Tuesday, December 10, 2019

The tourism of Shrewsburya

Question: Write an essay on the tourism of Shrewsburya. Answer: Introduction It is necessary to mention that, the tourism of Shrewsbury is commissioned by the Shropshire Council for developing the marketing strategies as well as to develop the essential action plan for enhancing the destination place Shrewsbury as opined by Amey (2015). Shrewsbury is mesmerizing tourism destination that is laid on the border of England and Wales. The population of Shrewsbury is near about 60,000 with citizens. On the other hand, the major reason for treating Shrewsbury as a tourism destination is not only a mesmerizing place but also this particular town consists of the town walls as well as castles that are the architect at the 14th century as opined by Lumsdon (2016). Therefore, the local businesses are developing in these days as well as the employment of this particular tourism destination is also increasing. Moreover, in this particular assignment, a detailed analysis related to the tourism of Shrewsbury is done for developing a plan that is related to marketing. The marketing objectives are sorted out for developing a marketing plan in a cohesive manner. On the other hand, the target customers are also defined in this particular assignment for understanding the impact of the marketing plan that will increase the incoming of the visitors to Shrewsbury. It is necessary to mention that, the measuring the existing objectives for developing the tourism business is also highly important because in this advanced digital era the technological aspects are upgrading day by day. Therefore, setting the particular objectives is highly necessity for creating the impact on the customer's mind for attracting them to visit the tourism destinations as revealed by Birkhead, Wimpenny and Montgomerie (2015). In addition, the tactics that are related to the Marketing Mix are also highlighted in this particular assignment for developing as well as analyzing the marketing plan for increase the cultural aspects of Shrewsbury. Background Analysis of Shrewsbury respects to Tourism As opined by Birkhead, Wimpenny and Montgomerie (2015), most of the scholars as well as the local authorities of various nations in this globe are treated tourism as a highly significant aspect because tourism increase not only the incoming of the tourists but also tourism creates a huge impact on increasing the economy of the nations. It is necessary to mention that, the local businesses are also benefitted with the tourism aspect as well as the employment of the employees is increased due to the need of the tourism. As evidence, the Shropshire Tourism already provided a brief overview related to the products as well as services that are provided to the visitors who are wish to visit Shrewsbury as commented by Ekins (2012). The major reason of that particular overview is to satisfy the visitors with the better quality of the services that are related to the tourism for their enhanced experience. It is essential for reveal that, as per the annual report of the Shropshire County Council in 2007, the amount of the day visitors are near about 934, the overseas visitors are near about 68 as well as the overnight visitors are near about 132 as revealed by Yksel (2012). On the other hand, Shropshire County Council sent a survey that is related to the business for drawing 326 businesses in Shrewsbury and replacing with other businesses such as retail as well as catering business for providing the better quality of services to the visitors who often visits Shrewsbury. Apart from that, as stated by Henriques et al. (2015), the Shropshire County Council arranged interviews at the Town Center, Attingham Park as well as Percy Throwers Garden Center of the Shrewsbury for fetching their opinions for developing an analysis that is able to enhance as well as emphasize the tourism sector of Shrewsbury. Nevertheless, the residents were not selected for the highly significant interviews because the entire analysis was all about the perceptions of the visitors who often visit Shrewsbury as revealed by Sun et al. (2014). PESTLE Analysis is a highly significant analysis tools that are helpful in gathering the vast knowledge for expanding any business by analyzing the existing situations as commented by Daniel (2015). Therefore, in this particular assignment PESTLE Analysis is included for analyzing the situation of Shrewsbury for developing the effective marketing plan. PESTLE stands for Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal as well as Environmental. The PESTEL analysis of the Shrewsbury is described below. Political: Various wide ranges of political factors are there that are able to create an impact on the tourism of the Shrewsbury as well as the political arena also has high influence on the rules as well as regulation of the tourism businesses. One of the serious political aspects of the Shrewsbury is the rate of the payable tax declared by the government. Therefore, the tourism business organizations can be affected by the tax legislation of the government of Shrewsbury as well as the employees who are related to the tourism sector due to the income tax as opined by Werner (2014). However, it is identified that, in this concurrent situation of Shrewsbury, the corporation tax is decreased by the government for stimulating the economic activities through the tourism destinations. It is necessary to mention that, there is the guarantee that the government of Shrewsbury can again increase the entire taxes for maintaining the rate that is related to the corporation tax for balancing the entire economy level of Shropshire as commented by Tavallaei et al. (2014). On the other hand, instability can have a deterrent effect on the foreign investments, as it is found that, the foreign investors dare venture into Shrewsbury in these days as opined by Mariani et al. (2014). In addition, the growing awareness related to the environmental consequences the government of Shrewsbury is planning highly significant actions for ensuring aviation should reflect the positive impact on the environmental aspects of increasing the tourism business as well as increasing the incoming of the various visitors from the different nations of this globe as opined by Hackett and Melia (2013). It is essential to mention that, the enlargement related to the war against the terrorist activities as well as the European Union (EU) also hindering various significant business sectors including business tourism sector of Shrewsbury. Moreover, the increasing price rate of petrol is also creating barriers for providing enhanced transport facilities to the visitors who are visiting the mesmerizing tourist destinations of Shrewsbury as opined by Choi et al. (2014). Economic: As stated by Ioppolo, Saija and Salomone (2013), Economic factors are able to affect the purchasing power of the visitors as well as the customers who are potentially related to the tourism destinations of the Shrewsbury. On the other hand, the economic aspect also can affect the business organizations that are connected with the tourism sector of Shrewsbury because if the incoming of the visitors decreased then the tourism-related businesses would run in the loss as It is necessary to mention that, as per the annual report of the Shrewsbury, the government of Shrewsbury presently benefitting from the low inflation rate as commented by Hall (2013). Apart from that, it is the very positive factor that, the unemployment rate is low in Shrewsbury for recruiting skilled as well as the knowledgeable employees. In addition, the position of the currency of Shrewsbury is holding a strong position rather than the other foreign currencies. As a result, the economic aspect can be incr eased due to the highly incoming rate of the visitors. Social: The present social trend of the Shrewsbury is to access the internet from home, office for buying products, booking the hotels as well as tickets as opined by Getz (2013). Therefore, the marketing plan has to consider the promoting through the internet by providing advertisements along with the facebook.com, google.com, Twitter and the other social networking websites. The overall sociological aspect of Shrewsbury is very soft with its nature and that is highly helpful for Legal: Most of the nations have law and legislations related to the business tourism sectors as well as the investments for this particular business sector as commented by Murphy (2013). On the other hand, the legislations related to the tariffs, domestic producers also able to affect the illegal organization along with the legislations of Shrewsbury. Environmental: The physical environment of the Shrewsbury is the major key factor for increasing the tourism industry as opined by Goodall and Ashworth (2013).Shrewsbury is mesmerizing tourism destination that is laid on the border of England and Wales. The population of Shrewsbury is near about 60,000 with citizens. On the other hand, the major reason for treating Shrewsbury as a tourism destination is not only a mesmerizing place but also this particular town consists of the town walls as well as castles that are the architect at the 14th century as opined by Pike (2016). PESTEL ANALYSIS Political Political arena also has high influence on the rules as well as regulation of the tourism businesses. The tourism business organizations can be affected by the tax legislation of the government of Shrewsbury. The government of Shrewsbury is planning highly significant actions for ensuring aviation should reflect the positive impact on the environmental aspects of increasing the tourism business as well as increasing the incoming of the various visitors from the different nations of this globe. Economic The government of Shrewsbury is presently benefitting from the low inflation rate. The unemployment rate is low in Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is holding a strong position rather than the other foreign currencies. Social Social trend of the Shrewsbury is to access the internet from home. Shrewsbury is very soft as well as peaceful with its nature. Legal Legislations related to the tariffs, domestic producers also able to affect the illegal organization along with the legislations of Shrewsbury Environmental The population of Shrewsbury is near about 60,000 with citizens. Shrewsbury consists of the town walls as well as castles that are the architect at the 14th century. Table 1: PESTEL Analysis