Organizational Behavior and Leadership Essay

Effective Communication: Partnership in Italy. The given case is about effective communication. In the case, Melissa Chang who is handling all sorts of sourcing activities at the company, she is asked to travel to Venice, Italy to meet her company’s partnering company. She is asked to travel for solving the issues that has made a bad impression of her company towards the partnering company. As before also Melissa’s colleagues cancelled their trip to Moscow at the last minute which hampered their relationship with other partners and their company’s performance looked bad. So it is a very important meeting for Melissa as their partnering company in Italy had several times requested for the information to be provided to them but it was not done. So Melissa had to travel to Italy to understand what are the causes that is affecting the company’s relations with their partnering company. Review/Analysis of the Case Analysis of Findings The case is related to Melissa Chang who is travelling to Italy to meet the partnering company to solve the misunderstanding between her company and partnering company. The discussions and questions are being done while meeting with the partnering company in Italy. But with the effective communication, Melissa is able to answer all questions consciously listening to the issues/ queries from the partnering company. Hence Melissa is successful in making the meeting very productive and planning for future plans with the partnering company. Melissa’s communication skills and convincing them with providing the actual information accurately made the partnering company rethink and reassure to continue work for further more. For example, Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. is the major leading company in Nepal which produces several products. Surya Nepal’s partnering company is ITC India which is among the top companies in India. ITC has been working with Surya Nepal for more than 2 decades and their relation had been very good. Last year, Surya Nepal took the contract of producing 20000 pcs of Tshirts within 60 days. Surya Nepal completed the production in about 70 days. So they were 10 days late. Surya Nepal did not provide full information to ITC why the production was late. And when ITC called up for a meeting, Surya Nepal provided ITC with full information about the issues that arise while performing the tasks. Surya Nepal answered to all the questions asked by ITC. After that only ITC was convinced with Surya Nepal. Question 1: Melissa’s communication style Melissa travelled to Italy to meet her company’s partnering company to settle down several issues that has arise and caused a bad impression of her company. Melissa needed to do her job with full responsibility and get more work out of Italian partners. If things did not get cleared up quickly, they could lose the partnership. Melissa rather solving the issues through phone calls, mailings and sending other personnel to meet Italian partners, she herself went to attend the meeting. Since Melissa’s colleagues in the past had cancelled their meeting to Moscow at the last minute which hampered their company. So she was looking forward for the meeting. When she reached to Italy, she was nervous that the language barrier would make the problems more complicated. But her choice of communication to interact with Italian partners proved to be the right choice to solve the issues. She used the direct communication i.e. face to face interaction which made her realize Italian part ner’s frustration. This communication was an effective move to help Melissa interact well with the Italian partners and know more about them and their products as well as the problems. In the first day of the meeting, she found the internal issues such as not providing of information from US partners. And Melissa answered all their questions and explained the business process in US. She listened to the issues of the Italian partners and understand the feelings of their accurately. And at the second day, her communication skill was so effective that the behavior of Italian partners changed and they were much warmer and willing to sit down and discuss  details of work. So her response to the feelings of the Italian partners helped her analyze the situation properly. Melissa’s also noted down Italian partner’s cues or issues and answering correctly to the partner’s efficiently. Mainly the active listening of Melissa helped her answer thoroughly. Melissa established rapport towards the partners which effectively communicate to help them feel comfortable. So Melissa’s communication style impacted the performance of the Italian partners which we can see in the case that Italian partners projected plan for the next fiscal year and also a formal dinner in her honor was arranged. Italian partners also praise Melissa for her quick actions and decisiveness. Question 2: Primary source of information to Melissa’s visit The primary sources of information prior to Melissa’s visit to Italy was the establishment of effective communication in between the Italian partners and her company in order to solve the issues. Italian partners requested several times for information to Melissa’s colleagues but it was not fulfilled. So to tackle the communication barriers in between the two partnering companies is the primary source to Melissa’s visit to Italy. The act of removing the distance relationships of two companies is the main visit of Melissa. To find out what were the major concerns of Italian partners towards the US based company and knowing of their views, ideas of continuing the business or not was a real challenge which forced Melissa to visit Italy and meet Italian partners. Question 3: Primary source of information after Melissa’s visit Melissa attended the important meeting with Italian partners to analyze the situation very tactfully and skillfully by applying appropriate communication with them. After her visit to Italy, at