Case Study of Latino Engineering Company-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Case Study of Latino Engineering Company. Answer: Introduction Latino Engineering company is facing a plethora of problems most of which can be attributed to change of proprietorship. Changing the organization ahead ushered in a radical change in the modus operandi since the decision-making system was no longer on one individuals shoulders. Apparently, when Dominic Latino was in charge be used to be the sole decision maker in the company thus all actions were prompt and swift. He also enjoyed a better working relationship with his workers no wonders the exceptional efficiency that was being recorded by the company at the time. Naturally, he was passionate about his enterprise since he loved designing and developing engineering equipment. Therefore, he did not need extrinsic motivation to perform his duties better. For him, job excellence was the first priority. However, since the change of ownership, the company has experienced a turn for the worst in fortunes with clients raising numerous complaints about the services they receive. This calls f or an argent address of the problems failure to which the company will lose its invaluable market share (Limwichitr, Broady-Preston and Ellis, 2015. P.480) This paper will examine the root cause of the problem using the appropriate tools and recommend the way forward to achieving continuous quality improvement. Its aim is to provide the way forward for the company. I will apply the total quality management approach since it is more suited to the context of the company than any other methodology. This is because it caters to customer needs, the involvement of all organizational employees, it is process centered, strategic approach to organizational efficiency among many others. In totality, the total quality management approach is focused on ensuring customer satisfaction (Paliska, Pavletic and Sokovic, 2017, P 80). Strategies to Detecting the Problem Use of tools and Techniques To being with, to detect the source of the problem in the organization needs to apply the fittest tools if the problem is to be correctly identified. For the case on point, the 7QCs tools are the most appropriate. The entail, the Pareto diagram, check sheet, the Scanner plot, the control chart, cause, and effect as well as the histogram. Choosing the correct tools is essential in identifying the problem and will lead to choosing the beats way to arrest it. I chose cause and effect and the Pareto diagram as the best tools to detect Latino Companys problems (Doggett, 2015. P.34) Pareto diagram Despite the fact the remaining six tools are equally effective, the Pareto diagram seems to me to be the most applicable tool. Its application entails arranging elements in a decreasing order in order to find out how each leads to the problem. This approach is normally used o detect a problem and subsequently coming up with a way forward to solving it. In the context of the Latino Engineering Company, the Pareto tool can be applied as follows. Change of proprietorship. This can be seen from the case that Dominic Latino-its owner-who founded it decided to sell it. Until this time the company was doing exceptionally well since he was the sole decision maker and he always aimed at achieving the best performance all the time (Limwichitr, Broady-Preston and Ellis, 2015. P.480) Deteriorating quality. After the takeover, the quality of the designs started deteriorating. The equipment became defective. Apparently, those in charge of the designs were no longer living up to the standards that Mr. Latino had set. This was huge blow to the enterprise as well as the customers since they started complaining (Paliska, Pavletic and Sokovic, 2017, P 80). Poor links with customers. Initially, the clientele used to enjoy a healthy working relationship with the companys administration. This was no longer the case after the new investment company took over. The high-quality services that they were accustomed to were a thing of the past with longer lead times as well a sluggish response system, a nonresponsive customer care department and also, sometimes packing of wrong equipment and designs (Tannock, Krasachol and Ruangpermpool, 2012 P. 385). Fundamentally, change of proprietorship is a normal aspect in the corporate world and it can be done for various reasons. For the Latino Engineering Company the decision to sell by done individually by the owner which was within his discretion. This change of guard cannot be deemed to be a wrong action for any business enterprise. However, the problem majorly is on the side of the new management because, since the takeover, they have not recorded anything positive apart from dwindling outcomes in terms of the companys economic fortunes. Therefore, it can be concluded that the new administration-Investment Group- is the root cause of all problems that are bedeviling the enterprise at the moment (Tannock, Krasachol and Ruangpermpool, 2012 P. 385). When he was in charge, he met the customer demands by guaranteeing excellent services thus enabling the company to enjoy increased patronage and an ever-expanding customer base. However, this situation turned for the worst after the new investors took over and the clientele was no longer content with what they received as services. Despite the fact that the new owners decided to retain the workforce for the sake of continuity, the management was no longer achieving the same level of efficiency that Latino used to. Also, there could a possibility that the new employees are to up to task since they do not possess the right competencies to deliver high-quality services. This could be particularly by poor practices by the human resource department which recruits an underqualified employee and thus the substandard products and services (Doggett, 2015. P.34). It is