of Shrewsbury (Source: As created by Author) On the other hand, another analysis that is the highly significant tool for analyzing the situation of Shrewsbury is SWOT Analysis. This particular analytical tool is able to gather the serious aspects that are the serious need for developing any business as well as to enhance the marketing plan as opined by Truong and Hall (2013). SWOT Analysis stands for Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities as well as Threats. As this particular assignment is all about to develop an effective marketing plan for increasing the incoming of the visitors in Shrewsbury, SWOT is highly essential for gathering the information that is able to help in developing the appropriate marketing plan in the context of tourism. SWOT ANALYSIS Strength: Mesmerizing nature with the castles from the ancient century. Peaceful and the soft environment in nature. The low rate of unemployment. High standard of education. Political stability. The advantageous business position regarding tourism. Weakness: Poor transport. Higher pricing of the fuels. The tourism destinations are not properly developed. Lack of tourism sector promotions. Visitors satisfaction is average. Opportunity: The tourism sector is rapidly increasing. Visitors are always looking for the peaceful and soft environment for choosing tourism destinations. The government of United Kingdom is looking for increasing the tourism sector. The technological aspects are upgrading day by day. Threats: Other small tourism destinations are developing. The small businesses are decreasing due to the lack o incoming of the visitors. Marketing Objectives The business marketing plans related to the tourism of Shrewsbury should have to contain with the significant objectives that are able to help in developing the appropriate marketing plan for increasing the incoming of the visitors in Shrewsbury. It is necessary to mention that, the marketing objects for Shrewsbury Tourism are to increase the visitation of the non-residential citizens of Shrewsbury as well as the related expenditure from the core competitive markets that are related to tourism as opined by Carlisle et al. (2013). Therefore, the major objective could be the contribution to the economy of Shrewsbury through the tourism sector. On the other hand, the strategies as well as the campaigns related to achieving the marketing objectives are also can be treated as the objectives along with the brief guidance of the government rules as well as legislations. Apart from that, the collaboration with Shropshire County Council and the government of Shropshire are also needed for enhancing as well as emphasizing the tourism business within the Shrewsbury as commented by Chen, Liu and Chang (2013). It is essential to include that, the business tourism sector always needs for an enhanced marketing objectives for developing the small businesses as well as illustrate the new ventures according to the incoming of the visitors as stated by Hadjikakou et al. (2014). The objectives of the marketing plan can be divided into few significant segments. Those are: Realistic Objectives: Realism is a hugely significant aspect for detailing the marketing objectives as opined by Ioppolo, Saija and Salomone (2013). Ioppolo, Saija and Salomone (2013) also revealed that, it cannot be the realistic objective if the tourism sector of any nation is going to increase their tourism business in few months in any driving aspects. The realistic objectives can be setting the appropriate as well as designated goals and thereafter developing the marketing plan for emphasizing the tourism business of Shrewsbury. On the other hand, targeting the significant customers who are related to the tourism as well as wish to visits the tourism destinations are the realistic objectives for developing an enhanced marketing plan for increasing the tourism industry of Shrewsbury. It is necessary to mention that, providing proper promotions along with the significant information related to Shrewsbury to the target customers is also the realistic objectives of the marketing plan of the Shrewsbury. Since, there are various castles are there in Shrewsbury that are helpful in attracting the visitors because the architect is from the 14th century as opined by Ioppolo, Saija and Salomone (2013). Measurable Objectives: Measuring the measurable objectives are also the highly significant aspect for making significant objects that are able to helpful in developing the marketing plan for increasing the tourism related business sector of any nation as opined by Hackett and Melia (2013). It is necessary to mention that, the measuring the existing objectives for developing the tourism business is also highly important because in this advanced digital era the technological aspects are upgrading day by day. Therefore, setting the particular objectives is highly necessity for creating the impact on the customer's mind for attracting them to visit the tourism destinations as revealed by Birkhead, Wimpenny and Montgomerie (2015). Moreover, providing better promotional factors to the consumers as well as visitors can be the objective of developing the marketing plan for increase the incoming of the visitors to Shrewsbury. Promoting the tourism destinations with the help of the various popular social networks as well as websites such as, facebook.com, google.com, Twitter, Instagram as well as the other popular sites can be able to provide the significant information to the visitors as well as the consumers who are related to the tourism related business sector. Therefore, above mentioned activities can be the significant objectives for developing the marketing plan for the tourism related business sector of Shrewsbury. Time-based objectives: Objectives for developing the marketing plan has to be developed by maintaining the time appropriately. As stated by Chen, Liu and Chang (2013), the objectives have to meet their goals according to the time because the time span is highly important for gaining competitive advantage from the rivals as well as maintaining time also can able to minimize or properly use the cost for developing the significant marketing plan. Henceforth, setting objectives by maintaining specific time is highly important for achieving the goals. As the example, the developing of a tourism destination has to be completed within the dull season because in the picking season, incoming of the visitors will increase. As a result, if the development is not finished of that particular tourism destination, the place cannot be able to satisfy the visitors; and then the properly developed marketing plan will fail as per the perception of the visitors as opined by Goodall and Ashworth (2013). Defining the Customers Developing marketing plan can be effective if the target customers are selected appropriately. It is necessary to mention that, choosing proper customers are able to increase the business of any type of business sector organizations as opined by Lumsdon (2016). The target customers for developing the marketing plan related to the tourism related business sector of Shrewsbury is listed below. Customer Target Type Age Reason Traditional Between 46 to 65 These types of visitors are most enjoy the intellectual challenges, cultures as well the demographical environment of the tourism destinations. Discovers Majorly under 55 These types of the visitors are will to make the deal in the last minutes as well as considered the short breaks in the urban locations. In addition, these types of visitors is higher spenders for enjoying as well as relaxing for visiting the tourism destinations as stated by Hadjikakou et al. (2014). Cosmopolitans Couples whose age are above 42 These types of visitors are likely to visit various cultural places and do lots of shopping from various regions. In addition, their income is high as well as they are peaceful persons with their nature. Sightseers and Potterers or Day Visitors Couples whose age are above 45 These types of visitors are always looking for a day out do for enjoying the shops, natural views as well as the food offers. Marketing Mix Tactics The marketing mix is highly helpful for developing the marketing plan for the tourism sector of any nations. Therefore, the elements of the marketing mix are described here for understanding the under mentioned aspects that are related to Shrewsbury. Price: Medium pricing is the significant pricing standard for maintaining the visitors properly in the context of Shrewsbury. The major reason for selecting the medium range of pricing is helpful for attracting the visitors for often visits at this mesmerizing tourism destination as stated by Hadjikakou et al. (2014). Product: As the visitors of Shrewsbury are come from foreign nations, thus, the products should have to be maintained with better quality for attracting them to this mesmerizing tourism destination. Place: Shrewsbury as a tourism destination is not only a mesmerizing place but also this particular town consists of the town walls as well as castles that are the architect at the 14th century as opined by Henriques et al. (2015). Promotion: The promotion regarding the marketing plan for Shrewsbury is highly important as well as it can be done through with few enhanced ways, those are: Development of the website regarding Shrewsbury. Provide better information through advertisements via popular social networking websites (Tavallaei et al. 2014). Arranging the awareness campaigns along with videos and the photographs of various tourism destinations of Shrewsbury for attracting the visitors. Conclusion As a conclusion, it can be said that, the impact of tourism is able to nurture the economy aspect of any nations on this globe. On the other hand, the tourism sector of various nations are also increasing because the various authority personnel of different reason is now able to understand the tourism sector is able to attract the visitors from the foreign; as a result, the economy of the nation can increase. However, the tourism sector has to be highly maintained for attracting the foreigners. Apart from that, this particular assignment is entire related to the tourism sector of Shrewsbury. Henceforth, the significant analyses are included in this assignment for understanding the highly significant aspects that are able to enhance the tourism sector of Shrewsbury along with the help of Shropshire County Council. The PESTEL Analysis is showing the existing significant factors of the Shrewsbury. Therefore, developing a marketing plan became easy for the researcher. Moreover, SWOT Analysis is also included in this particular assignment that is very helpful for understanding the various highly important aspects of Shrewsbury those are related to strength, opportunities, weaknesses as well as the threats of the Shrewsbury. Additionally, the marketing mix also seems helpful in developing the marketing strategy for increasing as well as expanding the tourism sector of Shrewsbury. Lastly, the target customers are also included in this particular assignment that is helpful for developing the marketing plan in an effective way. It is essential to include that, the business tourism sector always needs for an enhanced marketing objectives for developing the small businesses as well as illustrate the new ventures according to the incoming of the visitors as stated by Hadjikakou et al. (2014). Reference List Amey, E., 2015. On a quest for authenticity to an imaginary place: a narrative analysis of the experiences of British literary tourists. Birkhead, T., Wimpenny, J. and Montgomerie, R., 2015. Subbuteo Natural History Books Ref. 0252, The Rea, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury SY4 4UR, UK. Tel:+ 44 (0) 870 010 9700 Fax:+ 44 (0) 870 010 9699 Email: info@ wildlifebooks. co. uk Website: https://www. wildlifebooks. com. Carlisle, S., Kunc, M., Jones, E. and Tiffin, S., 2013. 