the US, she will be holding a meeting for all the office staffs and personnel where she will be discussing about the causes, effects and productive views in between the two companies. First of all she will be discussing why all office staffs and personnel did not provide Italian partners with prior information regarding the product and its development as Italian partners were keen on knowing the development of the products. Secondly, the view of company adding that language barrier affecting their relations is unbelievable since Melissa  went to Italy, interacted well with the partners and shared each other thoughts which brought two of them into a productive planning for further fiscal year. Most importantly, Melissa will be saying that she was successful in building effective communication by providing exact information and listening to their views and answering them with very accurately are the primary sources of information that will be after Melissa’s visit. Question 4: Melissa’s change in attitude in dealing with Italian partners Before Melissa’s visit to Italy, she was nervous that she would not be able to face the Italian partners. Since the meeting was going to be at Venice, Italy, without major business standards of her company she was afraid of attending meeting. Also the thought of language barrier was taken as a major issue for not attending the meeting. But this all was just views, opinions of others. When Melissa visited Italian partners then she instantly noticed their feelings while attempting to face to face interaction. She came to know what difficulties Italian partners were having by not receiving the actual information. She changed her view of Italian partners as how Italian partners would be reacting. She answered all the queries asked by Italian partners with actual detailed information. This changed the behavior of Italian partners thought of US based company. Italian partners were very much impressed by Melissa’s style of communicating. This helped both to sit down and settle down the problems with building of effective communication. The meeting got very productive as further fiscal planning was planned. When this was done, Italian partners arranged a dinner in Melissa’s honor to praise her for the quick actions and decisiveness she demonstrated during the meeting, also her listening skills to relate their business needs was excellent. So this made Melissa to think that she did right thing of planning to visit Italian partners by her own and come with some productive news. So this changed Melissa’s change in attitude about dealing with the Italian partners. Summary and Conclusion After analyzing the case, it seems that Melissa Chang was successful in utilizing the right communication style. The choice of transactional model of communication by Melissa, that includes the direct interaction with the  Italian partners helped her understand the real problem issues and bring out the best possible ways to solve that issues. Face to face communication helped Melissa to understand the feelings of the Italian partners. The process of noting down their cues by Melissa and responding to their cues helped to change the behavior of the Italian partners. So Melissa was successful in making the meeting productive, solving the issues and making relationship greater. Melissa was praised by the Italian partners and arranged a formal dinner in her honor. So this proves that her performance and effective communication impacted the Italian partners so much that a projected planning for the next fiscal year was also planned at the same meeting. Reference Adhikari, Dev Raj (2009) Organizational Behavior Hersey and Blanchard (2008) Management of Organizational Behavior

Supply and Demand Simulation Paper

Supply and Demand Simulation Paper Free Online Research Papers The cause of aggregate supply and aggregate demand in the simulation could be conclusive due to the volume of apartment rental services available in Atlantis economy at a given overall price level. The rising prices of apartments in comparison due to a monopolized market in Atlantis suggests for Goodlife Management to expand their services to meet a higher level of aggregate demand. They are the only management company in Atlantis that are renting apartment, except for Oakridge Builders who were rent detached homes, and most of the residents in Atlantis probably could not afford to rent homes. An increase in demand of affordable apartments should lead to an expansion of aggregate supply in the economy. However, aggregate supply could also be determined by the supply performance available based on the current economy, therefore, reflecting the productivity of the economy and the cost of frequent available apartments. Due to the overall increase of apartments, and eventually condominiums services provided by Goodlife Management in a span of nine years, helped shift the aggregate demands. Oakridge Builders started making their properties slightly affordable, which sparked a competition in the housing market, and shifted the demands slightly over to detached homes and decreased the rental properties of Goodlife Managements. This aggregated shift during the rental period forced Goodlife Management in turning some of their two bedroom apartments into condominiums to compete in the market. The competitive market of supply and demand forced Goodlife Management in their decision-making to adjust to the rising market by lowering some of their apartments to bring in more tenants. Goodlife Management had to adjust because they had a surplus of available apartments that were not occupied, and their rent was high, which affected the demands of apartments being rented due to their rising prices. The four key points that the reading and simulation highlighted were aggregate supply, aggregate demand, supply curve, and equilibrium. The fisrt two has already been explained in paragraphs one and two. The last two are supply curve and equilibrium, which will be explained