Amazing Production Video
Hailing from Sunderland, I do have an affinity for the Nissan car plant which is one of the most efficient in the world.
I found this incredible video which shows the building of the Qashqai from start to finish (squeezed into just over 7 minutes).
Not only that, it covers issues such as labour productivity, quality control, value added etc. Perfect for developing students skills of analysis.
Also ideal for BUSS2 when delivering the use of technology in operations.
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(5/5), based on 1 review
AQA BUSS4 Section B Practice Question - Dyson
During 2002 and 2003, entrepreneur Sir James Dyson transferred all of his business’ manufacturing activities to factories located close to hsi firm’s main suppliers in Malaysia. The decision resulted in the loss of over 800 jobs in the UK. However, the research & development activities of the business remained in the UK along with sales and marketing functions supporting the growing global brand. The decision seems to have paid off for Sir James. He controls the bulk of shares in his main holding company, which is unquoted and highly profitable and his net worth is valued at more than £500m by rich list compilers.
To what extent should strategic decision-making be mainly determined by the interests of shareholders rather than the broader range of stakeholders. Justify your answer with reference to Dyson or other businesses that you know. (40 marks).
read more...»Beating the import threat - luxury furniture
I came across this super short case study in the FT (Oct 09) which is a great example to use to illustrate one strategy of dealing with cheap imports....
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(4/5), based on 1 review
Innovation & Protecting a Business Idea - Classroom Video
A huge hat tip to Angela Aldridge for suggesting this terrific short video clip on the process of invention and innovation at Dyson. This has to be one of the most useful videos you’ll ever have as a lesson starter on product innovation....
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Q&A - What are the main causes of unemployment?
The causes of unemployment can be described under four main categories:
- Seasonal unemployment
- Frictional unemployment
- Structural unemployment
- Cyclical unemployment
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Economist on Lean Production
I spotted this brief overview of lean production techniques in the Economist - it might be a useful handout for students wanting to understand more about the potential benefits of lean manufacturing.
Here is the link: Lean production
When the Steel Town Boomed
A fascinating 4 minute journey into the history of steel-making from Panorama…
read more...»Are we motoring towards electric avenue?
From the gloom of the multinational car industry comes this fascinating and encouraging article about the rapid developments in the electric car industry…
read more...»Video case study - LG moves away from mass production
A simply fantastic video clip explains how consumer products giant LG is moving to smarter, more flexible manufacturing processes as part of its strategy to address the substantial downturn in demand for consumer electronics. Great footage of the production process; excellent examples of quality assurance and relevant too for students learning about why reducing stocks (working capital) is important in managing cash flow. High recommended.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
AIG ends Manchester United sponsorship deal
What are your personal experiences of the credit crunch? For a while, most of us have remained unaffected and watched the stories unfolding without much of a sense of involvement.
That’s all beginning to change now. You don’t have to be selling a house or running a business to notice how things are getting tough. I hope you aren’t affected by unemployment yet or live in a place where the High Street is sprouting lots of empty shop units.
read more...»Video Case Study - Export Success for Mining Tools Manufacturer
You might think that a UK manufacturing business that specialises in the mining industry would be struggling to survive. But here is an uplifting profile of a business that has successfully exploited export markets to both survive and now prosper. An excellent example of how investing in export markets and specialising in a niche can be a profitable business strategy.
Download student worksheet (pdf) and video link
Dont believe everything you read in the business papers…
On the face of it, this story looks like a great case study to use with business students. The last television factory in the UK is closing down in the face of competition from imported televisions and the rapid face of technological change. But wait! Is there a twist in the tale?
read more...»A Devastating Blow for the Irish Economy
Dell’s decision to close its manufacturing capacity in Limerick and transfer production to a low-cost location in Lodz in Poland will come as a severe blow to the Irish economy....
read more...»Profits from protection - a great example of entrepreneurial skill
A fascinating, though brief article in The Sunday Times today about a Yorkshire entrepreneur who has created a stunning success story with a product much in demand in some of the most dangerous places on earth…
read more...»High oil prices encourage supply-chain re-think
With crude oil prices remaining at or around $140 per barrel and transportation costs soaring, global businesses are having to take a long hard look at their supply-chains - how they get their products to market. The Financial Times carried this good piece on changes at a true industrial giant Proctor and Gamble.
“Soaring energy prices are forcing Procter & Gamble to rethink how it distributes its products, with the world’s biggest consumer goods company shifting manufacturing sites closer to consumers to cut its transport bill.”
The rest of the article is here - when reading it try to find three examples of how the business is looking to absorb the effects of the steep rise in shipping costs.
Avoiding the risks that lead to shattered lives
I was in the tutor2u food manufacturing division (my kitchen) stirring some delicious home-made bacon broth when a piece on tonight’s Five Live news caught my attention. It featured a representative from the Health & Safety executive discussing new legal requirements for business owners and led onto a discussion about how complying with health and safety legislation actually generates a good return on investment for a business.
read more...»More evidence of rising raw materials costs affecting profit margins
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A recurring theme of business news stories from the UK and abroad is the impact of rising raw material costs on the profitability of manufacturers. There was another good example today when food supplier Uniq announced its latest results
read more...»Capacity utilisation in focus as the credit crunch tightens
Every day brings bad economic and business news from the US economy as the implications of the credit crunch take effect. Here is an example of a major manufacturing business taking pre-emptive action to reduce capacity in the face of falling sales.
read more...»Fudges finds its niche
Here is a great example of a food manufacturing business that has reinvented itself to successfully exploit a niche for luxury food products. The video link would make a great lesson starter resource and there is lots of business studies content that can be drawn out through discussion and further research.
read more...»Lean manufacturing - BBC In Business
Peter Day’s superb In Business radio programme has what promises to be a really useful feature on applying the ideas and philosophy of lean manufacturing into the service industries that now dominate the economy. Well worth recording for AS & A2 students.
read more...»Lego’s Renaissance
Named as the toy of the century, Lego has been around for fifty years but faces huge competition from toy manufacturers around the world. Seven Lego sets are sold each second. On average there are 62 Lego bricks for every person on earth. With a production of about 306 million tyres a year, the Lego Group is the world’s largest tyre manufacturer. Nearly 400 billion Lego elements have been manufactured since 1949. The Sunday Telegraph has a really good article on the renaissance of the Danish business Lego - the world’s fifthlargest toy manufacturer.
