Introduction
Welcome to this guide tailored for SMEs. Dive deep into understanding, planning, and executing operational strategies to guide your business toward excellence.
Table of Contents
Understanding Core Operations
Operational Strategy Development
Structured Steps for Operations Improvements
Operations Techniques
Wrapping Up with Recommendations
1. Understanding Core Operations Strategies
Inventory Analysis: This involves a thorough inspection of company procedures, tools, and infrastructure. You’ll assess how resources are allocated, how stock is managed, and how product lines are determined.
Team Dynamics: This delves into the people aspect. Learn about your core operational personnel, their roles, and how they collaborate. Find the leaders, the innovators, and the reliable constants.
Spotting Hurdles: Every operation has its challenges. Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, or outdated methods that are slowing down productivity or increasing costs.
Workflow Mapping: Visualize the flow of tasks and projects. Understand every step, sequence, and checkpoint in your operations, from product ideation to after-sales service.
Resource Allocation: Examine how your company's resources - human, financial, technological, or physical - are being utilized. Identify any potential mismatches, gaps, or over-allocations to ensure maximum efficiency.
Customer and Supplier Interfaces: Go beyond your company’s boundaries. Evaluate how you interact with external entities, from procurement processes with suppliers to feedback mechanisms with customers.