accordingly. According to Investopedia, a Forbes Media Company, supply curve is basically a graph showing the hypothetical supply of a product or service that would be available at different price points (Investopedia, 2008, p.1), which can cause an upward slope, since higher prices gives businesses an incentive to supply more in the hope of making greater revenues (Investopedia, 2008, p.3). Equilibrium or economic equilibrium according Jess Benhabib of the Princeton University Press, is simply a state of the world where economic forces are balanced and in the absence of outside influences the values of economic variables will not fluctuate (2007, p.488). The impact of aggregate supply and demand changes can influences an automotive industry severely. The balance in the automotive market can maintain at the same level as long as outside influences such as gas prices and consumer spending are eliminated in the automotive market equation. However, if these forces are implemented in the economical equation, then the market prices will rise due to consumer spending because it reflects a growing economy, or the market prices will fall due to increase of gas prices. An example is the severe price drops in Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) within the last eight years. In the nineties, the demand for (SUVs) were high, which caused the prices of (SUVs) to be in the $40,000 range, now (SUVs) are in $20,000 to $30,000 range, which is about a $10,000 difference a decade ago. The outside influence of gas, emissions, and global warming forced automobile manufacturers to start building mid-size and emission efficient (SUVs) and made it affordable to the public. Cost of SUV Illustration: | | * | |$40k * | * | | * $30k * | * | $20k * | | * | $10k | | | |$0k_____________________________________________ 0Yrs 90 95 00 05 10 In summary, according to the simulation process, the demand curve is sloping downward, which causes the quantity demand to increase as the price decreases. The suggestion was for Goodlife Management to reduce its rental rates, in turn increasing its demands for apartment rentals. In retrospect, the supply curve is upward sloping, and quantity supplied increases as the price decreases. An increase in rental rates would cause Goodlife Management to lease out more apartments. Quantity demands balances out quantity supplies only at the equilibrium point. However, when prices are below equilibrium, the quantity demands exceeds the quantity supplies, which in turn causes a shortage in the housing market. In opposition, when prices are above equilibrium, quantity supplies surpass the quantity demands, which cause a surplus in the market. Adjustments in the market will only level off when equilibrium is properly attained. References Benhabib, J. (2007). Princeton University Press: Cyles and chaos in economic equilibrium. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from http://press.princeton.edu/titles/4958.html. Investopedia. (2008). Investopedia: Economics basics of supply and demand. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from investopedia.com/university/economics/economics3.asp Research Papers on Supply and Demand Simulation PaperAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of IndiaTwilight of the UAWMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2The Project Managment Office System

Information and Facts About Elephant Babies

Information and Facts About Elephant Babies Elephants are interesting animals. Their size is awesome, and their strength is incredible. They are intelligent and affectionate beings. Amazingly, even with their large size, they can walk silently. You might not even notice them passing by! Fast Facts: Baby Elephants Gestation period: 18 - 22 monthsBirth weight: about 250 poundsHeight: about 3 feet tallAbout 99% of calves are born at nightCalves are born with curly black or red hair on their foreheadsCalves drink about 3 gallons of milk a day Facts About Baby Elephants A baby elephant is called a calf. It weighs about 250 pounds at birth and stands about three feet tall. Calves cant see very well at first, but they can recognize their mothers by touch, scent, and sound. Baby elephants stay very close to their mothers for the first couple of months. The calves drink their mothers milk for about two years, sometimes longer. They drink up to 3 gallons of milk a day!  At about four months old, they also begin eating some plants, like adult elephants, but they continue to need as much milk from their mother. They keep drinking milk for up to ten years! At first, baby elephants dont really know what to do with their trunks. They swing them to and fro and sometimes even step on them. They will suck their trunk just as a human baby might suck its thumb. By about 6 to 8 months, calves begin learning to use their trunks to eat and drink. By the time they are a year old, they can control their trunks pretty well and, like adult elephants,  use their trunks for grasping,  eating, drinking, bathing. Female elephants stay with the herd for life, while males leave to begin a solitary life  at about 12 to 14 years of age. Elephant Babies Coloring Page (Print the PDF): Color this picture while you review the facts youve learned.   Species of Elephants For many years scientists thought that there were two different species of elephants:  Asian elephants and African elephants. However, in 2000, they began classifying African elephants into two distinct species, the African savanna  elephant and the African forest elephant. Elephant Vocabulary Worksheet (Print the PDF): Discover more about elephants by  with this vocabulary worksheet. Look up each word in a dictionary or online. Then, write the correct word on the blank line beside each definition. Elephant Word Search (Print the PDF): See how well you remember what you learned about elephants. Circle each word as you find it hidden among the letters in the word search. Refer to the worksheet for any terms whose meaning you dont remember.   