An Overview of the Product Operation Management in Gift Box - Paper Example

The development of a gift box from its initial raw materials to the final product that can be purchased and used by different customers has to undergo different processes to ensure that the final product satisfies the needs, preferences, and choices of different customers. As a result, the entire process must begin with an illustration of the products transformation system(Nigam, 2005; Yang, 2005). The transformation system includes identification of the raw materials, purchasing the correct quality and quantity of the raw materials and processing them into the final product.

Identification of Raw Materials

Purchasing/Acquiring the Raw Material manufacturing/Processing Company

Utilization of the Gift BoxesTransportation

Final Consumers

The above illustration shows the essential steps followed by a business organization when processing the final product from the available raw materials. In this case, input refers to the raw materials that are purchased from different regions to be used in processing the gift box while the gift box is the output which will be sold to the customers as a final product to generate revenues and the associated profits.

The Process of Designing Goods and Services

There are four critical approaches which are used when designing goods and services. These approaches include modularization, delay customization, automation/reduce and the moment to the truth(American College of Medical Quality, 2010). Modularization is a process used in the effective reduction of complexities associated with a given process. In this case, business firms manufacturing gift boxes must ensure that they come up with the simplest way of manufacturing the product to meet the required shape, size, and quality without any form of complications (Yang, 2005).

According to Nigam (2005), Delayed customization in the manufacture of gift boxes should involve the initiation of the manufacturing process by developing a generic product which would later be differentiated into the required box. However, automation process should involve the direct development of the final product without considering the participation of customers who may delay the whole process. Lastly, the moment of truth entails the exact time when the experience of the customer begins. When developing gift boxes, it is important to ensure that the final product meets the recommended shapes and sizes so that the customer can have a good experience and encourage others to purchase the same goods(Al-Hakim, 2006).

Product Strategies

There are three critical product development strategies that can help business organizations to gain a competitive advantage over rivals. These strategies include differentiation, cost leadership, and response (Yang (2005). Differentiation strategy helps business firms to come with goods that are unique in appearance, shapes, sizes, and qualities to meet the needs of their customers. On the other hand, cost leadership ensures that the firm minimizes on its inputs while maximizing on the outputs. For instance, businesses that develop gift boxes should target at generating more net profits by acquiring readily available raw materials to minimize on other associated costs such as transport. The response strategy may help these firms to gain feedback from the public and implement further improvement measures (Nigam, 2005).

An Overview of Manufacturability and Value Engineering in the Processing of Gift Boxes

According to Yang (2005), there are seven critical steps thata manufacturing firm needs to put into consideration to meet its goals. Most of these strategies tend to differ from one industry to another. The first step aims at effective reduction of product complexity. For instance, a gift box manufacturing business firm can reduce the complexity of its products by using simple manufacturing processes that are less costly when compared to a firm manufacturing product such as necklaces. The second step aims at minimizing the environmental impact of the product which can be achieved by carrying out environmental impact assessments (EIA) to identify and address different issues in relation the products negative impact to environment challenges (American College of Medical Quality, 2010).

Standardization of components which can be achieved through policy formulation and implementation is usually the third step while the improvement of functional aspects of components is the fourth step. This step is achieved through continuous detection of any loopholes, carrying out recommended repairs and ensuring continuous maintenance of system components. Improved job design & safety is the fifth step and can be achieved through observation of the existing laws such as the Occupational Health Safety guidelines to improve the safety of workers at the workplace (Al-Hakim, 2006). Improved maintainability/serviceability of product can be made practical and robust design designing for varied environs can be met through strengthening advocacy and encouraging wide participation of stakeholders including employees and customers to achieve the desired goals (Al-Hakim, 2006).