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Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., Gilbert, D. and Wanhill, S., 2013.Tourism: principles and practice. Edinburgh Gate, UK: Pearson. Getz, D., 2013.Event tourism: concepts, international case studies, and research. Cognizant Communication Corporation. Goodall, B. and Ashworth, G. eds., 2013.Marketing in the Tourism Industry (RLE Tourism): The Promotion of Destination Regions. Routledge. Hackett, G. and Melia, D., 2013. An investigation of business tourism development: A case study of Wexford Town, Ireland. Hadjikakou, M., Chenoweth, J., Miller, G., Druckman, A. and Li, G., 2014. Rethinking the economic contribution of tourism case study from a Mediterranean Island.Journal of Travel Research,53(5), pp.610-624. Hall, C.M., 2013.Wine, food, and tourism marketing. Routledge. Henriques, C., Garnett, K., Weatherhead, E.K., Lickorish, F.A., Forrow, D. and Delgado, J., 2015. 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Sun, Y., Guo, P., Ma, Z., Li, T. and Dang, S., 2014, November. UK-based external business environment analysis of outdoor adventure clothing using the PESTEL tool and its future outlook. InInformation Technology Systems and Innovation (ICITSI), 2014 International Conference on(pp. 306-309). IEEE. Tavallaei, S., Solaymani, M., Hesari, A.R.E. and Hadjalizadeh, J., 2014. The Evaluation of the Eco-tourism and Geo tourism in Maragheh, Iran: A SWOT Analysis.Evaluation,4(4), pp.423-429. Truong, V.D. and Hall, C.M., 2013. Social marketing and tourism: What is the evidence?.Social Marketing Quarterly, p.1524500413484452. Werner, S., 2014.Canoe tourism on the river Warnow. An analysis for an improved use of the river Warnow for canoeists, those who are travelling by canoe or kayak considering economic and nature aspects(Doctoral dissertation). Yksel, I., 2012. Developing a multi-criteria decision making model for PESTEL analysis.International Journal of Business and Management,7(24), p.52.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Jit Benifits and Limitations Essay Example

Jit Benifits and Limitations Paper Just-In-Time Inventory Management Strategy Lean Manufacturing Overview of Just-in-Time Inventory Management Just-in-time is a movement and idea that has gained wide acceptance in the business community over the past decade. As companies became more and more competitive and the pressures from Japans continuous improvement culture, other firms were forced to find innovative ways to cut costs and compete. The idea behind JIT, or lean manufacturing, is to have the supplies a firm needs at the exact moment that they are needed. In order to accomplish this goal a firm must constantly be seeking ways to reduce waste and enhance value. A recent survey of senior manufacturing executives showed that 71% used some form of JIT in their processes (Pragman). This simple statistic illustrates that JIT is here to stay and also that firms must constantly be searching for ways to cut costs and achieve an advantage. JIT is one way to achieve that end result. In order to understand how JIT works a common vocabulary needs to be established from which to further discuss the topic and gain insight into why so many firms have adopted it. We will write a custom essay sample on Jit Benifits and Limitations specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Jit Benifits and Limitations specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Jit Benifits and Limitations specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As previously stated, one of the key components of JIT is to reduce waste and add value. There are several activities that a company must monitor as targets for reducing waste. Among these are, excessive waste times, inflated inventories, unneeded people or material movement, unnecessary processing steps, numerous variabilities throughout a firms activities and any other non-value adding activity. A key example of this is a new plant that Caterpillar is bringing on-line in the near future. By reducing the number of times a bucket had to be repositioned while it was being welded, Caterpillar was able to reduce the amount of time the bucket spent in the welding line, reduce labor costs by limiting idle time at the welding station and increase the efficiency of the entire manufacturing process. The layout and inventories that are part of a JIT strategy may seem the most logical steps to reduce waste and increase value. By simply redeveloping the layout of certain facilities a firm can reduce the time it takes for supplies to get to the next step in process and cut costs associated with hat movement. One way to do this is to have work-in-progress close to the next station in the manufacturing chain. Couple this with lowering inventories and a powerful combination is formed to reduce costs. In lowering inventories a firm can reap numerous benefits; batch sizes, set-up times and safety stock are all reduced, ergo costs are trimmed and value is added. But in order to achieve these things a firm must be willing to accept the problems that these actions can either uncover or create. Dell Computers participates in both of these activities and they are now the industry leader. Dell has warehouse space at their manufacturing facilities in which suppliers keep parts directly on-site which is the quintessential JIT layout. In addition, Dell is constantly working to achieve JIT inventories of only four days and in doing so are constantly uncovering and solving supply chain problems. Going hand-in-hand with maintaining Just In Time inventory levels is JIT scheduling. By working to reduce inventory to the lowest possible working levels, a firm must constantly be adjusting its schedule of ordering and delivering. In doing so, communication both up and down the supply chain is critical. Frequent orders are placed for supplies and small production runs are constantly being initiated. In order to achieve this breakneck pace of order/production schedule, a firm must constantly be making small changes to orders/production and recognize that kanbans are of incredible importance. Possibly the single piece of JIT that has the most relevance to a study of supply chain management is the partnerships that are essential to making JIT truly work. A firm cannot implement a JIT system by itself; it must have the complete cooperation of its entire supply chain. The sheer amount of information that is needed for a JIT system to operate well demands partnerships to be formed and nurtured, almost to the point at which an entire supply chain operates as one firm. Examples of these kinds of partnerships are everywhere in todays business world. XYZ-Company allows its key suppliers to work directly at their manufacturing sites and place orders as needed for the parts that that supplier supplies. By example Dell has its suppliers store raw materials directly at the manufacturing plants. Other concepts of Just In Time also need to be introduced in order to have a discussion about what truly makes Just In Time a worthy endeavor. By the 1980s the Japanese had achieved manufacturing greatness by practicing continuous improvement, in that a firm is constantly working to improve in every facet of its business functions. To do this a firm must always increase quality, look for innovative ways to solve problems and increase focus on the quality of its suppliers. All of these are cornerstones of a modern JIT system. Lastly, getting the workforce to buy into a JIT lean manufacturing system is important because without the dedication of the workforce, any endeavor is sure to fail. There are several ways to achieve workforce commitment. A simple way is to cross train the workforce members outside of their normal business function and help increase an employees problem solving ability. In doing so a firm is empowering its workforce to think about their function in a new way while looking for ways to improve and giving them an overall view of the entire firm, not just their single job. When this is coupled with the support of management, an increase in resources to solve problems, and an increase in employee roles and responsibility, a workforce will feel empowered and work to make Just In Time a success for the business. Strengths of JIT There is a lot of strength in incorporating JIT lean manufacturing in a company. JIT makes production operations more efficient, cost effective and customer responsive. JIT allows manufacturers to purchase and receive components just before theyre needed on the assembly line, thus relieving manufacturers of the cost and burden of housing and managing idle parts. In that respect, company spokesman for Dell Venancio Figueroa, says With our pull-to-order system, weve been able to eliminate warehouses in our factories and have improved factory output by double by adding production lines where warehouses used to be (Songini, 2000). The benefit of carrying smaller amounts of inbound, in-process, and finished goods inventory exists regardless of the firms operating context (size, production