African savanna  elephants live in the area of Africa below the Sahara desert. African forest elephants live in the rain forests of Central and West Africa.  The elephants that live in the African forest have smaller bodies and tusks than those that live on the savannas. Asian elephants live in the scrub and rain forests of Southwest Asia, India, and Nepal. Elephant Habitat Coloring Page (Print the PDF):  Review what youve learned about elephant Habitats. Distinguishing Between Asian and African Elephants There are many similarities between Asian and African elephants, but there are simple ways to distinguish one from the other. African elephants have much larger ears that seem to be shaped like the continent of Africa. They need large ears to cool off their bodies on the hot continent of Africa. Asian elephants ears are smaller and more rounded. African Elephant Coloring Page (Print the PDF) There is also a distinct difference in the shape of Asian and African elephants heads. Asian elephants heads are smaller than an African elephants head and have a double-dome shape. Both male and female African elephants can grow tusks, though not all do. Only male Asian elephants grow tusks. Asian Elephant Coloring Page (Print the PDF) The Asian elephant is smaller than the African elephant. Asian elephants live in jungle habitats. Its entirely different than the deserts of Africa. Water and vegetation are more plentiful in the jungle. So Asian elephants do not need wrinkled skin to trap moisture or large ears to fan their bodies. Even the trunks of Asian and African elephants are different. African elephants have two finger-like growths on the tip of their trunks; Asian elephants only have one. Elephant Family Coloring Page (Print the PDF): Do you think you can tell African and Asian elephants apart? Are these African elephants or Asian elephants? What are the identifying features? Elephant Diet Coloring Page (Print the PDF): All elephants are plant  eaters (herbivores). Adult elephants eat about 300 pounds of food a day. It takes a long time to find and eat 300 pounds of food. They spend 16 to 20 hours a day eating! Updated by Kris Bales

Fundamental of International Buisness Master Essay

Fundamental of International Buisness Master - Essay Example CPC's production facilities are decentralized according to the four regions in which it operates, following the principle of having the right product in the right store at the right time. Using SAP software for more effective management of logistics and promotional investments, reduction of out-of-stocks, and excellent customer service, it has production and R&D facilities in the following countries: CPC has a stable of global brands that include the following: Colgate, Palmolive, Kolynos, Sorriso, Elmex, Mennen, Protex, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Ajax, Soupline, Suavitel, Hill's Science Diet, and Hill's Prescription Diet. Its product formulations (Annual Report, 2004, pp. 8-12) are adapted to the country or region where these are sold. The growth rates of exports are higher compared to that of domestic sales, which declined slightly by 0.19% (from $2.744 billion to $2.739 billion) in 2003 and grew by 1.52% (to $2.781 billion) in 2004. Colgate-Palmolive Company (2004). Annual report: investing strategically for profitable growth. New York: Colgate-Palmolive Company. Retrieved November 26, 2005, from http://investor.colgatepalmolive.com/downloads/2004Annual.pdf

Evolution in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Evolution in the Workplace - Essay Example Whether this survival is by natural selection, or by clinging onto Jesus’ teachings, we were still created to rise to the top. But not everyone rises to the top in the same way. Not only do we not rise in the same way, we are not always chosen for the role we want in life. Our behavior seems to dictate who we will hang out with at lunch time during our high school years. We are guided by our behavior which orders us to determine how we will communicate with our professors in order to receive a passing grade in college. Our children learn to sweat talk us with â€Å"good† behavior when they want to go to a party or want us to change our minds about something already predetermined. Our behavior runs the show. The question isn’t whether we are good at convincing one another or choosing the right group of friends to associate ourselves with. The question is how hardwired is human behavior? (Nicholson, 1998, p. 135) Is it in our genes? Is it in our blood? Did God make us a certain way? Did evolution split us in a particular direction? So many questions with such a diverse amount of answers leads some to believe that it is through natural selection that we are able to stand on our own two feet and be successful in life, and in our workplace. But others, still, believe that from day one, we were made to be a certain way. This could be through creation or evolution. Evolution is not the belief that there is no intelligent design. It is the belief that things change and adapt from its particular origin. The origin can be different for each species and not even Charles Darwin claimed to know what the origin was. (Wright, 1994, pp. 1-10) He only claims that things evolve from one point to another. Evolution however, is not just one step and the theory is not as narrow as it may seem. The theory includes six different components which create the theory of evolution in its entirety. The six components are evolution, gradualism, speciation, common ancest ry, natural selection, and nonselective mechanism of evolutionary change. (Coyne, 2009, p. 3) Each of these parts means something important and are directly applied to determining which person is best fit for the job at hand. Evolution itself means that a particular species undergoes genetic change over time. Is this something that occurs in the workplace? Yes! Overtime, people learn how to please their â€Å"boss† or they are