Global Engineering Strategy Assignment Sample

1.0 Manufacturing Strategy Document

Table 1: Manufacturing Strategy Document

2.0 Company strategies

A) i) Company and its background

Table 2: Company overview

ii) Development and Completion of justified and appropriate company objective

Business strategy refers to a set of plan and procedures to achieve the organisational goals by maintaining business sustainability and it enables businesses to compete across the markets with strong performance and product categories. Eyers & Potter (2017) stated that setting business strategies and evaluating proper actions for achieving business goals not only impacts the business performance of the company, yet it also makes the business competitive to successfully operate in markets. Market inflation rate in the UK is 5.5% that can create challenges to operate in the markets with existing price of products (Tradingeconomics.com, 2022). In this context, implementing “cost leadership strategies” can be beneficial for this company as it helps to reduce the operational costs by developing the operational performance.

Table 3: Company’s objectives

            Moreover, high environmental sustainability by introducing eco-friendly packaging products, such as paper, cardboard, and glass bowls can be essential for this company to develop business sustainability. “Economic sustainability” is an essential goal of all businesses across the world as it enables companies to expand their operations across the world without influencing the financial performance of companies (Obloj & Sengul, 2020). Development of revenue of business can be beneficial to set multiple new ventures across the world. Strong financial performance and in-depth financial planning is essential to participate in global competition and it encourages business managers of the company to make proper decisions and expand the business performance.

iii) Development of Marketing Strategies, Order winners and   manufacturing objectives

            Terry Hill’s strategy development model is based on corporate objectives that provide direction to the organisation and allow setting marketing objectives by which business can successfully run in existing markets with strong business performance (Terry Hill, 1995).

Table 4: Terry Hills models of marketing strategy

B) i) Design of manufacturing strategy elements

Table 5: Design of manufacturing strategy elements (assessment of options)

            Above table indicates the design manufacturing strategies for Cakes Today Ltd to develop the business procedures and achieve the business goals. Arinez et al. (2020) proponde that strategy implementation requires effective monitoring and business processes by which strategic gaps can be identified and allow business managers to make proper decisions about organisational development. Moreover, the principles of the “The Emerging Theory of Manufacturing” are also effective to implement appropriate strategies for the business (Shang, & You, 2019). Following discussion is based on the justification for selected strategies of Cakes Today Ltd to develop the production or manufacturing processes:

Manufacturing capacity: Cakes Today Ltd needs to adopt “continuous production strategies” in a limited quantity by replacing “order-in-time” production strategies as it can help this company to fulfil the demand of the customers in less than one hour. Moreover, “demand forecasting strategies of production” is also essential for manufacturing the products by forecasting the demands of customers and reducing the waste products.  

Production process: “Vertical integration” is the process of gathering raw materials from own sources without relying on the suppliers or external contractors (Kishawy et al. 2018). However, “horizontal integration” allows this company to develop the business performance by extending the network with suppliers.     

Suppliers: In case of suppliers, gathering resources from local domestic suppliers is essential for businesses as it enhances the operational efficiency. Apart from the local suppliers, dealing with foreign suppliers can help businesses to make changes in taste and flavour of the products.    

Location: Cakes Today Ltd operates currently in London, which is a sustainable location allowing easy supply of materials from different suppliers, as well as low transportation costs. Cayo & Onal (2020) stated that a strong transportation network for supplying the products in distribution stores is essential for the company as it can help to develop supply chain operations for businesses.

Role of inventory: The Company needs to undertake the appropriate inventory management practices that are production forecasting strategy, by which it can develop business performance. Moreover, “order and placing strategy” can also help businesses to produce and deliver the products as per the order.   

Waste management: It needs to adopt sustainable waste management practises by implementing recycling, reusing, and reducing strategies that can be beneficial for the company to develop the business sustainability. In addition, “less water consumption strategy” is also required in this company to enhance the transparency of businesses (Gunasekaran et al. 2018).    

