Operations Management - Management Resource & Workflow Layout 4 - Resource Planning-HR Allocation and Engagement

Description

Resource planning and control is concerned with managing the allocation of resources and activities for process efficiency and effectiveness in satisfying customer demand (Slack et al. 2015). This is a useful way of thinking about this issue. In order to throw light on some of the key issues of short-term scheduling and planning, we have reproduced the following diagram where we used it to illustrate some basic aspects of operating processes.

This is a simple process but to set it up and schedule work through it requires that:
• The raw material supply is organised, scheduled to be ready at start-up, and available at the site.
• Workers (probably coming from other parts of the factory, together with casual labour) are scheduled to staff the process on time.
• Maintenance staff have been scheduled to check and service the operating equipment beforehand.
• An operations supervisor has been alerted beforehand to set the process up and make sure it is ready to operate.
• And the ‘customer’ side of the operation has been planned ready for the output to be moved to either a finished goods store (if work is complete) or a work-in-process location ready for the next process.