technology, etc. ). Just In Time appeals to many companies because it helps prevent manufacturers from being stuck with inventory that may become obsolete. JIT was initially developed and justified based on cost reduction and quality improvement dimensions. Now, companies view JIT as providing an approach to achieving excellence in the elimination of waste (thought of as all things that do not add value to the product), as well as making the company more responsive to short-term customer demand patterns. JIT manufacturing can be a real money-saver for a company. Companies are not only more responsive to their customers, but they also have less capital tied up in raw materials and finished goods inventory, allowing companies to optimize their transportation and logistics operations (UPS, 2003). Overall, JIT manufacturing results in lower total system costs and improved product quality. With JIT, some plants have reduced inventory more than fifty-percent and lead time more than eighty-percent (Droge, 1998). JIT is lowering costs and inventory, reducing waste, and raising the quality of products. Weaknesses of JIT Just as JIT has many strong points, there are weaknesses as well. In just-in-time, everything is very interdependent. Everyone relies on everybody else (Greenberg, 2002). Because of this strong interdependence with JIT, a weakness in the supply chain caused by a JIT weakness can be very costly to all linked in the chain. JIT processes can be risky to certain businesses and vulnerable to the supply chain in situations such as labor strikes, interrupted supply lines, market demand fluctuations, stock outs, lack of communication upstream and downstream in the supply chain and unforeseen production interruptions. Labor strikes, stock outs, and port lockouts can quickly disrupt an entire supply chain while JIT processes are in place. Adhering to the just-in-time concept can be expensive in times of emergency such as at ports (Greenburg, 2002). When a ship arriving from Asia full of supplies cannot make it to shore, the company using JIT generally has very little inventory to compensate for the emergency. This lack of inventory is exactly what makes JIT so great to companies in reducing costs, yet making it risky as well by in some cases not having enough b uffer inventories to react and keep the supply chain moving. Every year markets experience seasonal demand fluctuations as well as fluctuations due to demand from disasters or other unforeseen events. Just-in-time delivery leaves retailers and manufacturers with little inventory as the holiday season approaches (Greenberg, 2002). Relying solely on JIT systems would leave supply chains in shock due to the overwhelming seasonal market demand at different times of the year for seasonal products. Not all products should be produced with JIT systems in place. Custom made items will not work well with JIT as JIT systems respond best to mass produced and highly automated production items. Communication is king in a JIT rich supply chain. There is a risk involved with JIT when there is a communication breakdown and the company cannot get the right amount of supplies needed to keep the just-in-time system running smoothly. Technology is playing a big role in JIT number, however, the reliance on technology can lead to breakdowns in the IT systems that can be costly to work around and go back to the pencil and paper methods of doing supply/inventory demand calculations. Companies should always have backup systems in place to help thwart the possibility of technology or communication breakdown. Weaknesses in JIT systems are very important to recognize. From Cisco routers to Dell computers to the Gaps leather pants, companies have found their just-in-time manufacturing systems have let them down (Johnson, 2001). Companies must strongly evaluate the pros and cons of implementing JIT systems. The effects and risk to their supply chain must also be heavily considered. Although JIT has its weaknesses, in most cases, the benefits outweigh the risks to the JIT enabled company. Planning for and recognizing when things may go wrong with the JIT system are vital for the success of JIT implementation across all areas of supply chains. JIT in Practice Just in time has an overall strategic focus to provide companies with an exceptional amount of savings. There is a large variety of companies and industries that have experienced these cost savings. For our research we will feature Dell and Toyota as two examples to illuminate the cost saving effects that just in time offers. To begin our discussion, Dell, which participates in the computer technology industry, is the only company within its industry that effectively utilizes just in time. They have revolutionized the selling of personal computers, using a direct-business model whose fundamental tenets include taking custom orders directly from customers, thereby reducing inventory and streamlining distribution (DI D RECT, 2001). After Dell has received a customer order, they then begin production of the product that the customer desires. This exemplifies a pull system within the supply chain. A pull system is reactive whereby production is executed in response to a customer order. This unique supply chain provides Dell with a competitive advantage within its industry allowing them to become the market leader over Compaq in 2001 (DI D RECT, 2001). Dells position within its industry is a result of their strategic focus to reduce inventory and streamline distribution. This strategy has allowed them to keep only five days of inventory on hand (DI D RECT, 2001). This is the smallest amount of inventory of any company within this industry, according to Mike Gray, Supply Chain Evangelist for Dell. He stated that most companies within the computer industry currently hold between 20 and 30 days worth of inventory (Personal Communication March 10, 2005). The limited amount of inventory held by Dell has created value for their customers. The value created for their customers is a function of integrating the entire value chain: invention, development, design, manufacturing, logistics, service, delivery and sales (DI D RECT, 2001). Integrating the entire value chain creates visibility and provides stronger relationships between Dell and their customers and suppliers. This visibility allows them to only invest in what their customers want, rather than trying to guess what they might want (DI D RECT, 2001). In addition Dell has a philosophy to only manufacture what their customers ask them to make, when they ask them (DI D RECT, 2001). This strategy provides Dell with a time-to-market advantage. They can get their customers the freshest, latest, greatest Pentium 4 and all associated operating systems 85 days faster than HP. This is true in regards to research that shows Hewlett Packard has 63 days of inventory and a distribution channel with 25 to 30 days of inventory as well. Collectively, HP has about 90 days of inventory compared to Dells five. The minimal amount of inventory held by Dell provides them with an economic advantage, because the value of components and manufacturing materials declines about one per cent per week. The five day inventory also minimizes a customers ability to change their wants before they receive their computer. For example, if an individual tells a manufacturer what they want today but they do not hear the request for 90 days, chances are by this time the customer wants something else (DI D RECT, 2001). Dells use of just in time results in cost savings, superior customer satisfaction, limited waste, and the ability to provide their suppliers with more information. In the end these benefits all result in a cost savings for Dell and higher revenue. Since Dell holds minimal inventory, they do not have to fund raw materials, work in process or finished goods inventory. Toyota Motor Corporation is another company that effectively uses just in time. They are known as the master and pioneer of just in time and are currently entering the market to provide customized vehicles to customers with a minimal wait. Toyota has spent the last six years revamping its ordering, manufacturing and distribution to make it easier for dealers and customers to make changes right before production (Fahey, 2004). Their goal is to reduce the average time between dealer order and delivery from Toyotas North American factories from 70 days to 14 (Fahey, 2004). This goal accomplishment would not only make customers happier but also cut dealer inventory costs and the need for Toyota to spend on rebates for slow-selling vehicles (Fahey, 2004). In order to seek the benefits of providing customized orders and reducing the average delivery time, Toyota has developed its own software that connects dealers to factories and factories to suppliers. The integration of the value chain creates visibility for all members of Toyotas supply chain. When a request from a dealer is received by Toyota their software is able to figure out the availability of parts nearby, the time to resequence the assembly line and whether the change would unbalance the line by scheduling, for example, too many models loaded with time-consuming options one right after the other (Fahey, 2004). Toyota has also adjusted their distribution process to effectively provide customized vehicles in a just in time process. Toyota now sends finished vehicles to sorting docks where they can be grouped by region. This new process cuts delivery by two days. And in assembling cars, Toyota now considers destination, so that it may, for instance, make vehicles headed to Seattle at the same time (Fahey, 2004). This process adjustment has provided Toyota with a cost savings in result. Dell and Toyota are two model companies of just in time. They effectively get the right products to their customers when they need it. Both companies have achieved a competitive advantage within their industries due to utilizing the just in time process and allowing visibility between them and other members of the value chain. JIT and Beyond Just-In-Time inventory systems have come a long way through out the years improving the efficiency of purchasing in many companies. But as with most things there is always room for improvement and growth. JIT inventory systems have evolved over the years with many new and exciting twists. Competition in the business world is shifting from being between company and company to supply chain and supply chain. This is why JIT is evolving in many different ways. JIT