Operations Management – Hayes and Wheelwright Essay

The Hayes and Wheelwright model (Slack et ing, 2009) is a useful way to classify the operations function of an business. Select the own firm, or an organization with which you are familiar, and discover at which level of the Hayes and Wheelwright model you would probably currently you can put operations function.

Justify the positioning simply by drawing on relevant theory and practice. This paper discusses the businesses strategy and management with the construction label of Larsen & Toubro Limited – the main engineering, construction and technology conglomerate of India with an international presence in above 40 countries. I have spent 10 years dealing with the construction division in various capacities including a rewarding 5 season stint in the corporate head office reporting for the Vice President.

Operations function is perhaps the most important function in most agencies, be it a product or service manufacturing or possibly a service focused company. Your day to working day operations, once considered within their totality in fact reflect also also make up the organization’s long-term ideal direction (David Barnes, Functions Management: A major international Perspective, 2007). This is in other words the procedures strategy affecting the overall organization strategy or perhaps the corporate strategy. Hayes and Wheelwright’s Version The Hayes and Wheelwright four level model summarizes the businesses contribution to overall approach.

In level 1 the operations function is reactive and internally focused. It is best contribution is to avoid any big mistakes. In stage 2 the procedures function lines up ideology while using best in the marketplace and attempts to adopt these kinds of. Its ahead looking focused enough to learn your hard way and is outwardly neutral.

In stage a few the functions function is definitely comparing paperwork with the best in the sector and also offers reached a respectful place within the cross-functional company matrix and the various other departments turn to it pertaining to guidance. The operations function is in house supportive. In stage some, the businesses function is providing the foundation intended for competitive achievement by being innovative, proactive, and versatile, forward seeking and correctly anticipating long term, in short getting one step ahead of competition.