Reference no: EM132373135 , Length: word count:3500

Task Description

You will write a concise business report (~3500 words) aims to understand the Lean Six Sigma approach used in service or manufacturing industries (Task A) and evaluate/analyse the winemaker case application (Task B).

Task A: Lean Six Sigma Approach used in Industry (~3000 words)

Lean intends to minimise waste, increases speed, maximise value; Six Sigma helps the organisation to measure, analyse, reduce and control defects. An integrated approach can help the firm to reap the benefits of process excellence faster. The present body of knowledge reports both success and failures of such integrated philosophy. The success primarily on the macro-environment (including social, political and environmental dimensions) and micro- environment (including leadership, skill, culture) of the firm. This task will develop your skills and the application of Lean and/or Six Sigma approaches and theories in a real world context or firm (manufacturing or service industries) in which you are regularly involved. Specifically, you are expected to select and answer one of the following topics of interest (choose one):-

Q1: How can firms align, adapt and deploy Lean/Six Sigma Strategies to effectively response and support the current environmental challenges without jeopardising their business success?

Q2: Discuss the challenges of Lean Six Sigma application to support the shift towards greener operations and supply chains.

Q3: Discuss the management of Lean Six Sigma with environmental oriented focus on specific sectors (e.g. manufacturing, construction, healthcare, etc.)

Task B: Winemaker Application for Data Analytics (~500 words)

A winemaker in Barossa Valley in South Australia must decide how much of two types of wine she will produce from a particular variety of grades. Each litre of table wine yields $16 profit, while each litre of dessert wine produces $10 profit. The labour (hour), bottling process time (hour), and grapes required (in kg) used for each litre of table wine is 0.4, 0.3, and 1.5, respectively. The labour (hour), bottling process time (hour), and grapes required (in kg) used for each litre of dessert wine is 0.6, 0.2, and 0.8, respectively. Resources available include 1000 labour hours, 800 hours of bottling process time, and 2000 kg of grapes.

a) Model the problem in Excel spreadsheet and solve it using Solver. What is the optimal production plan? How much profit would the winemaker be able to make?

b) Generate the sensitivity analysis report for the problem. Now the winemaker has the opportunity to purchase additional labour and bottling hours at $2/hour, and the opportunity to purchase more grapes at $2/kg. If the winemaker has $1000 to spend, which resource should the winemaker purchase? Why?

c) A market research reveals that the forecasted demand for both wines are 600 litres for table wine and 600 litres for dessert wine. Given this new information, how should the production plan be changed? How much profit can the winemaker expect to get?

d) The market research consultant then tells the winemaker that if she focus on producing only one type of wine, the market demand for that wine could be tripled (i.e. 1800 litres). If this is the case, which wine should the winemaker produce? How much profit can the winemaker expect?

Prepare details for your report

The business report represents a combination of your insight, observation, reflection, literature review and understanding of Lean Six Sigma Methodology as well as your analytical skills in spreadsheet modelling. The following guidelines are as follows:

Task A: Lean Six Sigma Approach used in Industry

1. Try to explore first about Six Sigma and/or Lean initiatives in industries
2. Select appropriate refereed sources to frame and understand the above core question of report's argument.
3. Take stock of insights. Consider the evidence. Confirm the nature of the core topic of interest based on selected refereed sources (i.e. Journal articles, Conference Proceedings, Book Chapters, etc.).
4. What findings do you reach when gathering the insights and evidence from refereed sources and/or your work experience if any?
5. You may include tables/figures/charts if needed.
6. You should include at least 12-13 references and no more than 50 references in your report. All sources must be highly credible and fully referenced using the APA referencing style.
7. The summary, table of contents, reference list and appendices are excluded from a report's word count.
8. Use MS word to write your report and submit your assessment online using Assessment 2 link in Moodle, on or before the due date (including your excel spreadsheet model).
9. Please note that the Turnitin Plagiarism Software in Moodle will check all of your submissions - we will recommend you to write the OM report in your own words.
10. If you have any concerns, please contact directly your campus lecturers.

Task B: Winemaker Application for Data Analytics
In your business report, please insert and use one section of your business report (preferably before your conclusion section) to response the winemaker questions posed and justify your numerical answers. You need to include at least 1-2 references. The following is the short guide for you:-

1. What is the seven-step modelling process?
2. Determine the objective function for the winemaker case.
3. Determine the decision variables for the winemaker case.
4. What are the constraints for the winemaker case?