II is one such evolution of the efficiency of JIT. JIT II is a way to improve the customer-supplier relationship. JIT II uses systems integration which allows, sharing of information so that the relationship is more like a partnership (Pragman). Essentially this equals more and more visibility throughout the supply chain, which equals better responsiveness and lower costs, the two main goals of supply chain management. JIT II, a customer-supplier partnership concept pioneered at Bose Corporation and now practiced by major companies and their suppliers, can aid in cutting both design and response lead time (Pragman). This is accomplished through systems integration, which seeks ways to improve coordination between different functional areas, as well as bridges the gap between customer and supplier. With JIT II the suppliers have a person within the customers organization full time acting as a purchasing department employee for the customer firm. JIT II has really impacted the following areas: the administration of the purchasing function, logistics, concurrent engineering and value analysis and material stores and support services. In each of these areas the lead time reductions are greater with JIT II than with conventional JIT (Pragman). The administrative benefits of JIT II are due to the fact that the supplier is constantly available in-house. JIT II reduces administrative costs for both the customer and supplier because the purchasing costs are not all on the customer and the supplier gets all the business from that specific customer as it wants as long as things go well. Because the supplier is always present JIT II permits concurrent engineering and value analysis to take place on an ongoing basis, not just during sporadic sales calls (Pragman). JIT II is not the end of the evolution of just in time systems it is actually just the beginning. ERP is another result that spawns from the premise behind JIT II. The main difference between the two is that JIT II is not computer system based and ERP is based on a computer system that helps ensure the visibility of all functional areas within a company as well as within its supply chain. ERP helps organizations reduce supply chain inventories due to the added visibility throughout the entire supply chain (Wisner, Leong, Tan). A major advantage of an ERP system is that it allows managers to make better more informed decisions that effect the entire supply chain. As ecommerce and global operations continue to grow a need for visibility and data exchange between suppliers, customers and foreign offices has emerged. Thus driving ERP more to the forefront with ERP comes decreased inventories as well as responsiveness which is the major idea of JIT systems. Advantages of JIT * Continuous improvement  in quality * Cost  is  reduced * Elimination  of waste * Manufacturing time  is  cut down * Better productivity * Lower Work in progress * Better  supplier relationships * Cost efficient  production * Defect free  output Disadvantages of JIT JIT system may not be able to manage  sudden  variations in  demand * Implementing thorough JIT procedures can involve a major overhaul of business systems -it may be difficult and expensive to introduce. * JIT manufacturing also opens businesses to a number of risks, notably those associated with the supply chain. With no stocks to fall back on, a minor disruption in supplies to the busin ess from just one supplier could force production to cease at very short notice. How JIT helps to increase competitive advantage of one firm over the other Costs It helps to significantly reduce cost. There are  Seven Wastes  in Just in Time or JIT: Waste of overproduction,  Waste of  waiting, Waste of transportation, Waste of  processing, Waste of  stocks, Waste of  motion, Waste of  defectives. It tries to reduce cost by eliminating all these kind of wastes. Willingness to Pay The concept of  quality at source  is adopted. This means that the workers take responsibility for the quality of what they are producing. Hence JIT tries to achieve zero defect production. Increase in quality increases the WTP to some extent. Jit Benifits and Limitations Essay Example Jit Benifits and Limitations Paper Just-In-Time Inventory Management Strategy Lean Manufacturing Overview of Just-in-Time Inventory Management Just-in-time is a movement and idea that has gained wide acceptance in the business community over the past decade. As companies became more and more competitive and the pressures from Japans continuous improvement culture, other firms were forced to find innovative ways to cut costs and compete. The idea behind JIT, or lean manufacturing, is to have the supplies a firm needs at the exact moment that they are needed. In order to accomplish this goal a firm must constantly be seeking ways to reduce waste and enhance value. A recent survey of senior manufacturing executives showed that 71% used some form of JIT in their processes (Pragman). This simple statistic illustrates that JIT is here to stay and also that firms must constantly be searching for ways to cut costs and achieve an advantage. JIT is one way to achieve that end result. In order to understand how JIT works a common vocabulary needs to be established from which to further discuss the topic and gain insight into why so many firms have adopted it. We will write a custom essay sample on Jit Benifits and Limitations specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Jit Benifits and Limitations specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Jit Benifits and Limitations specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As previously stated, one of the key components of JIT is to reduce waste and add value. There are several activities that a company must monitor as targets for reducing waste. Among these are, excessive waste times, inflated inventories, unneeded people or material movement, unnecessary processing steps, numerous variabilities throughout a firms activities and any other non-value adding activity. A key example of this is a new plant that Caterpillar is bringing on-line in the near future. By reducing the number of times a bucket had to be repositioned while it was being welded, Caterpillar was able to reduce the amount of time the bucket spent in the welding line, reduce labor costs by limiting idle time at the welding station and increase the efficiency of the entire manufacturing process. The layout and inventories that are part of a JIT strategy may seem the most logical steps to reduce waste and increase value. By simply redeveloping the layout of certain facilities a firm can reduce the time it takes for supplies to get to the next step in process and cut costs associated with hat movement. One way to do this is to have work-in-progress close to the next station in the manufacturing chain. Couple this with lowering inventories and a powerful combination is formed to reduce costs. In lowering inventories a firm can reap numerous benefits; batch sizes, set-up times and safety stock are all reduced, ergo costs are trimmed and value is added. But in order to achieve these things a firm must be willing to accept the problems that these actions can either uncover or create. Dell Computers participates in both of these activities and they are now the industry leader. Dell has warehouse space at their manufacturing facilities in which suppliers keep parts directly on-site which is the quintessential JIT layout. In addition, Dell is constantly working to achieve JIT inventories of only four days and in doing so are constantly uncovering and solving supply chain problems. Going hand-in-hand with maintaining Just In Time inventory levels is JIT scheduling. By working to reduce inventory to the lowest possible working levels, a firm must constantly be adjusting its schedule of ordering and delivering. In doing so, communication both up and down the supply chain is critical. Frequent orders are placed for supplies and small production runs are constantly being initiated. In order to achieve this breakneck pace of order/production schedule, a firm must constantly be making small changes to orders/production and recognize that kanbans are of incredible importance. Possibly the single piece of JIT that has the most relevance to a study of supply chain management is the partnerships that are essential to making JIT truly work. A firm cannot implement a JIT system by itself; it must have the complete cooperation of its entire supply chain. The sheer amount of information that is needed for a JIT system to operate well demands partnerships to be formed and nurtured, almost to the point at which an entire supply chain operates as one firm. Examples of these kinds of partnerships are everywhere in todays business world. XYZ-Company allows its key suppliers to work directly at their manufacturing sites and place orders as needed for the parts that that supplier supplies. By example Dell has its suppliers store raw materials directly at the manufacturing plants. Other concepts of Just In Time also need to be introduced in order to have a discussion about what truly makes Just In Time a worthy endeavor. By the 1980s the Japanese had achieved manufacturing greatness by practicing continuous improvement, in that a firm is constantly working to improve in every facet of its business functions. To do this a firm must always increase quality, look for innovative ways to solve problems and increase focus on the quality of its suppliers. All of these are cornerstones of a modern JIT system. Lastly, getting the workforce to buy into a JIT lean manufacturing system is important because without the dedication of the workforce, any endeavor is sure to fail. There are several ways to achieve workforce commitment. A simple way is to cross train the workforce members outside of their normal business function and help increase an employees problem solving ability. In doing so a firm is empowering its workforce to think about their function in a new way while looking for ways to improve and giving them an overall view of the entire firm, not just their single job. When this is coupled with the support of management, an increase in resources to solve problems, and an increase in employee roles and responsibility, a workforce will feel empowered and work to make Just In Time a success for the business. Strengths of JIT There is a lot of strength in incorporating JIT lean manufacturing in a company. JIT makes production operations more efficient, cost