Free Essays on Financial Analysis Of Home Depot And Lowes

Money related Analysis of The Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Jack Branas History and Summary Home Depot, Inc. was established in 1978. Their stores, which initially were set as a connection to Treasure Island stores, conveyed a supply of around 25,000 items. By and by, offering twice the same number of items, it is the world's biggest home improvement retailer working more than 1,400 stores in 49 U.S. states and 94 all the more abroad. Other than its most notable stores, the organization additionally works 48 EXPO Design Centers across U.S. which empower clients to get master counsel and top quality items inside its special custom showrooms. Toward the finish of its 2001 monetary year, Home Depot had revealed a great $53.6 billion of net deals. Their stock is traded on an open market at NYSE, recorded under the image HD. Fortune magazine has positioned the Home Depot as America's Most Admired Specialty Retailer for eight sequential years. In March 2002 a similar magazine put Home Depot as number six on its Main Ten positioning of industry. This judgment depended on development, money related adequacy, worker ability, utilization of corporate resources, long haul speculation esteem, social obligation, nature of the board and nature of items/administration. Being the business chief, Home Depot has confidence in setting an appropriate guide to others by offering back to the networks in which it directs its organizations. Single direction of doing it is through giving awards in such zones as: reasonable lodging; in danger youth; the earth; and fiasco readiness and help. Home Depot’s significant contender is Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Lowe’s is a 56 years of age Fortune 100 organization. With its $22 billion of net deals in 2001of a total line of home improvement items and gear inside its 780 stores in 42 states, it is the world's second biggest home improvement retailer and the fourteenth biggest retailer in the U. S just as the 30th ... Free Essays on Financial Analysis Of Home Depot And Lowe's Free Essays on Financial Analysis Of Home Depot And Lowe's Monetary Analysis of The Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Jack Branas History and Summary Home Depot, Inc. was established in 1978. Their stores, which initially were set as a connection to Treasure Island stores, conveyed a supply of around 25,000 items. By and by, offering twice the same number of items, it is the world's biggest home improvement retailer working more than 1,400 stores in 49 U.S. states and 94 all the more abroad. Other than its most notable stores, the organization likewise works 48 EXPO Design Centers across U.S. which empower clients to get master exhortation and top quality items inside its one of a kind custom showrooms. Toward the finish of its 2001 financial year, Home Depot had announced a great $53.6 billion of net deals. Their stock is traded on an open market at NYSE, recorded under the image HD. Fortune magazine has positioned the Home Depot as America's Most Admired Specialty Retailer for eight back to back years. In March 2002 a similar magazine put Home Depot as number six on its Best Ten positioning of industry. This judgment depended on development, budgetary sufficiency, worker ability, utilization of corporate resources, long haul venture esteem, social duty, nature of the executives and nature of items/administration. Being the business head, Home Depot has faith in setting a legitimate guide to others by offering back to the networks in which it directs its organizations. Single direction of doing it is through giving awards in such zones as: reasonable lodging; in danger youth; nature; and fiasco readiness and alleviation. Home Depot’s significant contender is Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Lowe’s is a 56 years of age Fortune 100 organization. With its $22 billion of net deals in 2001of a total line of home improvement items and hardware inside its 780 stores in 42 states, it is the world's second biggest home improvement retailer and the fourteenth biggest retailer in the U. S just as the 30th ...