difficult to understand how the same workforce that propelled the company to unprecedented heights of economic excellence can underperform unless they are least motivated to perform their duties. Also, there could be an element of sabotage from the staff since under no circumstances that wrong equipment can be packaged for wrong destinations unless the same was done deliberately or whoever is in charge of that department does not understand their duties fully. This is a big letdown by the sales departments. Essentially, there needs to be a radical examination into the competencies of each employee to so that the underqualified ones can be weeded out. This will also enable the company to replace the rogue elements with better staff members that can help restore the companys lost glory (Limwichitr, Broady-Preston and Ellis, 2015. P.480) There is a big mess at the customer relations department. Been nonresponsive is akin to disrespecting the clientele who are the most important part of the organizations prosperity measures. This is likely to push them into the companys main rivals which will be a huge blow to any chance of it mounting serious competition in the market as well as retaining its huge market share that it used to enjoy (Tannock, Krasachol and Ruangpermpool, 2012 P. 385). From the organization, critical stakeholders perspective, catering for their needs is paramount if it harbors feelings about being prosperous both in the present and the future. However, with the current state of affairs, there is need to be concern that the company is headed towards the wrong direction (Magar, and Shinde, 2014.P. 371). Cause-effect diagram This is an element that is used to link feasible causes and their symptoms. This is helpful since it enables examiners to relate to the observable features of a problem and their causes. Relative to Latino Engineering Company, the problem is the takeover by the Investment Group and the results are the dwindling fortunes that are being experienced at the moment. Regarding this problem, this tool is more concerned with what led to the problem. Firstly, the problem is brought about by a process within the organization. This process has results and effects to the companys overall performance. For this case, this the defective equipment and inadequate administration are the major causes for the problem. Also, the defective equipment interfered with the quality of the services delivered. This made the process to be worn. The employees are also to blame for failing to detect the defective equipment and going ahead to apply the wrong equipment for various organizational processes. With this in mind, it will be easy to say that the administration has been part of the problem by failing to ring changes to departments that have recorded minimal results. Some mistakes like a poor response to customers can only be blamed on an administration that does not mind about its overall efficiency. Also, the company ought to have set standards that all performance should be measured against. This should have provided the perfect benchmark and reflection on all activities so that they are I line with overall organizational efficiency. By so doing it would have been easy to detect the problems early. Plan on how to eliminate the Root Causes As mentioned above, the total quality management is the perfect masterpiece to eliminate all the problems bedeviling the organization. Apparently, customers are at the heart of any quality improvement strategy since they are the ones that patronize the company. The following is a layout of how the approach will be used to help Latino Engineering Company to overcome performance problems (Limwichitr, Broady-Preston and Ellis, 2015. P.480) Focus on customers. Naturally, it is the desire of any organization to satisfy its customers fully. The company is no exception and it has to work round the clock to ensure that it restores customers confidence. This will entail training the workforce on the essentials of the operations, integrating quality into the design processes, something that has been lacking recently, upgrading the computer systems, acquiring new design and measuring tools as well as ensuring that all activities are in tandem with the overall organization's ambitions. Such an upgrade will require cooperation from all departments as well as worker participation. Everything that is to be implemented should aim at making the clientele believe that what they are receiving is the best there is in the market, to prevent them from moving to the companys competitors (Magar, and Shinde, 2014.P. 371). Involving all employees All operations within the company are meant to achieve the premeditated objectives and ambitions. This calls for all employees to pull towards one direction. For them to do so, the company will have to roll out employee empowerment programs that are meant to make hem feel comfortable at their job responsibilities thus enhancing their job satisfaction. Also, Latino Engineering Company will have to foster a better working environment where employees feel free to express themselves. Apparently, this could be the same reason as to why they are not airing their reservations hence reverting to sabotaging the companys critical functions. The enterprise should at all times strive to make them feel appreciated through better remuneration and better working relationships with their peers as well as seniors. The firm should develop self-managed teams as a way of motivating employees to be self-reliant ad sufficient (Magar, and Shinde, 2014.P. 371). Enhancing Process Centered Operations. This entails a lot of process thinking. Apparently, as identified above, the major organizational processes have failed to hit the minimum threshold that is required for excellent performance thus calling for the prevailing condition to be through revised. Starting now, all responsibilities