effective and customer responsive. JIT allows manufacturers to purchase and receive components just before theyre needed on the assembly line, thus relieving manufacturers of the cost and burden of housing and managing idle parts. In that respect, company spokesman for Dell Venancio Figueroa, says With our pull-to-order system, weve been able to eliminate warehouses in our factories and have improved factory output by double by adding production lines where warehouses used to be (Songini, 2000). The benefit of carrying smaller amounts of inbound, in-process, and finished goods inventory exists regardless of the firms operating context (size, production technology, etc. ). Just In Time appeals to many companies because it helps prevent manufacturers from being stuck with inventory that may become obsolete. JIT was initially developed and justified based on cost reduction and quality improvement dimensions. Now, companies view JIT as providing an approach to achieving excellence in the elimination of waste (thought of as all things that do not add value to the product), as well as making the company more responsive to short-term customer demand patterns. JIT manufacturing can be a real money-saver for a company. Companies are not only more responsive to their customers, but they also have less capital tied up in raw materials and finished goods inventory, allowing companies to optimize their transportation and logistics operations (UPS, 2003). Overall, JIT manufacturing results in lower total system costs and improved product quality. With JIT, some plants have reduced inventory more than fifty-percent and lead time more than eighty-percent (Droge, 1998). JIT is lowering costs and inventory, reducing waste, and raising the quality of products. Weaknesses of JIT Just as JIT has many strong points, there are weaknesses as well. In just-in-time, everything is very interdependent. Everyone relies on everybody else (Greenberg, 2002). Because of this strong interdependence with JIT, a weakness in the supply chain caused by a JIT weakness can be very costly to all linked in the chain. JIT processes can be risky to certain businesses and vulnerable to the supply chain in situations such as labor strikes, interrupted supply lines, market demand fluctuations, stock outs, lack of communication upstream and downstream in the supply chain and unforeseen production interruptions. Labor strikes, stock outs, and port lockouts can quickly disrupt an entire supply chain while JIT processes are in place. Adhering to the just-in-time concept can be expensive in times of emergency such as at ports (Greenburg, 2002). When a ship arriving from Asia full of supplies cannot make it to shore, the company using JIT generally has very little inventory to compensate for the emergency. This lack of inventory is exactly what makes JIT so great to companies in reducing costs, yet making it risky as well by in some cases not having enough b uffer inventories to react and keep the supply chain moving. Every year markets experience seasonal demand fluctuations as well as fluctuations due to demand from disasters or other unforeseen events. Just-in-time delivery leaves retailers and manufacturers with little inventory as the holiday season approaches (Greenberg, 2002). Relying solely on JIT systems would leave supply chains in shock due to the overwhelming seasonal market demand at different times of the year for seasonal products. Not all products should be produced with JIT systems in place. Custom made items will not work well with JIT as JIT systems respond best to mass produced and highly automated production items. Communication is king in a JIT rich supply chain. There is a risk involved with JIT when there is a communication breakdown and the company cannot get the right amount of supplies needed to keep the just-in-time system running smoothly. Technology is playing a big role in JIT number, however, the reliance on technology can lead to breakdowns in the IT systems that can be costly to work around and go back to the pencil and paper methods of doing supply/inventory demand calculations. Companies should always have backup systems in place to help thwart the possibility of technology or communication breakdown. Weaknesses in JIT systems are very important to recognize. From Cisco routers to Dell computers to the Gaps leather pants, companies have found their just-in-time manufacturing systems have let them down (Johnson, 2001). Companies must strongly evaluate the pros and cons of implementing JIT systems. The effects and risk to their supply chain must also be heavily considered. Although JIT has its weaknesses, in most cases, the benefits outweigh the risks to the JIT enabled company. Planning for and recognizing when things may go wrong with the JIT system are vital for the success of JIT implementation across all areas of supply chains. JIT in Practice Just in time has an overall strategic focus to provide companies with an exceptional amount of savings. There is a large variety of companies and industries that have experienced these cost savings. For our research we will feature Dell and Toyota as two examples to illuminate the cost saving effects that just in time offers. To begin our discussion, Dell, which participates in the computer technology industry, is the only company within its industry that effectively utilizes just in time. They have revolutionized the selling of personal computers, using a direct-business model whose fundamental tenets include taking custom orders directly from customers, thereby reducing inventory and streamlining distribution (DI D RECT, 2001). After Dell has received a customer order, they then begin production of the product that the customer desires. This exemplifies a pull system within the supply chain. A pull system is reactive whereby production is executed in response to a customer order. This unique supply chain provides Dell with a competitive advantage within its industry allowing them to become the market leader over Compaq in 2001 (DI D RECT, 2001). Dells position within its industry is a result of their strategic focus to reduce inventory and streamline distribution. This strategy has allowed them to keep only five days of inventory on hand (DI D RECT, 2001). This is the smallest amount of inventory of any company within this industry, according to Mike Gray, Supply Chain Evangelist for Dell. He stated that most companies within the computer industry currently hold between 20 and 30 days worth of inventory (Personal Communication March 10, 2005). The limited amount of inventory held by Dell has created value for their customers. The value created for their customers is a function of integrating the entire value chain: invention, development, design, manufacturing, logistics, service, delivery and sales (DI D RECT, 2001). Integrating the entire value chain creates visibility and provides stronger relationships between Dell and their customers and suppliers. This visibility allows them to only invest in what their customers want, rather than trying to guess what they might want (DI D RECT, 2001). In addition Dell has a philosophy to only manufacture what their customers ask them to make, when they ask them (DI D RECT, 2001). This strategy provides Dell with a time-to-market advantage. They can get their customers the freshest, latest, greatest Pentium 4 and all associated operating systems 85 days faster than HP. This is true in regards to research that shows Hewlett Packard has 63 days of inventory and a distribution channel with 25 to 30 days of inventory as well. Collectively, HP has about 90 days of inventory compared to Dells five. The minimal amount of inventory held by Dell provides them with an economic advantage, because the value of components and manufacturing materials declines about one per cent per week. The five day inventory also minimizes a customers ability to change their wants before they receive their computer. For example, if an individual tells a manufacturer what they want today but they do not hear the request for 90 days, chances are by this time the customer wants something else (DI D RECT, 2001). Dells use of just in time results in cost savings, superior customer satisfaction, limited waste, and the ability to provide their suppliers with more information. In the end these benefits all result in a cost savings for Dell and higher revenue. Since Dell holds minimal inventory, they do not have to fund raw materials, work in process or finished goods inventory. Toyota Motor Corporation is another company that effectively uses just in time. They are known as the master and pioneer of just in time and are currently entering the market to provide customized vehicles to customers with a minimal wait. Toyota has spent the last six years revamping its ordering, manufacturing and distribution to make it easier for dealers and customers to make changes right before production (Fahey, 2004). Their goal is to reduce the average time between dealer order and delivery from Toyotas North American factories from 70 days to 14 (Fahey, 2004). This goal accomplishment would not only make customers happier but also cut dealer inventory costs and the need for Toyota to spend on rebates for slow-selling vehicles (Fahey, 2004). In order to seek the benefits of providing customized orders and reducing the average delivery time, Toyota has developed its own software that connects dealers to factories and factories to suppliers. The integration of the value chain creates visibility for all members of Toyotas supply chain. When a request from a dealer is received by Toyota their software is able to figure out the availability of parts nearby, the time to resequence the assembly line and whether the change would unbalance the line by scheduling, for example, too many models loaded with time-consuming options one right after the other (Fahey, 2004). Toyota has also adjusted their distribution process to effectively provide customized vehicles in a just in time process. Toyota now sends finished vehicles to sorting docks where they can be grouped by region. This new process cuts delivery by two days. And in assembling cars, Toyota now considers destination, so that it may, for instance, make vehicles headed to Seattle at the same time (Fahey, 2004). This process adjustment has provided Toyota with a cost savings in result. Dell and Toyota are two model companies of just in time. They effectively get the right products to their customers when they need it. Both