A Room Of One free essay sample

# 8217 ; s Own Essay, Research Paper Many mature ages prior, an oblivious development sick the female populace. Like Shakespeare # 8217 ; s sister, grown-up females were adapted to comply with a ladylike political direction. This develop of muliebrity spread all through the state essentially indicating the idea of a grown-up female and denying them of their unconditioned feeling of inner self. While grown-up females may hold imagined about the twenty-four hours when their originative soul could be released, those fantasies were quickly hindered by the incredible energy about male laterality. By suppress grown-up females, the ladylike capacity of reliance and regard was kept up. Consequently, society # 8217 ; s power development became refueled and the patriarchate was sustained. Through clasp the force development has separated, by and by, I trust Shakespeare # 8217 ; s sister keeps on being in numerous grown-up females, still in chase of a # 8220 ; room of one # 8217 ; s ain # 8221 ; . Virginia Woolf focused on the significance of holding a room of one # 8217 ; s ain or a topographic point to identify and explore the originative conscience. We will compose a custom article test on A Room Of One or then again any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page She supports the juvenile grown-up females to build up the wont of opportunity and the dauntlessness to form unequivocally what they think. In excess of seventy mature ages consequently, Woolf’s words stay pertinent. Womans are as yet battling to confront the courage and â€Å" ? face the reality? that there is no arm to severing to? † . For, while the social obstructions have vanished, the psychological boundaries have non. In spite of the fact that couple of grown-up females are required to be accommodating and submissive, the political direction of the ladylike capacity keeps on craving women’s minds. The power per unit region to secure wedded and have children while driving one’s individual wants and interests aside perseveres. Along these lines, when a grown-up female # 8217 ; s mind is in an area of famishment, she turns into a mobile skeleton, essentially bing through life. As the regular endowments she is brought into the world with remain covered and unnourished, she turns into a total outsider to herself. So as to stir the feeling of sense of self, she should give her characteristic longings. At the point when this is cultivated Shakespeare # 8217 ; s sister will rise and a room of one # 8217 ; s have will be found.

Importance Of Ethical Behavior Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Examine about theImportance Of Ethical Behavior. Answer: The significant ideas and focuses shrouded in this week were: Week 5 secured the themes about the significance of moral conduct among the pioneers and it additionally the phases of good turn of events. It showed the method of creating moral development and moral culture in the association (Frisch Huppenbauer, 2014). The key regions of learning for me are: The regions of gaining from this week are about the significance of moral conduct and qualities in the association. Manners by which I can act ethically so as to a decent pioneer and create in close to home life too. I will likewise find out about different sorts of initiative and embrace the most appropriate one. My musings on how these ideas and learning focuses can improve a pioneers execution are: Being good and moral is the most ideal way a pioneer can create in the association. This is on the grounds that a pioneer with great morals can without much of a stretch increase the trust of their individual mates and do the work effectively. My musings and emotions on the initiative self-knowledge questions and my score this week are: I feel that the encouraging allowed in this week are significant has helped m become familiar with a great deal about authority. I feel that the exercises given are helpful for additional turn of events and administration characteristics. My imprints this week are acceptable. From this weeks study, I have to catch up on these authority ideas and zones to improve wheeze of the subject: After this weeks exercise, I believe I have to give an amendment on the idea of good improvement of authority as it s minimal entangled and the most fundamental part to turn into a moral chief (Kurtines, 2014). My different musings, sentiments and remarks are: Other than simply turning into a decent pioneer, moral conduct and good improvement will likewise me develop on my own life too. This is on the grounds that profound quality and morals is likewise significant for individual life. I can apply this figuring out how to my turn of events and practice to be a pioneer by: I can utilize morals while settling on some assignment. I can counsel all the colleagues and follow participative conduct before coming to a choice. This will assist me with picking up the trust of the colleagues and be effective in the assignment. References Frisch, C., Huppenbauer, M. (2014). New bits of knowledge into moral authority: A subjective examination of the encounters of official moral leaders.Journal of Business Ethics,123(1), 23-43. Kurtines, W. M. (2014).Handbook of good conduct and advancement: Volume 1: Theory. Brain science Press.

