Question :

a) The major concern of a production manager is to determine when to produce and how much to produce. It involves all the processes such as how much to procure, management of resources, equipment utilization, facility utilization, distribution mechanisms, maintaining effective employee schedules and safe work environment etc.

The Production manager needs also to be proactive on his part to keep pace with the changing technology in the market. He has to make decisions such as outsourcing of resources in the peak demand, maintaining healthy relationships with the suppliers and to ensure uninterrupted supply of finished goods to the distributors.

(i) Using the basic function of management, explain how the production manager would achieve his goal to effectively manage his production line.

(ii) Explain also how he should re-think his strategies to meet competition; keep pace with technology and ensure healthy relationship with suppliers to achieve higher efficiency.

b) In today's world, it is not enough for an organization to just maintain good products and good people. These need to be supported by an underlying culture which demonstrates and reinforces the principles that the organization is founded upon.

Explain how organizational cultures are created and maintained to preserve the mission and the standards of an organization.