not rehired. For the manager, they learn to look for traits that is going to help grow their business, not shrink it. This is where the idea of modern Darwinism comes in. The new fields of science or psychology do not just come about. They evolve, and with its evolution come the ability to choose in a more purposeful way. Choosing who will work for you is so important because you do not want to be stuck with the thought that you will need to â€Å"fire† that person. Gradualism is the idea that it takes many years to produce the product of evoluti on. (Coyne, 2009, p. 4) In the workplace this means two things. The manager or the boss needs to have several bad apples before realizing what he really wants, and, improvement in the workforce comes over time. Competition adds to the search for the new and better improved resources that will help a company grow, and not extinguish itself. Part of this gradualism is allowing time for change. If the boss does not allow time for change, he or she will either not see change, or the change will

The Warren Court Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Warren Court - Term Paper Example But he was not what people assumed him to be. He changed a lot of things in his court. The remedial power of law was one of the things Earl Warren really believed in and he enforced this idea further as well. The center of attention of court was transferred to personal rights from property rights and great importance was given to ethical values as well as legal issues. The Warren court worked really hard for the civil rights of people. It strongly supported the Bill of Rights as well. The decisions made by the Warren Court brought about many vital changes in the society all over. The decisions mainly covered the issues like one-man, one vote; desegregation and the decisions made in the criminal courts. The Warren Court was considered to be too lenient towards the accused and was hindering the work of the police by doing this. The law enforcement agencies have been among the more influential groups engaged in criticizing the Warren Court (Lytle 1968). Before the Warren Court there wer e not very clear and strong rights given to the accused for his or her defense. They were also hesitant to give the accused constitutional rights. The right of the defendant to get a lawyer who is granted to him or her by the government was introduced in the Warren Court. The decisions which were made in the Warren Courts regarding various issues were undisputed while others were made through split court. The Warren Court mainly focused upon the constitutional regulation of criminal procedure instead of substantive criminal law. Some of the people argue that the efforts made by the chief justice Earl Warren to bring improvements to the criminal justice system are ambiguous and not certain. Chief justice Earl Warren brought about some primary changes in the criminal justice system. During its last eight years the Warren Court revolutionized criminal procedures, taking the lead in the development of American law in the twentieth century (Belknap & Warren 2004). It is also considered b y some to have brought about a criminal law revolution but on the other hand some think that it is barely and evolution in regard to the civil rights of the defendant. However, there is no doubt that the changes in criminal law system made in Warren Court have changed the way the criminal administration worked in United States permanently. In the Bill of Rights there were amendments that protected the rights of the defendant. The fourth amendment stated that the criminal defendant could not be arrested unlawfully and that legal court notice is required in order to search or seize the accused. According to the Fifth Amendment in the Bill of Rights the defendant was guaranteed the advantage against the self-incrimination. Last but not the least; in the sixth amendment the accused was given the right to a fast trial, compulsory process for witness and the right to a counsel for his defense. These amendments give rights to the criminal defendant and to further support these rights certa in rules were made like for example the accused have to be brought in front of the judicial officer as soon as he is arrested. The Warren Court expanded the right to counsel by ruling that criminal defendants charged with felonies in state courts do have fundamental right to an attorney even if they

Project Design of Portable Stand for Tablet Computer

Project Design of Portable Stand for Tablet Computer 1.1 Customer Specification We were approached by a leading computer brand to design a small, lightweight and portable stand that can be used for any of the companys tablet computers. The company had a strong emphasis on the product being portable and the ability to fit into the end users pocket. The product should allow the end user to easily watch movies, read eBooks, surf the web, conduct a presentation, view photos and much more. The company would be looking to retail this product at  £11.99 and each unit should cost no more than  £4 to manufacture. They have also given us 12 months to complete the design with a prototype to be viewed in month 9. 