companies have achieved a competitive advantage within their industries due to utilizing the just in time process and allowing visibility between them and other members of the value chain. JIT and Beyond Just-In-Time inventory systems have come a long way through out the years improving the efficiency of purchasing in many companies. But as with most things there is always room for improvement and growth. JIT inventory systems have evolved over the years with many new and exciting twists. Competition in the business world is shifting from being between company and company to supply chain and supply chain. This is why JIT is evolving in many different ways. JIT II is one such evolution of the efficiency of JIT. JIT II is a way to improve the customer-supplier relationship. JIT II uses systems integration which allows, sharing of information so that the relationship is more like a partnership (Pragman). Essentially this equals more and more visibility throughout the supply chain, which equals better responsiveness and lower costs, the two main goals of supply chain management. JIT II, a customer-supplier partnership concept pioneered at Bose Corporation and now practiced by major companies and their suppliers, can aid in cutting both design and response lead time (Pragman). This is accomplished through systems integration, which seeks ways to improve coordination between different functional areas, as well as bridges the gap between customer and supplier. With JIT II the suppliers have a person within the customers organization full time acting as a purchasing department employee for the customer firm. JIT II has really impacted the following areas: the administration of the purchasing function, logistics, concurrent engineering and value analysis and material stores and support services. In each of these areas the lead time reductions are greater with JIT II than with conventional JIT (Pragman). The administrative benefits of JIT II are due to the fact that the supplier is constantly available in-house. JIT II reduces administrative costs for both the customer and supplier because the purchasing costs are not all on the customer and the supplier gets all the business from that specific customer as it wants as long as things go well. Because the supplier is always present JIT II permits concurrent engineering and value analysis to take place on an ongoing basis, not just during sporadic sales calls (Pragman). JIT II is not the end of the evolution of just in time systems it is actually just the beginning. ERP is another result that spawns from the premise behind JIT II. The main difference between the two is that JIT II is not computer system based and ERP is based on a computer system that helps ensure the visibility of all functional areas within a company as well as within its supply chain. ERP helps organizations reduce supply chain inventories due to the added visibility throughout the entire supply chain (Wisner, Leong, Tan). A major advantage of an ERP system is that it allows managers to make better more informed decisions that effect the entire supply chain. As ecommerce and global operations continue to grow a need for visibility and data exchange between suppliers, customers and foreign offices has emerged. Thus driving ERP more to the forefront with ERP comes decreased inventories as well as responsiveness which is the major idea of JIT systems. Advantages of JIT * Continuous improvement  in quality * Cost  is  reduced * Elimination  of waste * Manufacturing time  is  cut down * Better productivity * Lower Work in progress * Better  supplier relationships * Cost efficient  production * Defect free  output Disadvantages of JIT JIT system may not be able to manage  sudden  variations in  demand * Implementing thorough JIT procedures can involve a major overhaul of business systems -it may be difficult and expensive to introduce. * JIT manufacturing also opens businesses to a number of risks, notably those associated with the supply chain. With no stocks to fall back on, a minor disruption in supplies to the busin ess from just one supplier could force production to cease at very short notice. How JIT helps to increase competitive advantage of one firm over the other Costs It helps to significantly reduce cost. There are  Seven Wastes  in Just in Time or JIT: Waste of overproduction,  Waste of  waiting, Waste of transportation, Waste of  processing, Waste of  stocks, Waste of  motion, Waste of  defectives. It tries to reduce cost by eliminating all these kind of wastes. Willingness to Pay The concept of  quality at source  is adopted. This means that the workers take responsibility for the quality of what they are producing. Hence JIT tries to achieve zero defect production. Increase in quality increases the WTP to some extent.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Japanese Internment essays

Japanese Internment essays If a man feeds off a fellow man he should be treated as a mad dog and be dealt the same fate This is practically the idea our nation went by to avenge Pearl Harbor which was totally unacceptable. On the night of December 6th 1941 no more than 1000 planes were on their way to Pearl Harbor and unfortunately the United States was attacked. That is no excuse for taking more than 120,000 Americans and putting them into internment camps. Our Nations leaders feared its own citizens and decided to lock them up. The morning after the attack on Pearl Harbor most Japanese citizens never even heard of Pearl Harbor and yet all were held responsible for the attack (Wataksuki , Pg 9). The Japanese people were in disarray and confusion about what really happened and what was going to happen to them. Most Japanese Americans tried getting their families together just in case the worst case scenario happened, and it did. As soon as most Japanese Americans really knew what happened, a majority of these citizensburnt or threw a way any items that represented Japan; Flags, letters, priceless kimonos, and even fine antique china. Almost a week after the incident FBI agents started questioning families and taking relatives away. Any individuals that did any off shore fishing or anything that dealt with any Asian country were the first to be taken to interrogation, and eventual Internment. The families eventually knew that the internment was coming so many tried to prepare for its harshness. When the Japa nese tried selling their valuables and of course they received a small fraction of what the object was really worth. Other Japanese Americans decided to store their objects instead of selling them, which was to no avail, Most were ransacked or taken away by the government. Eventually the land the Japanese owned was sold so cheap that it was near one-tenth of its original price (Home). Anyone would lose faith in their country for ma...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Jeffersons Views on Education essays

Jeffersons Views on Education essays Thomas Jefferson believed that universal education would have to precede universal suffrage. The ignorant, he argued, were incapable of self-government. But he had profound faith in the reasonableness and teachableness of the masses and in their collective wisdom when taught. He believed that the schools should teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Also, the children should learn about Grecian, roman, English, and American History. Jefferson believed the nation needed public schools scattered around, for all male citizens to receive free education. By 1789, the first law was passed in Massachusetts to reaffirm the colonial laws by which towns were obligated to support a school. This law was ignored. Private schools were opened only to those who could afford to pay them. In the middle states religious groups opened most schools. Not many schools or institutions were opened to the nonwealthy people. The women, blacks, and Indians were not able to go to school. It was not until the early 1900s that the Nation began making academies for females, because government thought that they needed to be educated mothers to educate their children. Jefferson believed in the Republican Mother. Later, many 19th century reformers believed in the power of education to reform and redeem- to release a blame or debt, to buy back- backward people. As a result, they generated a growing interest in Indian Education. Jefferson and his followers believed that the Native Americans were noble savages, they hoped that schooling the Indians in white culture would uplift- to improve the spiritual, social, or intellect condition- the tribes. But the states and local government did little to support education. Unlike the women and Indians, blacks had no support at all. There were no efforts to educate enslaved African Americans, mostly because their owner ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Has the Era of US Hegemony ended Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Has the Era of US Hegemony ended - Essay Example That is, hegemony will be visible when countries through their strong attributes particularly armed power, economic power, political power and even ‘soft’ powers, elevate themselves into top positions, and then try to assert their dominance over others through force or persuasion. From the mid part of the 20th century, United States America is one such country which ‘tried’ to or even evolved into a hegemonic country, due to the optimum development of its economic, military and even soft power statuses. In the late 19th – early 20th century, U. S. made sizable attempts to expand its political influence over other territories through their imperialistic initiatives and importantly through their involvement in both the World Wars. With the two World Wars elevating U. S. position in the international area, and with its economy, its science and technology capabilities and even mass media optimizing, it kind of gave the platform for U. S. to elevate its po sition further and become a hegemonic power. US’s plans to play a prominent international role got actualized in the second half of the 20th century as well, because of its confrontation with Soviet Union through Cold War, its involvement in the Middle-East and other territories. U. S’s hard-power as well as soft-power capabilities have improved so much now that no other country in the world have the capability as well as the will to dethrone it from its position of solo superpower, as U. S. hegemony is stronger, aggressive and at the same