Plant Tour Assignment
PLANT TOUR ASSIGNMENT (Term Value 20%)
You are required to research a manufacturing plant or service facility and prepare a Powerpoint presentation and a report. Powerpoint presentation to be uploaded onto Blackboard folder that Professor will create.
EVALUATION:
Your presentation will be judged on all aspects: content, quality of Powerpoint presentation, effective use of visuals.
MANDATORY CONDITIONS:
1. Only ONE group may visit the same facility or Industry/Service.
2. Please obtain the instructor’s approval prior to making your tour.
BASIC GUIDELINES:
1. Company Name and Location. (Fanny)
What is the physical size of the facility? How is this divided between office and plant?
How many people do they employ? State the name and title of the person who conducted your tour. If you are able, please obtain the tour guide’s business card.
The company name is Tesla. The size of the factory is almost 0.93 million square meters. The Factory is in Fremont California. Tesla currently employs more than 10,000 employees. The office and plant is divided
2. Main product or service: supplied by this company? (Fanny)
Who are their clients/customers?
3. If your tour is of a manufacturing plant: what type of manufacturing process is used? (job shop, batch flow, worker-paced line flow, machine-paced, continuous flow, hybrid, or other). (Jomar)
In tesla, we believe that there is more than one manufacturing process being used. Since Tesla is a company that creates electric automobiles, you would need to use machine-paced to create the different types of parts needed to assemble them into the final product. Parts such as doors, windows, batteries, etc. are the products that are being created within the machine-paced manufacturing process because without these parts, you wouldn’t be able to complete the car.
However, machine-paced isn’t the only manufacturing process being used within Tesla. There’s also the creation of automobiles which would need the involvement of workers causing there to be a work paced process as well. Although there are machines that can probably do the same things the employees can do, nobody will know the car better other than the staff creating it. So once the parts are made, the workers have to assemble the parts into the car, starting off with the actual car model. Then the employees can add the parts being created by machines and technology, with their own hands to be as precise and efficient as possible.
Finally, continuous flow is another process being used. Continuous flow can be seen over time with the creation of automobiles. Once all the parts are created, they are organized and ready to be of use by employees in use for the creation of the Tesla cars. And it continues onto the technical part within the car such as the programming causing there to be a continuous flow within the operation.
4. If your tour is of a service facility: what types of scheduling techniques are used to ensure the timely delivery of services to clients? (Ibadullah)
The operation managers at Tesla use automated scheduling techniques to ensure timely delivery of services to clients and minimize errors. Such a strategy also facilitates resource utilization in the plant, enhancing profitability and productivity. The automated scheduling technique allows customers to experience an easy delivery system with minimum inconveniences. Customers must review their deliveries online by signing into their Tesla account to confirm uploaded details. Such details include their delivery location, payment method, and registration. The scheduling technique further prompts the necessary personnel to contact customers to schedule a delivery appointment and update the Tesla account.
The most effective function of the scheduling technique is the need to verify pre-delivery documents through a customer’s tesla account. For instance, a customer must upload required documents and e-sign leasing or financing papers before delivery. The final function in the automated system includes a convenient Tesla global charging network, which allows customers to complete payments. Tesla also has a mobile app that enables customers to confirm their delivery once received and pay through the charging equipment. The automated scheduling technique maximizes efficiency, enhances customer experience, and addresses key issues, such as errors and delays.
5. Do a plant-layout for the facility indicating the location of various Departments and major equipment. (Research plant-layout in the library or internet prior to your tour). (Divaun)
6. Inventory Control Systems (Fanny): describe the inventory control system(s) in use and why the company selected the system(s) they use. Are they satisfied with the system in use or are they planning to make changes? Is their system manual or computerized?
The inventory control systems in use are purchasing, shipping, warehousing and storage. Tesla selected these system
They are satisfied with the system in use because
Tesla system
7. Quality Control: What procedures are used? Is S.P.C. (Statistical Process Control) used? Explain in some detail using appropriate exhibits. (Divaun)
8. Plant Maintenance Policy: Do they use a special procedure or simply “fix it when it breaks”? Describe in some detail and their reasoning for their policy. (Ibadullah)
Tesla values resource adequacy to ascertain efficient production capacity. Therefore, managers and engineers in the plant conduct regular monitoring through redundant processes to prevent unplanned machine failures and outrages. Monitoring further allows the company to increase its production process, especially when there are spikes in market demands. Tesla’s maintenance policy creates resilience in the company and fosters responsiveness in their productivity and delivery.
Tesla has the role of an equipment maintenance engineer responsible for designing the maintenance of procedures and tools. The equipment maintenance team (EMT) further works on specific machine designs and deploys new processes and equipment to facilitate productivity in the plant. The team’s responsibilities include overseeing, initiating, and providing maintenance strategy activities and improvement options. They also predict outrages and take necessary actions to sustain productivity. The equipment maintenance engineer also works with the team to conduct predictive maintenance and establish performance indicators related to management needs. The strategy to engage cross-function groups in the planning and implementation process allows engineers to optimize product flow at Tesla and sustain industrial production throughout the year.
Tesla believes that conducting critical, regular, and preventative measures for old and new equipment will increase resilience and efficiency. Therefore, the engineer and the EMK identify and advocate continuous improvement programs to reduce costs and outrages in the firm. They also utilize their electrical and mechanical knowledge to predict possible failures and establish maintenance schedules proactively. Maintaining tools and spare parts instead of fixing them when broken ensures constant availability during work hours. Tesla’s maintenance policy of resource adequacy through routine monitoring increases productivity and efficiency in the plant.
9. Ergonomics: What is done to make the manufacturing plant or service delivery equipment “people-friendly for the employees of the firm you are touring? Ensure that you understand exactly what Ergonomics is. (Jomar)
In Tesla, every employee is expected to work to the best of their abilities since they are one of the highest selling companies for automobiles. So, to make Tesla “people-friendly towards the employees, there would obviously be appraisal towards them to make them feel like they succeeded in their jobs. The management at Tesla continues to be innovative each and every day causing the workers to work efficiently and effectively at all times to create the best products they can for their consumers. Furthermore, at Tesla it is said they do their best to create safe and effective gear to allow employees to come into work without the worry of potentially being harmed because at Tesla, they strive to be one of the safest working factories for its current and future employees while achieving company success.
10. Unexpected: What did you learn from the tour that you did NOT expect?
11. Problems/recommendations: Based on all the information you have compiled, what problems does this company appear to have regarding the Operations Management side of their company?
What are your recommendations for improvement?
REPORT:
(8-10 pages in length).
Answer each of the 11 questions above. On average, each question will be one double-spaced page. Report to be uploaded to Blackboard on the due date.
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