SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS - CRITICAL EVALUATION OF RELEVANT ISSUES

Systems and Operations - Critical Evaluation of Relevant Issues

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Current Operational Areas2

Facilities Driver7

Inventory Driver7

Transportation Driver8

Information Sharing8

Competitive Advantage of the Organization9

Organizational, Management and Technical Issues Surrounding the Information System12

MIE Trak Pro13

Ways That Contribute to Mitsubishi's Competitiveness and Strategic Direction14

Key Factors In the Competitive Advantage versus Necessary Cost Debate15

Effective Operational Decisions16

Analysis of Mitsubishi-Systems, Information and Business Process Perspectives18

Recommendations19

Conclusion20

References21

Systems and Operations- Critical Evaluation of Relevant Issues

Introduction

Every company in the global world is suffering from a cut throat competition and in order to survive in this competitive environment each company must strive hard to retain its employees. Developing an effective, competitive advantage requires:

Brand Management

Cost

Innovation

Quality

A company with a strong brand image can cope up with every challenge in the market. The coffee house, Starbucks, is an example of a strong brand management which has led the company to achieve long lasting advantage.

By cost, we can know the price strategy which can be lowered. Although, lowering the price also a lead to a low quality, but it is beneficial for a short time span. For example, Chinese mobile phones are available at low cost than Nokia or other brands (Slack et al. 2008: pp. 212-225).

Innovation means seeing things from a different perspective. Apple Computers is an important example for competitive advantage by continuously focusing on improved technology products. Since, the current market is suffering from strong competition, so it needs innovation and creativity. Along with innovation flexibility is also required so that whatever the requirement is the company can fulfil it in no time and cost (Sengir 2004: pp. 541-559).

A company, which focuses more on quality, can sustain for a long time. Any company, which manufactures good quality products for its customers and maintain its price range according to it can lead to the market easily. Pizza Hut as an example focuses on quality food because of which consumers highly demand it.

The selected company for the purpose of analysis is from the manufacturing industry, which is Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi Motors is primarily engaged in manufacturing and marketing of automobiles. The company manufactures passenger cars, mini-cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and performance cars. The company has global operations spanning North America, Japan, Europe and Asia. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and employs 31,003 people.

Current Operational Areas

Mitsubishi Motors manufactures and markets passenger vehicles and automotive components. The company manufactures small-sized passenger vehicles, mini-vehicles, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), vans, trucks and automobile parts, as well as industrial machines. The company operates through 57 subsidiaries and 21 equity affiliates. The company primarily operates in Japan and has its sales operations in around 160 countries across Asia, Europe and North America. The company primarily operates through two main business segments: automobiles and financial services (mitsubishi-motors.com).

Mitsubishi finds ways for better management of the supply chain systems by integrating and managing essential information elements into its Supply Chain Management, because the firms realize that this effective management is vital to the building and sustaining of the competitive advantage ...