1.2 Design Specification After considering the customers specification we began to brainstorm to generate possible solutions. First of all the product is to be small and lightweight which makes the material to be used one of the most important factors. Due to the low production price the stand will be made from ABS plastic resin which can be injection moulded. The stand will consist of 5 injection moulded parts which are connected by screw pivot barrels. The bottom of the tablet will feature a non-skid cushioned pad which will allow the stand to be used almost anywhere. Width (Folded)2.5 cm Length (Folded)17.8 cm Height (Folded)2.5 cm Weight 85g No of moulded parts5 1.3 Safety Considerations The first point of action is to identify all safety and non-safety critical engineering safety considerations, Customer safety requirements and design safety requirements. For doing this there are many techniques that will be used: Risk Assessment Identify hazards Observe what actually happens and identify hazards that can reasonably be expected to be present. Attention will be taken to any significant hazards which could cause serious harm or affect a number of people. Employees will be asked for their views as they may be aware of hazards which are not immediately obvious. Who can be harmed? Everyone should be taken into consideration during the risk assessment, including individuals who may not be present at all times. Evaluate risk- This will assess the likelihood that harm from a particular hazard may happen whilst also taking into consideration the precautions already in place. Record findings- Significant findings must be recorded by writing them down. Details of how the assessment was made will be unnecessary. Written documents should be kept for future reference as they may help to demonstrate that legal obligations have been met. Review and arise- The whole process will be reviewed and new processes or procedures introduced can then lead to new hazards which would result in the need for a new review of all assessments to be carried out to keep them up to date. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis FMEA This analytical technique explores the effects of failures or malfunctions of individual components in a system. This will be the first step of a reliability study. This will involve reviewing all the components and assembly of the stand to identify failure modes and their causes and effects. If any part of the stand fails what will be the result? The development of the design and testing of the product should ensure that failures have been eliminated or the risk has been reduced to an acceptable level. Advantages: Improve the quality, reliability and safety of the product Improve company image and competitiveness Increase user satisfaction Reduce system development time and cost Reduce the potential for warranty concerns Early identification and elimination of potential failure modes Increases teamwork and idea exchange Reduce the possibility of same kind of failure in future Fault Tree Analysis This is a graphical technique that will provide a systematic description of the combinations of possible occurrences in a system. This can result in an undesirable outcome. This analysis method will be used to understand how things can fail and to identify the best way to reduce the risk of these happening. Fault tree analysis will be used to: Understand the logic leading to the undesired state Show compliance with safety/reliability requirements Prioritize the contributors leading to the undesired state/event Monitor and control the safety performance Minimise and optimise resources Assist in the design of the product Function as a diagnostic tool Event Tree Analysis This will allow us to see what pathway is creating the greatest probability of failure. This is based on binary logic where an event has or has not happened. It is valuable in analysing the consequences arising from a failure or undesired event. The event tree will begin with an initiating event. The consequences of this event are followed through a series of possible paths where each path will be assigned a probability of occurrences allowing them to be calculated. Advantages: Enables the assessment of multiple faults and failures No need to anticipate end events Areas of single point failure, system vulnerability may be identified and assessed Allows resources to be deployed properly Work can be computerized Visual cause and effect relationship Relatively easy to learn and execute Follows easy to see fault paths Combines hardware, software, environment, and human interaction Permits probability assessment Commercial software is available 1.4 Project Schedule Month à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  Event à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ¢ Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Problem Identified Initial research Develop Product Build Prototype Testing Redesign Communicate and conclude Problem Identified The customer provided us with their specification required for the proposed new product.Initial research After Looking over the customer specification research will be conducted to see what products already exist. A brainstorming session will then take place to come up with potential solutions including pro and con lists. From these a best product will then be selected to go ahead and produce.Develop Product Once the best possible product has been identified the key requirements for each feature is selected. This will then give and idea of materials needed and how they will construct the tablet. This will then allow costs to be calculated.Build Prototype First of all the prototype will be created using CAD software in two and three dimensions. This prototype created in CAD will have all dimensions with tolerances and finishes. This will then be passed onto the production team to construct. This will also be shown to the customer at this stage to ensure it meets exp ectation.Testing Once the prototype arrives it must be tested and evaluated to determine if it works and meets the original customer specification. Minor adjustments may be needed at this point to finalise the design.Redesign Using the information gathered during testing, evaluation of the design the solution can then be optimised and revised to achieve better results.Communicate and conclude The final product will be shown to the customer before mass production will follow depending on the feedback from the customer. 