Articles
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: ESTABLISHING THE COST AND BENEFITS OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT BY SOFTWARE TOOLS
Article number
536_12
Pages
121 – 128
Language
Abstract
In today’s rapidly changing business environment the grower will need to design and build flexible and accurate management systems to meet their customer needs.
The 1990’s have seen a rapid increase in the demands from the market for consistent quality product.
The traditional market for the Island has been the wholesaler, but this sector has been under threat from an expansion by the retailer’s, increased delivery from European supplier’s via the Channel Tunnel and lower cost product from developing countries.
The grower’s must therefore operate cost effective business systems, which support the needs of their key client groups.
They must deliver top quality graded product, ensure selection of the correct varieties presented in good packaging with an agreed shelf life.
This increasing pressure has required the planning and implementation of new control systems.
The resulting changes in business operation have often been managed by “experience” of possible impact.
Producers have access to only limited market knowledge and many do not have accurate business costing information.
The business unit must therefore identify, market trends and cost critical activities to manage and plan availability.
Only through meeting those management disciplines can planning for sales of a quality product be made with greater price certainty.
The ability to forecast production availability at agreed costs will therefore enable forward selling and increased returns by better matching of supply and demand.
The cost impact of better production forecasting, scheduling and improved market analysis must therefore be identified and met.
The changes in operation required would therefore be evaluated quickly and accurately enabling the selection of options, which maximise return.
The 1990’s have seen a rapid increase in the demands from the market for consistent quality product.
The traditional market for the Island has been the wholesaler, but this sector has been under threat from an expansion by the retailer’s, increased delivery from European supplier’s via the Channel Tunnel and lower cost product from developing countries.
The grower’s must therefore operate cost effective business systems, which support the needs of their key client groups.
They must deliver top quality graded product, ensure selection of the correct varieties presented in good packaging with an agreed shelf life.
This increasing pressure has required the planning and implementation of new control systems.
The resulting changes in business operation have often been managed by “experience” of possible impact.
Producers have access to only limited market knowledge and many do not have accurate business costing information.
The business unit must therefore identify, market trends and cost critical activities to manage and plan availability.
Only through meeting those management disciplines can planning for sales of a quality product be made with greater price certainty.
The ability to forecast production availability at agreed costs will therefore enable forward selling and increased returns by better matching of supply and demand.
The cost impact of better production forecasting, scheduling and improved market analysis must therefore be identified and met.
The changes in operation required would therefore be evaluated quickly and accurately enabling the selection of options, which maximise return.
The paper will compare the approach adopted within the Island Quality Chain to approaches being used internationally to develop best practice.
This approach described involves structured analysis using a range of key software tools to analyse business, predict the cost of change and return on selected investment.
The structure of proposed software systems, which the Island could develop in conjunction with key wholesalers, is also provided.
Authors
M. Dillon, J.P. Ogier, S. Hannah, M. Thompson
Keywords
Quality costing, business excellence, quality software development
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