time democratic and benevolent.1 However, the other view is, due to certain misadventures, U. S. days as the solo superpower could be numbered.2 This paper will focus on this hegemonic status of U. S., by analyzing whether U.S. hegemony is going to continue or end, and by concluding how it is going to continue and not going to end soon. U.S. Hegemonic beginnings Although many European countries including Britain, Spain, France, etc., exhibited their imperialistic policies to become a hegemonic power in the early centuries, U. S. played a subdued role then. With U. S. ‘forming’ into country quite lately and due to its domestic issues, it did not initiate any major imperialistic steps. However, in the late part of 19th century due to its indirect confrontations with Spain in foreign territories, it started moving in that direction. That is, the Spanish–American War took place when U. S. involved itself in the Cuban War of Independence, and also due to its attacks on the Spanish territories in the Pacific area, particularly on Philippines.3 U. S. started initiating imperialistic actions, when it found that its interests are being undermined by other powers and also when it found that there are no strong opposition from the indigenous people because of in-fighting between themselves. This perspective was validated by Derbyshire (2003), who stated, â€Å"In places where America's interests are a t stake, however (and in conflict with those of other nations)-and where national feeling is divided, or artificial, or non-existent, so that patriotic native elites cannot easily take control of the situation-we need to act in our own interests†4 The key intention of U. S. to indulge in imperialism and thereby become a hegemonic power in the long run is to develop economically. When countries normally enter territories rich in natural resources, after capturing the power of governance, they will mainly go for these resources, and U.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The impact of the foreign intervention on the uprisings during the Essay

The impact of the foreign intervention on the uprisings during the Arab spring - Essay Example Foreign intervention has played significant role in accelerating the uprising and influencing their outcome. This paper examines the impact of foreign intervention on the Arab awakening. Origin of Arab uprising The extent of foreign intervention in Arab uprising varies across the different countries that experienced or are currently undergoing the upheavals. Before investigating the various foreign interventions, it is important to investigate the underlying social, economic and political factors in various Arab countries in North Africa and Middle East. According to Timo and Mika, protests in Tunisia and Egypt were driven by similar social, economic and political motives. Uprisings in both countries took an identical course of events that ultimately resulted to the fall of the existing governments. The dissatisfaction with the economic situation played a critical role in causing the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia. For several decades, both countries had initiated economic reforms to stimulate and enhance trade in the region in response to globalization. However, the reforms adversely affected the living standards of the majority middle and low-income groups creating resentment. Prior to the uprising in Tunisia and Egypt, majority of the citizens experienced decline in real wages, high inflation, and increasing levels of unemployment. The situation was worse among the youth, especially graduates, who experienced high levels of unemployment (Kitchen, 14). The â€Å"Jasmine Revolution† that was precursor to Arab spring in Tunisian was started by unemployed graduate Mohamed Bouazizi who set himself ablaze after he was denied authority to sell groceries in the streets of a Tunisian city(Kumaraswamy, 6) Although the economic reforms generated significant job opportunities, in these regions, most jobs were low skilled and of dismal wages. Moreover, the high population growth in these countries has not been accompanied by proportionate economic growth to absorb the citizens into the labor market. A combination of these factors left many unemployed and middle class youth disillusioned with countries’ political systems (Kumaraswamy, 6). The political structure in Egypt and Tunisia also played a critical role in causing the uprising. According to Timo and Mika, the political governance in these countries is dictatorial, where cronyism and nepotism reigned supreme. The poor, â€Å"unconnected† and educated individuals lacked access to employment opportunities while the crony capitalism amassed wealth and power in the country at the expense of meritocracy (5-6). The disenchanted but educated youth formed the core of the uprising in the affected countries. Political oppression is another major defining characteristic of the countries affected by the uprising. For long period, leadership in the affected Arabic countries has been autocratic, suppressing fundamental human rights and freedoms. In Egypt, the leadership of President Hosn i Mubarak was characterized by ruthless crackdown on public protests and other forms of expression. In addition, the government manipulated elections in favor of the incumbent, who had remained in power for over three decades. The government utilized state security agencies to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Malunggay as an effective cooking oil Essay Example for Free

Malunggay as an effective cooking oil Essay Commercial cooking oil is an enormous need of people nowadays. These days, cooking oil is becoming expensive. Commoners, or people with insufficient finance, can no longer afford this necessity. Instead, they opt for oil with lesser quality simply because it’s cheaper. It’s very ghastly to do this because for one; your health could be affected, two; you could harbour diseases, and three; on the worst case scenario, it could lead to your death. To think that they would go to extreme lengths, such as that, just to provide oil. Going back to the topic prior to this, we think that although it may be costly, most cooking oils are of unsatisfactory standards especially in our nutrition. With that said, we all share the idea of wanting to solve this problem. We conducted a research about the effectivity of Moringa Olefeira, also known as â€Å"Malunggay†, when used as an ingredient for cooking oil. We chose Moringa Olefeira for a reason; gram for gram, â€Å"Malunggay† leaves contain: seven times the vitamin C in oranges, four times the Calcium in milk, four times the vitamin A in carrots, two times and the protein in milk and three times the Potassium in bananas. Using this so called â€Å"Wonder Vegetable† (according to the elderly), we could create a product that can be healthy and useful, and at the same time be sold in a reasonable price. Our main goal is aimed at the welfare of everyone. We hope that this experiment can be of great help to anyone who uses it. We gathered the data of this study from various references. We owe a massive and part of this study to literature and the internet; without them we wouldn’t have anything, even a problem, to begin with. 3 Statement of the Problem. Main Problem Can malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) leave extract be a potential material for formulating cheaper yet healthier commercial cooking oil? Specific Questions 1. At which concentration of malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) leaves extract will it be able to cook food? a. 10 mg/ml b. 20 mg/ml c. 25 mg/ml 2. How effective will it be on cooking safe and edible food? It can be inferred in terms of: a. Period or time of cooking b. Taste of the food cooked c. Nutrition facts or nutrients contained by the food 4. Significance of the Study People living in the community. The study will help the people in the community to manufacture useful cooking oil that can be alternatively used to cook food – which is a basic commodity. Malunggay is very common to the community so people can easily grow them and prepare it for extraction. In addition, unlike the commercial cooking oil we use, it is healthy and contains the nutrients of malunggay. The researchers. The researchers will benefit from the study because in would fulfil our curiosity. It will also encourage us to find other alternatives from malunggay -which is very abundant in our country- that can help us in our everyday lives. Environment. The environment profit from the study in the fact that cooking oil that is already used by people will just be thrown away in the streams and it will cause water pollution. Not like with the cooking oil made from malunggay, its chemical components can be easily dissolved in water. Manufacturers of commercial cooking oil. This study would help big companies as it lessen the production cost of cooking oil because it only uses malunggay. 5 Scopes and Limitations of the Study The study aims to produce budget-friendly and nutritious oil that can be used by people to cook their own food. In able to do this study, researchers must first collect Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) around the community and prepare it for extraction in the laboratory or do it at home. After the extraction process, series of test must be done to prove and justify the effectivity of the product. It must cook food using stoves at normal cooking temperature that are normally used by households and the food must contain healthy nutrients that must be good to our body. This experiment also has its fair share of restrictions. And one of those restraints is when the researcher doesn’t have sufficient materials to create the said product, especially if they don’t have the main ingredient or, in this case, the malunggay. The person would have to plant or buy these materials, thus spending much time and cash. Speaking about money, another problem may occur if the researcher has a weak budget. An extra problem is if the researcher does not have enough knowledge to create and research about the problem. Another limitation of the study is when the researcher doesn’t have a place to create the product or when his surrounding isn’t fit for the making of the substance. The researcher must remember to take into account even the smallest detail of this project. The researcher must have great dedication in doing this study. He should love what he is doing and he need to make it as one of he’s passion. 6.