will be defined and all achievements and performance measures against a benchmark. There will be a detection system that will be used to monitor all organizational activities such that in case one strays out of line the necessary corrective measures are put into place. This should serve to check undesired variation from the main course thus helping the company to overcome possibilities of plunging into dungeons of underperformance just like it is the case at the moment. Integrated System In this context, the TQM will emphasize on the horizontal functions that interconnect all organizational operations as being central to quality improvement. This practice will make sure that not even a small function is left unattended to since it might fester and eventually push the company out of balance in the near future (Limwichitr, Broady-Preston and Ellis, 2015. P.480) Systematic and Strategic Approach This caters for the companys mission and vision as well several ambitions. This entails coming with an elaborate system and strategy to addresses any observable inconsistency within the company. For the case on point, this will entail, redesigning the manufacturing process, to incorporate customer demands, increasing the efficiency of the customer relations departments as well as polishing the marketing department. All these functions seem to be ineffective at the moment thus leading to the underperformance that is being experienced. A strategic and systematic approach will ensure that the company correctly identifies its dimensions that are wanting and apply the most appropriate mechanisms to arrest the problem (Magar, and Shinde, 2014.P. 371). Continual Quality Improvement plan Once the weak areas have been identified, the role of the company should now switch to make sure that the quality of its service on a continual basis. This will entail analyzing into ways of recovering and maintain its competitive advantage. On the face of it, the company needs to rediscover its former exploits by ensuring that it is always on top of its game. In this way, its competitors will not have a significant impact on its operations. Enhancing a Fact-Based Decision-Making System. This is more or less the same as being pragmatic with the prevailing conditions. The company will have to install a mechanism that collects data regarding its performance. This will make the decision-making process to be accurate, able to reach consensus, thus easy prediction on the future outlook of all aspects. This is very important since it will enable the company to know what to implement as preventive measures to any problem that it anticipates. Adopting an Efficient Communication Mechanism. Communication is key for any ambitious organization. This is because it engenders a better workplace culture and also effective in making decisions. All workers will be motivated to do their duties if they are well informed on what is expected of them. Seemingly, after the change of ownership, the flow of information within the company has been unreliable. No wonder there are simple problems that ought to have been corrected once detected but are still present. All these principles of the total quality management approach will help Latino Engineering Company to realize its once revered glory and also develop further. They are all based on prioritizing customer demands as well as ensuring that the firm is abreast with the latest trends that dictate production and organizational excellence. Continuous Improvement (CI) Plan The continuous improvement plan will entail fundamental activities the will ensure that all departments are in line with the overall ambition. With due consideration of the total quality management approach, the following are the steps that will be undertaken to keep the company in line with market realities Poti Diagram Quality management. This is more concerned with ensuring that all products and services are designed with the best quality possible. To realize this, the company will continuously revive the production process, install the latest designs and also have a benchmark that will indicate whether it is on track or not, in this way will know where it is going wrong and how to correct V The human resource management. Employees are an important part of any organization inclusive of Latino engineering. This call for the companys HR function to continuously advice its workforce on the best practices, train them where necessary as well as provide them with the necessary incentives to prosper in their work. Proper remuneration, job appraisals, and promotions will be important since they will be encouraged to work harder and smarter for them to merit promotion. This function holds the key to the company return to winning ways since a motivated workforce will require little supervision. Just like they were in the past, they will work tirelessly to better their company is they are motivated to their duties. Cultivating a culture of efficient communication. The company will at all times has a free communication policy in which all employees and senior staff will exchange information when necessary. A breakdown in the communication chain has proved costly to the company since the subordinates no longer feel free to air their grievances. The apparent top-down sort of communication chain that is characteristic of the enterprise at the moment will only hurt it in the near future (Limwichitr, Broady-Preston and Ellis, 2015. P.480) Conclusion The Latino Engineering company has in the past been a role model for upcoming companies in the sense that its administration was elaborate and an example of how an efficient administrative framework can project a company to unprecedented achievements. Unfortunately, this is not the case at the moment since many of its dimensions changed the moment Dominic Latino sold. 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