Technology and Operations Management
The scope of Technology and operation management has evolved over some time and has moved from the development of products to the design, management and improvement of operating systems and processes.
The usage of technology in operation management has ensured that organizations can reduce cost, improve the delivery process, standardize and improve quality and focus on customization, thereby creating value for customers.
Integration of Technology with Production System
Technology drives efficiency in the organization and increases the productivity organization. However, bringing technology into the production system is a highly complex process, and it needs to follow steps:
Technology Acquisition: Technology acquired should align with the overall objectives of the organization and should be approved after an elaborate cost-benefit analysis.
Technology Integration: Technology affects all aspects of production i.e. capital, labour and customer. Therefore, a solid technology integration plan is required.
Technology Verification: Once the technology is integrated, it is important to check whether technology is delivering operational effectiveness and has been used to its fullest.
Technology in Manufacturing and Design
Technology is getting extensively used in the customization of design products and services. The usage of computers and supporting electronic systems is an integral part of the modern industrial and services industry. Current techniques can be broadly classified into the following categories:
Computer-Aided Design (CAD): CAD facilitates the linking of two more complex components of design at a very high level of accuracy thus delivering higher productivity.
Computer-Aided Manufacturing System (CAM): Precision is very essential in operating any machine and therefore, Computerized Numerically Controlled machines are used, thus ensuring the highest level of accuracy.
The standard for the Exchange of Product Data: As the name suggests product design is transmitted among CAM and CAM in three dimensions. The standard for The Exchange of Product Data process sharing of product across all phases of product life cycle and serves as neutral file exchange.
Software Systems in Manufacturing
There are various software systems available to integrate operations and manufacturing functions with other business functions of the organization. Some of the common software systems are Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply-Chain Management (SCM), New-Product Development (NPD) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
Enterprises Resources Planning (ERP) links all business functions like manufacturing, marketing, human resource and finance through a common software platform. The main benefits of the ERP solution are that it not only reduces database errors but also delivers value to customers through faster delivery and order fulfilment.
Automation in Production and Operations
Automation reduces manual intervention in the manufacturing process. It increases productivity and reduces the margin of error thereby facilitating economies of scale. There are this-advantages of automation also, such as unemployment, high breakdown cost and initial capital investment. Therefore, automation may not be suitable in all situations and in the end alignment with an overall organisational objective is important.
Challenges
Technology can be a facilitating factor in bringing about change in operations and production management. But it may not be feasible to use technology in all aspects with challenges coming through high initial cost of investment, high cost of maintenance and mismanagement.
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