Total Quality Management (TQM)

There are different strategies that a business organization dealing with the manufacture and selling of gift boxes an employ to ensure total quality management. However, the continuous improvement which seeks for the betterment of organizational aspects can be the most effective strategy. Nigam (2005) argues that continuous improvement will result in improved leadership, employee education and training for acquisition of critical management skills, and support for the existing structures. This technique can also help in improving the quality of communications while developing appropriate metrics for determining the success of the organization (American College of Medical Quality, 2010).

An Overview of the Product Operation Management in Necklace

The product management process incurred when a necklace developing can have some outstanding but similar characteristics with that incurred in the manufacture and sale of necklaces. The product transformation process begins with the identification of the required raw materials such as appropriate mineral deposits like diamond, silver, bronze, and gold(Al-Hakim, 2006). Consequently, the mined raw materials are purchased and transported to the refinement plant where residues are removed before being taken to a manufacturing plant where they are molded into the required products such as necklaces and sold to the final consumer as illustrated below:

Identification of Raw Materials

Purchasing/Acquiring the Raw Material Refinement of Raw Materials

Utilization of the CosmeticsTransportation

Manufacturing/Processing Company

Final Consumers

In the above case, minerals such as silver, diamond, and gold act as the raw materials and the inputs in the manufacturing process while the necklaces remain to be the out.

The Process of Designing Goods and Services

Similar to the process of manufacturing gift boxes, business firms' dealing with the manufacture of necklaces would use four critical approaches includingmodularization, delay customization, automation/reduce and the moment to the truth. Modularization will help the company to reduce complexities associated with the necklace manufacturing process by coming up with the most attractive sizes and shapes in order to pull a large number of potential customers (Yang, 2005).

However, delayed customization will entail producing a product that resembles the real necklace before differentiating it into the required necklace. The automation approach will aim at using the minimal costs and financial resources to develop a product that conforms to peoples needs whereas the moment of truth will ensure that the developed product meets the evolving customer desires when introduced in the market (Nigam, 2005).

Product Strategies

Necklace manufacturing business firms can rely on three strategies to gain a competitive edge over their rivals. First, the differentiation strategy can help firms to come up with most unique shapes, quality, and sizes of necklaces that attract all customers. Secondly, the cost leadership strategy will help organizations to reduce financial costs spent on product processing while the response strategy will collect feedback from customers and improve on their needs (Al-Hakim, 2006)

Manufacturability and Value Engineering for Necklaces

A necklace manufacturing business firm must adhere to seven critical steps in order to remain successful. The first entails a reduction of the company's product complexity and can be met by utilizing affordable techniques to save on the high costs incurred in production. Secondly, firms must reduce their products environmental impact by training it stakeholders through education programs and seminars on effective strategies for addressing and limiting environmental pollution. Firms manufacturing necklaces should also standardize their components through policy formulation and implementation as the third step.

Detecting available sources of problems and developing appropriate solution strategies can help achieve the fourth which entails improvement of functional aspects of components is the fourth step. Strict adherence to different laws and policies aimed at ensuring the safety of workers such as OSHA is a fundamental component in the attainment of the fifth step referred to as improved job design and safety. Encouraging active participation of the consumers through provision of feedback and generating timely response can be critical in achieving the sixth and seventh steps which include improved product maintainability or serviceability and robust designing for different environs respectively (American College of Medical Quality, 2010).

Total Quality Management (TQM)

Application of the Six Sigma theory is the best strategy of ensuring effective total quality management for a necklace manufacturing firm. This theoretical model will not only help in the achievement of the set goals but also ensure that the firm improves its quality (Al-Hakim, 2006). Comparative studies identify Six Sigma as a high-performance data-driven approach that can help firms to analyze the causes of a given problem, identify different management issues and provide ultimate solutions.

References

Al-Hakim, L. (2006). Information quality management: Theory and applications. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub.

American College of Medical Quality. (2010). Medical quality management: Theory and practice. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Nigam, S. (2005). Total quality management: An integrated approach. New Delhi: Excel Books.

Yang, K. (2005). Design for six sigma for service: Chapter 9. New York: McGraw-Hill.