2.1 Manufacturing considerations. The prototype was originally modelled using 3d CAD software from where this design was then passed on to the production team to create a solid model of the stand. The prototype did function in the correct manner but the weight was a slight issue. With the product being designed to be portable the weight would need to be reduced. It was decided that the solid components would be hollowed and supports would be set between each side of a component to strengthen them. The total cost for production has been set not to exceed  £4 per unit. The intention is for the stand to be mass produced to decrease product cost and increase profit margin. Due to the small nature of each individual part the best possible way of constructing these will be to use the injection moulding process. Injection moulding is one of the leading methods of producing plastic components. This is a fast process which is used to produce a large number of identical items. After considering many different materials it was established that ABS plastic resin met all the characteristics needed to form each component whilst also being cheaper than many of the other materials available. The companys current injection moulding machine will be used for making the 5 plastic resin components. A 3d model of this is shown below: The clamping end with moving platen takes half of the mould tool. This opens and closes the mould and supplies sufficient force to keep the mould closed when molten ABS resin is injected under pressure. The injection unit takes plastic raw plastic resin granules, heats them until molten, and injects them into the mould. The rotating screw forces the plastic along the barrel. When the right amount of material for the next shot has accumulated the screw stops rotating. The screw then acts like a plunger moving forward and forcing the molten plastic into the mould tool. Materials There were many different materials that could be used for making the individual parts but after much consideration it was decided that ABS plastic resin pellets would be used. ABS is a thermoplastic resin commonly used for injection moulding applications. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) possesses medium strength and performance at a low cost. It is available in multiple grades, colours, and Izod impact ratings. ABS Features Benefits: Easily machined Tough Low cost Rigid High impact strength Ideal for moulding Good chemical and stress cracking resistance Excellent abrasion resistance; electrical properties, moisture and creep resistance. Availability At the moment ABS pellets can be purchased from Zibo City Linzi Yixiang Chemical Co. Ltd. In China and shipped to the UK for  £1000 per Metric Ton which is 1000000grams. Each rotational part will be held together by 5g pivot barrels also shipped from Asia costing  £0.20p per unit. With each fully built unit weighing in around 85grams and requiring 3 pivot barrels each unit would cost: 1000000/70=14286 units  £1000/14286= 0.6p per unit in ABS material ABS material + 3 pivot barrels =  £0.66p per unit material cost. This price does not include cost of production. 2.2 Simulation/Modelling The design process will utilize the use of CAD to produce the trailers drafting and design. By using CAD this will allow the quality of the design to be improved whilst also speeding up the design process. The drafted design of the trailer will be used by any professional involved in the construction of the trailer. 3d simulation also allows for real life situations to be tested prior to the build. Advantages and disadvantages of using CAD Advantages Can be more accurate than hand-drawn designs which reduce human error. You can save and edit ideas, which make it easier and cheaper to modify your design as you go along. You can modify existing ideas, which saves time. Disadvantages The software itself can be expensive so initial costs are high. Staff need to be trained how to use the software, which also adds to costs. Requires a PC. Safety Considerations Although the product is fairly small and compact there are still many safety issues that need to be taken into consideration. Legislation should also be adhered to. Plastic materials are generally inert and lend themselves to product safety. The safety of plastic materials and products which will be used by users and consumers is extremely important to the company and to the industry as a whole. The cost problems associated with exercises such as product recalls and product failure could have a negative image on the company. The risk assessment technique used for tablet stand was a Fault Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). This method will explore the effect of malfunctions and failures for the individual parts of the product whilst also looking at what can happen within the working environment. The essential questions which are asked in regards to the working environment are: What are the hazards? Who could be harmed and how? What are the effects? What is currently done? Can anything else be done? What are the hazards? Who can be harmed and how? Whats being done? What can be done? Slips and trips Staff/contractors may be injured if they trip over objects or slip on spillages. à ¢-   Procedures for oil spillages in place and are adhered to à ¢-   Floors are in good condition à ¢-   Staff wear safety shoes à ¢-   Good lighting throughout No further action required Use of injection machinery Staff/contractors may suffer serious injury from unguarded moving parts of machinery à ¢-   All dangerous parts of machinery guarded to manufacturers standards à ¢-   All new machinery checked before first use à ¢-   Machinery guards are properly maintained and inspected No further action required Workplace transport Staff may suffer serious, fatal, injuries if struck by a vehicle or fork lift truck. à ¢-  Good segregation measures are on site, à ¢-   All staff, including contractors, wear hi-visibility work wear à ¢-   Annual safety inspections Provide safety rules before jobs begin Manual handling Staff may suffer back pain from handling heavy/bulky objects. à ¢-  Staff are trained in safe manual handling à ¢-   Safe system of work agreed à ¢-   Manual handling aids are No further action required Fire Staff could have fatal injuries from smoke