ABC Manufacturing is a well$-$established company that specializes in producing high$-$quality industrial components. Over the years, they have earned a reputation for reliability and customer satisfaction. However, with the changing market trends and increased competition, ABC Manufacturing is under pressure to improve its operational efficiency and productivity to stay ahead of the competition.Currently, ABC Manufacturing's operations are characterized by traditional manufacturing practices, including batch production, functional silos, and a centralized decision$-$making structure. While these methods have served the company well in the past, they have become less effective in today's dynamic and competitive market.Objectives ABC Manufacturing has set the following objectives to improve its operations:$1.$ Reduce Inventory Levels: To decrease storage costs and improve cash flow, the company aims to minimize inventory levels$\mathrm{.}2.$ Optimize Production Planning: ABC Manufacturing plans to implement efficient production planning and scheduling techniques to reduce bottlenecks and delays$\mathrm{.}3.$ Enhance Employee Engagement: The company aims to foster a culture of employee engagement to boost morale, productivity, and innovation$\mathrm{.}4.$ Accelerate Technology Adoption: ABC Manufacturing plans to embrace new technologies and automate processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs.ChallengesABC Manufacturing faces several challenges in improving its operations and productivity:$1.$ Inventory Management: The company's inventory levels are often high, leading to increased storage costs and a risk of obsolescence$\mathrm{.}2.$ Production Planning: Production planning and scheduling are not optimized, resulting in bottlenecks and delays$\mathrm{.}3.$ Employee Engagement: Employee morale and engagement are relatively low, hindering productivity and innovation$\mathrm{.}4.$ Technology Adoption: The company's adoption of new technologies has been slow, limiting its ability to automate processes and improve efficiency. Discussion Questions $1.$ Analyze the current operations management practices at ABC Manufacturing and identify the key areas for improvement$\mathrm{.}2.$ Recommend specific operational changes and technological advancements to address the company's challenges and achieve its objectives$\mathrm{.}3.$ Develop a plan to measure and track the impact of operational improvements on key performance indicators such as inventory levels, production lead times, employee productivity, and customer satisfaction.