysis
Designing the layout	Creating the full size images of chair patterns
Shape the rear legs	In order to do so choose the best lumber , ginding to size and stat cutting and shaping the chair legs
Preparing the remaining parts	Picking of the right  boards as per the strength of the board (Apte et al. 2011).
Mortising	Create layout and cut the mortises for the chair
The loose Tenons	Cutting the losses tenons by use of assembling line production and use fine joinery and starts dry fittings (Kwak and Ibbs, 2009).
Shape the legs and rails	Shaping the legs and add an stylish curvature to the face of  seat
Start the chair back	Shape and cut the joinery for the crest railing and back splat
Assemble and glue up and Spring up	Assembling the chair in sections and spring the chair (Lee and Kim, 2009).
Upholstery using cloth and cushion and finishing	Complete the chair with slip seat and easy ti apply finish.

Activity	Description	Activity duration (days)	Depends on
A	Preparing the technical’s specifications	10	–
B	Tender processing	25	A
C	Work orders	3	B
D	Supply of equipments	60	C
E	Supply of TQM	20	C
F	Supply of fittings	10	C
G	Civil work	15	C
H	Installations	5	E,F&G
I	Monitoring	10	D&H
J	Dummy testing	2	I

Activity	Depends on	Normal time	Crash time	Normal cost £	Crash cost £
A	–	10	8	4900	6000
B	A	25	24	3000	6000
C	B	3	2	2000	3300
D	C	60	58	1600	3000
E	C	20	19	5000	6000
F	C	10	9	1800	4000
G	C	15	13	6000	8000
H	E,F&G	5	4	8000	9000
I	D&H	10	9	3000	4000
J	I	2	1	1000	2000

Sales: In this category, the firm must seek for using E-CRM that would enable the form in maintaining relationship with the customers by assessing their demands on a regular basis. This E-CRM forms one if the most effective techniques for analyzing the quality control.

Inventory: For maintaining effective inventory, JIT system should be implemented as the company can maintain its inventory effectively through JIT. This would satisfy the demands of the customers (Kun-Chang Lee, 2010).

Linear programming in decision-making process

Purchase process: Effective purchasing process can be maintained through e-procurement that would enable the analysis of the quality of products as demanded by the company. This would enable the supplier to maintain a constant position with the company (Sukarma, 2014).

Conclusion

As referred to in the above discussion, it is identified that the Furniture Company is aiming at implementing TQM in its system of supply chain. Besides, network diagram would allow to attain shortest path technique to implement TQM. Finally, in presence of e-procurement and e-CRM and also JIT, the company can significantly ascertain the product quality of all finished goods.

References

Amasaka, K. (2012). Science TQM, new quality management principle. [Sharjah, U.A.E.]: Bentham Science Publishers.

Arnold, J. and Chapman, S. (2001). Introduction to materials management. London: Prentice Hall.

Cerra, A. and Bonadio, P. (2000). As relações entre estratégia de produção, TQM (Total Quality Management ou Gestão da Qualidade Total) e JIT (Just-In-Time): estudos de caso em uma empresa do setor automobilístico e em dois de seus fornecedores. Gestão & Produção, 7(3).

Dubey, R. and Singh, T. (2015). Understanding complex relationship among JIT, lean behaviour, TQM and their antecedents using interpretive structural modelling and fuzzy MICMAC analysis. The TQM Journal, 27(1), pp.42-62.

Fadeyi, M. (2012). Compromise between ventilation, filtration strategies and recirculation rates for the design and operation of air-conditioned facilities in the tropics. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 8(1), pp.6-20.

Feridun, M., Korhan, O. and Ozakca, A. (2005). Impact Of Total Quality Management (TQM), Activity Based Costing (ABC), and Just-In-Time (JIT) on corporate financial performance: an empirical analysis on the Turkish textile industry. IFE PsychologIA, 13(2).

Heaver, T., Meersman, H. and Van De Voorde, E. (2001). Co-operation and competition in international container transport: strategies for ports. Maritime Policy & Management, 28(3), pp.293-305.

1. Zelbst, P., W. Green, Jr, K., E. Sower, V. and D. Abshire, R. (2014). Impact of RFID and information sharing on JIT, TQM and operational performance.Management Research Review, 37(11), pp.970-989.

Kun-Chang Lee, (2010). Case Study for Successful KMS Operation Strategies Leading to Organizational Innovation and Performance Enhancement. The Knowledge Management Society of Korea, 11(5), pp.25-36.

Rhodes, E., Warren, J. and Carter, R. (2006). Supply chains and total product systems. Malden (MA): Blackwell.

Soleymani, S. (2013). Nash equilibrium strategies of generating companies (Gencos) in the simultaneous operation of active and reactive power market, with considering voltage stability margin. Energy Conversion and Management, 65, pp.292-298.

Sukarma, L. (2014). Enhancing Firm Competitiveness through Concurrent Implementation of TQM, JIT and TPM. AMM, 660, pp.976-982.

Sukarma, L. (2014). The Critical Role of TQM, JIT, and TPM in the Revisiting World Class Manufacturing and Manufacturing Excellence. AMM, 660, pp.959-965.

Wankhade, L. and Dabade, B. (2006). TQM with quality perception: a system dynamics approach. The TQM Magazine, 18(4), pp.341-357.

Wong, W., Han, B., Ferreira, L., Zhu, X. and Sun, Q. (2002). Evaluation of management strategies for the operation of high-speed railways in China. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 36(3), pp.277-289.

Yang, C. (2003). The establishment of a TQM system for the health care industry. The TQM Magazine, 15(2), pp.93-98.

Yeh, Y. (2003). Implementing a sustainable TQM system: employee focus. The TQM Magazine, 15(4), pp.257-265.

Zelbst, P., Green, K., Abshire, R. and Sower, V. (2010). Relationships among market orientation, JIT, TQM, and agility. Industr Mngmnt & Data Systems, 110(5), pp.637-658.