Unit 1: Understanding Processes

• Choose a product that you use on a regular basis. Explain the product sufficiently so the rest of the class clearly understands it.
• Define the type of process (LB5-2) for your chosen product.
• Explain the inputs to that product and what transforms those inputs into your product.
• Explain the key elements of manufacturing routing, including inputs, outputs, controls, and resources.

Unit 2: Product Life Cycles

• Describe the 4 stages of the product life cycle for your product. Introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Seek to explain when it was introduced, how well it grew (or did not grow) in the market, if it is mature or not, and if it is declining. If it is not yet declining, what will force that to happen? In other words, if your product has not yet entered one or more of the stages, explain why it hasn't and when/why it may enter those stages.
• Explain what the company did (or might do) to adapt its operational capabilities based on the product life cycle. For example, a company selling a product near the end of the product life cycle will have reductions in all aspects of the related processes. Conversely, a company experiencing growth will likely have increases. Explain what that means for your product.

Unit 3: Manufacturing & Services Operations (M&SO)

• Differentiate between manufacturing and service operations, focusing on tangible vs intangible outputs.
• Explain the concepts of independent and dependent demand and their relevance in manufacturing.
• Discuss various production approaches: Engineer-to-order, make-to-order, assemble-to-order, and make-to-stock.
• Illustrate how manufacturing and service operations can be integrated to provide combined products and services.

Unit 4: Manufacturing and Service Quality

• Emphasize the critical role of quality in manufacturing and service organizations.
• Introduce concepts like Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma.
• Highlight the significance of quality in customer satisfaction and market competitiveness.

Conclusion:

• Summarize key take aways for the product you chose. What did you learn about the product that you didn't know beforehand as it relates to this supply chain learning block?