Organisation structure: “Multidivisional Structure” with transformational leadership principles” of organisational procedures has been selected for the company as this structure allows high collaboration between the authorities. Conversely, Matrix structure allows businesses to segment the business operations in different groups and allows the development of business performance.   

Maintenance: Using “preventive and predictive strategy” of maintenance is essential for this business as it will help to prevent the damage of machinery by educating the employees regarding proper use of machinery. “RCM strategy” is essential in business to develop the maintenance program of business to ensure the achievement of business goals (Steenhuis, & Pretorius, 2017).

Quality management: As a bakery company, Cakes Today Ltd needs to follow ISO 22000 for “food safety management system” and ISO 9001 for “Quality Management System” as it will help to build trust and beliefs of customers in businesses (Iso.org, 2020). Moreover, “hygienic practices with high-quality resources” is also applicable to develop the business performance.

Scheduling: “Just-in-time strategy” of scheduling and delivering of products to the customers allow businesses to meet the customers’ demands within the recommended schedule (Nagarajan et al. 2021). Conversely, “Bursting strategy” will also be effective to enhance the quantity of production during the occasional period.

Organisational processes: “Centralised organisational processes” do not allow employees to make decisions regarding business operations, while only higher authorities can do this. Moreover, implementing “transformational leadership strategies” is also useful to develop the innovation procedures in businesses.

Resourcing strategies: “Materials Requirements planning” is essential in this context to ensure the availability of raw materials during the production process. In addition, “Talent management strategies” is essential in this case to enhance the human resources strategies of the organisation.

ii) Design of manufacturing strategy elements

Table 5: Design of manufacturing strategy elements (justified selection)

C) Depth and Breadth of relevant comments in comparing   proposed manufacturing strategy with deduced manufacturing strategy

Table 5: Comparison between selected and deduced strategy

            Above table indicates a brief comparison between the selected and deduced strategies by over viewing their benefits, as well as weakness with the impacts on organisational performance. Continuous production strategy is essential as Cakes Today Ltd is a bakery company and rate of demand for bakery items is very high across the UK. This strategy allows the company to meet the goals of the business by delivering the desired products to customers properly (Cakestoday.co.uk, 2021). Moreover, the presence of ISO certification also helps it to build a strong reputation in the UK markets by its standard and quality (Iso.org, 2020). Presence of a proper auditing system for machinery is beneficial for the company to reduce the machine breakdown during production or overcome any uncertainties. Furthermore, just-in-time strategy is highly associated with continuous production as it allows meeting the customer demands and ensures high-quality deliverables within a certain period of time. Transformational leaders are the most efficient leaders in this context as these leaders enhance the innovation processes of business with the aim of operational and financial development.

D) Identification of relevant recommendations for   implementation of proposed manufacturing strategy

            Strategy implementation is one of the most crucial activities of businesses as improper implementation leads to rising difficulties and issues that negatively influence the operations procedures. During the implementation, the major conflict that negatively influences the operational procedures is internal conflicts and lack of support of business managers. Stakeholders’ dissatisfaction can create the internal conflicts in businesses that can decline the operational performance and responsible or employee dissatisfaction (Gunasekaran et al. 2019). Change in business procedures require high financial investment and lack of proper financial planning is responsible for creating high financial loss in businesses. Moreover, sudden change in business procedures can create adaptation issues for business managers, as well as employees that can result in high job dissatisfaction of employees and high employee turn-over of businesses. Financial planning is essential in this context to generate high-quality outcomes and develop business performance.

Obloj & Sengul (2020) discussed that change in business procedures require proper communication with stakeholders and lack of stakeholder collaboration can decline the workplace culture, as well as performance. In an external context, improper strategic implementation can decline the taste and quality of food products that can directly influence the customer’s satisfaction and their purchase decisions in future days. In addition, shortage of resources and lack of knowledge of strategic implementation or new procedures can delay the operation and result in poor performance from the business with new strategies (Pozo et al. 2017).  Thus, while implementing new business strategies in manufacturing and operational procedures, business managers need to conduct proper planning and undertake appropriate strategies to overcome the goals.

