Week 9: As A Manager, You Will Have To Control Work Processe
Week 9as A Manager You Will Have To Control Work Processes And Monito
Describe one control system used by your current organization or a previous employer. Identify the organization's control system type. Should the organization use a different type of control system? Why or why not? Be sure to respond to at least one of your classmates' posts. Provide examples or share your experiences as well.
Paper For Above instruction
Effective control systems are vital for organizations to ensure that operations align with strategic objectives, maintain quality standards, and adapt to changing circumstances. In my previous organization, a manufacturing firm specializing in consumer electronics, the primary control system employed was a combination of concurrent and feedback controls, with a significant emphasis on real-time monitoring through automated processes.
The organization primarily utilized a real-time production monitoring system, which falls under the category of concurrent control. This system employed sophisticated sensors and data collection tools embedded within the production line to track various parameters such as machine performance, defect rates, and production speed. Managers and supervisors could access dashboards providing live updates on ongoing processes, enabling immediate corrective actions if deviations occurred. Such a control system allowed the organization to promptly address issues, reduce waste, and maintain high-quality standards, which are essential in the competitive electronics market.
The use of concurrent control in this context proved highly effective because it enabled continuous oversight during production. For instance, if a machine began operating outside acceptable parameters, an automated alert would notify operators, allowing them to intervene swiftly. This proactive approach minimized downtime and prevented defective products from progressing further down the supply chain. Additionally, the system included feedback controls that analyzed production data after shifts or batches, providing insights for process improvement and strategic planning.
Despite its strengths, the organization could benefit from integrating more feedforward controls into its operations. Feedforward control involves anticipating potential problems before they occur, which is particularly valuable in avoiding costly errors or delays. For example, implementing advanced predictive maintenance techniques—using data analytics and machine learning algorithms—could forecast machinery failures before they happen, thus preventing unexpected breakdowns. Currently, the organization reacts mainly to issues once they manifest, which sometimes leads to production halts and increased costs.
Introducing a more robust feedforward control system would complement existing concurrent and feedback controls, creating a more comprehensive management approach. Predictive analytics could analyze historical performance data to identify trends indicating upcoming problems, allowing managers to schedule maintenance proactively. This proactive stance aligns with modern lean manufacturing principles seeking to eliminate waste and improve efficiency. Moreover, integrating supply chain forecasting tools can anticipate raw material shortages, preventing delays in production schedules and ensuring smoother operations.
In conclusion, while the current concurrent control system significantly enhances real-time monitoring and immediate responsiveness, augmenting it with predictive, feedforward controls would likely yield further operational improvements. Such integration would facilitate preemptive problem-solving, reduce downtime, and optimize resource utilization. As organizations grow increasingly complex and competitive, adopting a diversified control system strategy—combining feedforward, concurrent, and feedback controls—becomes essential for sustained success and continuous improvement.
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