inhalation or burns. à ¢-  Fire risk assessment had been previously done, and any necessary action taken, à ¢-   Staff and contractors told of fire and evacuation policy No further action required Noise Staff may suffer discomfort and potential hearing damage if working in noisy areas or using noisy equipment. à ¢-   If possible, jobs in production areas done when the injection moulding machines are not in use à ¢-   Staff provided with ear defenders or suitable hearing protection when required à ¢-   Machinery is maintained to ensure they run as quietly as possible No further action required The essential questions which are asked in regards to the product are: How can each part fail? What might cause this failure? What will the effects of failure be? How serious are these failures? How are the failures detected? Component Potential Failure Potential effects of failure Severity Potential causes of failure How will failure be detected Action to control risk Plastic Parts Breaking Unusable and possible tablet breakage II End user misuse Visual Instructions provided Plastic Parts Melting Product wont function II End user misuse Visual Instructions provided Plastic Parts Wear and tear Unstable I Overuse Visual Warranty Plastic Parts Causing harm End user harm. Potential Legal issues III Finishing Visual Instructions provided Pivot Screws Breaking Unusable and possible tablet breakage II End user misuse Visual Instructions provided Pivot Screws Wear and tear Still usable but not 100% I Overuse Visual Warranty The level of risk is determined by: Risk = probability of failure * Severity factor Severity Categorised Category Probability Description I Minor Functional failure of part of machine or process no potential for injury II Critical Failure will probably occur without major damage to system or serious injury III Major Major damage to system and/or potential serious injury or personal IV Catastrophic Failure causes complete system loss and/or potential for fatal injury Probability Categorised Level Probability Individual failure mode A 10-1 Frequent Likely to occur frequently B 10-2 Probable Likely to occur several times in the life of the product C 10-3 Occasional Likely to occur sometime in the life of the product D 10-4 Remote Unlikely to occur but possible E 10-5 Improbable So unlikely that occurrence may not be experienced A RP1 High Risk B RP2 C RP3 Medium Risk D Low Risk E I II III IV Severity Category Legislation The company currently adheres to ISO 9001:2008 for the plastic sector which aims to improve the efficiency of all operations within the sector, whether in manufacturing or distributing. 2.4 Details of the final design 3.1 Product Evaluation. When evaluating the design there are a wide range of methods and strategies. The one used in this instance is: F.A.C.E. value Function What does it do and how does it work? Aesthetics Is it attractive, why and what makes it so? Construction What is it made from, how and why? Economics How much does it cost and is this good value for money? Function: The stand will hold a number of current products in landscape or horizontal position for ease of use. Aesthetics: The product was never designed to be good looking but functional. Construction: The product was eventually made from ABS plastic resin due to its properties and cost. The constructed parts are held together with pivot screws due to their cost and ease of use. Economics: The customer had given us a maximum price to work too which enabled us to use strict guidelines when it came to purchasing products. Most of the materials were imported from China due to price issues. Although the product may seem good value money from our point of view, this may not be replicated by the end customer. 3.2 Team Working. Although everyone was not capable of working within a team, the selected group which were proved that teamwork has many benefits. The team worked more efficiently and speed was also increased compared to individual workers. This method also offered support for any members ideas. Creativity Increases: The group brainstorming activity process provided incredible results. Everyone came up with their own vision of the best way of creating the product to the customer needs. The team then decided which idea was the best and then continued to develop this in detail together. This was an invaluable process where team members could give instant feedback on what they thought what would and wouldnt work. Speed: Individuals have different strengths and weaknesses. When it came to tackling the project together the team delegated the workload among themselves according to each others skills. This no only saved time but it also allowed distribution of work within the team ensuring everything was done in the best possible way. Effect on Worker Morale: As staff members were working closely together as a successful team, they spend more time together and begin to know each other. This then created a good relationship between the employees. They started to feel proud of what they had achieved ad contributed to the project which also made them feel good about themselves. This seemed to help their self-esteem. Effect on Individual Responsibility: The overall product was produced by teamwork; all the team members felt they had to deliver to their highest abilities. Everyone had a clear understanding that they were responsible for a specific task and the entire team was depending on them doing a good job. 3.3 Evaluation of Safety During the design process safety was one of the main aspects to consider. Many materials were considered but due too certain aspects whether it was finishing or the product being fire retardant. ABS was eventually picked as this would reduce risk in the overall design of the product. The risk assessments carried out for the workplace proved invaluable as this gave the company a clear indication of what was currently being done within the working environment and what could still be done to improve the safety.