Implementation plan is the process of executing the plan practically and monitoring itss progress to ensure the meeting of the goals. Here, in this case, implementation plans need to be done by the operations manager, project manager, and cost analyst to successfully implement the plan. Arinez et al. (2020) discussed that presence of strong strategic plan, as well as in-depth knowledge regarding the change allows business managers to transform the business operations.      

E) Identification of relevant recommendations associated   with communication issues in your implementation process

            Communication is essential in this case to successfully operate the business process and ensure the successful implementation of strategic change. High stakeholders’ collaboration, coordination, and communication help to identify the strengths, as well as issues of the strategic implementation. In this case, a weekly or quarterly communication plan is essential between business managers as it will help to discuss the progress of strategic implementation in businesses. Email plays a crucial role in this case to enhance the communication quality and it allows providing regular updates about organisational planning. Moreover, interests of stakeholders are the most crucial aspects in the context as lack of interests among stakeholders can decline the overall implementation processes.

Furthermore, as the change in organisational procedures is directly linked to employees’ job satisfaction, businesses need to introduce a “training and development program” by which employees get informed about the new process and adopt the new operational practices. Moreover, at the initial stage of the strategic implementation, a face-to-face meeting is essential between stakeholders to build a strong and transparent understanding regarding the strategic implementation. It will help to reduce the uncertainties and business issues, by which business issues can be reduced and develop the business performance.

F) Appropriateness of proposed strategy evaluation   measures

SMART strategies have been developed for the Cakes Today Company that may help in mitigating the communication gaps between the company and the stakeholders of the company and improve the management of business operations of the company. The SMART strategy proposed for the company may be explained through the five aspects namely specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound efforts (Ajibade & Mutula, 2020). The Specific strategy includes an increase in communication through an increase in visibility of the business plan that may have significant benefit to the company. Measuring the performance of the company through measurement of financial performance and position in the market and communicating it with the stakeholders. The strategies may be achieved by communicating the issues to the stakeholders through emails, technological communication, visual presentations, and so on.

The relevance of the actions taken by the company must be communicated to the stakeholders with complete transparency such that the trust and faith of the stakeholders may be achieved (Ahmad & Abdullah, 2021). The time management for the appropriate strategies must be pre-determined such that the products and services may be provided to the customers within a stipulated period. Therefore, the SMART strategies and implementation of appropriate planning may have a significant impact on increasing the communication among the stakeholders and may contribute to the growth of the organization.

G) Need for the strategy and methods that will help to ensure this

            Strategies are believed to be significantly important for the growth and development of the organization. The development of strategies helps in improving the business operation and also contributes to acquiring a competitive advantage in the market (Kanchanapoomi & Trakulkasemsuk, 2021). Strategic management and development are essential for shaping the growth of the company and increasing its market value of the company. Therefore, strategies need to be developed appropriately such that they may have several benefits to the company as well as the stakeholders of the company. Being transparent and honest with the stakeholders is one of the strategic tools that may be used by the company for increasing its efficiency and attaining the trust of the stakeholders (Kuzhevskaya, 2019). The strategic decisions may be critical to determining the profitability of the company in the fiercely competitive market.

            Communication, therefore, is considered significant for the growth of the company for continuous improvement and to meet the demand of the customers. Hence, appropriate communication may be implemented by the company by the adoption of modern technology that may help in better communication with the various stakeholders of the company at different levels. Emails and presentations are considered important mediums of communication with the stakeholders (Kanchanapoomi & Trakulkasemsuk, 2021). Apart from this, the company may also use the medium of video calling or group video calls to improve communication with the stakeholders. Further, report summaries may be used by the company for communicating with the stakeholders and this may contribute to a positive impact on the business of the company. Therefore, strategic planning and the development of smart objectives may have a significant impact on improving the communication strategy of the company.

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