Cormac Mccarthy free essay sample

McCarthy could be marking the characters ‘the man ‘and ‘the boy’ to show the consequences for humankind after this disaster. By marking them ‘the man’ and ‘the boy’, it may be the case that McCarthy is attempting to universalize his characters, indicating the amount of a change there has been in the novel after the disaster which has changed the earth. McCarthy has been ambiguous about the structure and setting, from the initial pages, the peruser still doesn't have an away from of where precisely the novel is set or where ‘the man’ and ‘the boy’ are going. The month/date has not been explained either as the story voice says ‘it could have been October’. The story voice discusses ‘the man’ and ‘the boy’ going south. Additionally the account makes reference to a ‘gas’ station and McCarthy has utilized an alternate spelling of specific words (dim rather than dark) which gives the insight that the novel is set in America. We will compose a custom article test on Cormac Mccarthy or on the other hand any comparable subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page From the earliest starting point, the peruser can accumulate an alternate feeling of language, structure and structure, at that point from a customary novel. Cormac McCarthy utilizes structure to set up his novel to peruser, unpredictably. From the initial pages, there are no parts or discourse headings. As we read on we discover that McCarthy has made a setting of a dystopian world. McCarthy may have done this to propose a connection among structure and setting. By excluding accentuation and different structures, for example, parts, Cormac McCarthy makes a story that is obviously uncovered, stripped to nothingness like the books setting. By doing this, McCarthy is totally stripping the book, which connects with the peruser something beyond the distressing portrayal. From the initial pages, McCarthy has utilized a third individual account and anonymous characters, which has kept the initial section very dubious. It is unusual that in this dystopian world, where it is deciphered by the peruser, to have a feeling of vacancy, McCarthy has utilized a third individual story with a solitary perspective. As though somebody is watching everything while it is occurring. McCarthy could be doing this to include anticipation, as he later discussions about ‘the man’ conveying a gun and furthermore has a bike wing mirror appended to his shopping basket. Understanding that ‘the man’ is nearly anticipating that a person or thing should move toward him, added to the reality there is a third individual account with a solitary perspective adds tension and interest to the novel. To breath life into the setting, McCarthy utilizes viable language and tone to connect with the peruser and make a picture in the leader of the peruser, of what the world resembles for ‘the man’ and ‘the boy’. McCarthy joins the cruel truth of the dystopian world, with a delicate dad and child relationship. McCarthy utilizes emblematic language to portray the climate, by partner The Road and its environmental factors with the shading, for example, ‘grey’, which is connected with cynicism and bluntness. McCarthy could be doing this to propose that there isn't a lot of expectation left, by connecting ‘the man’ and ‘the boy’s’ environmental factors with the shading dim, it shows that there isn't an encourage of expectation. McCarthy has not presented any characters other than ‘the man’ and ‘the boy’, however he portrays to various gatherings while depicting The Road, ‘Bloodcults’ and ‘Road Agent’. McCarthy utilizes the word ‘Bloodcult’ rather than barbarians. Faction meaning a gathering whose convictions are viewed as unusual or peculiar, however the individuals inside the clique don't accept what they are doing isn't right. Barbarianism is a negative term, however because of the outrageous changed that has happened to the world in The Road, McCarthy has consolidated the two words ‘blood’ and ‘cults’, to show that the world has experienced such an extraordinary change, that even one of the most noticeably awful things that one human could do to another, are considered as should be expected. McCarthy likewise utilizes the words Road Agent’ rather than thief, which is somebody that holds up voyagers at gunpoint so as to loot them, which connects to The Road as individuals will travel. McCarthy may have utilized the words ‘Road Agent’ and ‘Bloodcults’, to show that this post-apocolyptic world has no law or desires for society, everything/everybody is the same, and whatever activities happen are adequate, not on the grounds that individuals decide to, but since they must choose between limited options, yet to loot or result to human flesh consumption to endure.

Puerto Rico Court System Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Puerto Rico Court System - Research Paper Example There are different shortcomings that could be recognized out of the current legal frameworks and this is as recorded by Griffin and Abbot (2006). Understanding the qualities and the shortcomings would without a doubt go far in educating what should comprise an alluring legal framework. One of the solid focuses in Griffin and Abbot (2006) is that they build up a similar way to deal with legal frameworks, and this methodology is worthwhile on the grounds that it doesn't just give instances of imperfections by and by that ought to be tended to yet in addition a few qualities that could be embraced, for example, by recently settled states. As indicated by Griffin and Abbot (2006), U.S legal framework is established in a government way whereby each state inside the league has an alternate legal framework. Under the state court framework, one is respected honest until demonstrated liable. This suggests the weight to demonstrate one’s honesty lies with the state and not the individual being charged. The framework is made more grounded in light of the fact that it is the duty of the state to see somebody as liable in this manner making an individual idealistic about their honesty winning. Another part of this legal procedure is that a criminal is guaranteed of a reasonable, snappy preliminary just as appreciate the benefit of being decided by law specialists. This implies not a solitary appointed authority can settle on one’s destiny as it is the situation in different nations. It additionally infers that an individual who is guiltless has all the proof assessed before making the sentence. These components ar e without a doubt the solid purposes of legal frameworks and educate any benchmark to comprise an alluring court framework, for example, for a recently settled state... These components are without a doubt the solid purposes of legal frameworks and illuminate any benchmark to comprise an attractive court framework, for example, for a recently settled state. Nonetheless, there is a constraint to this as in a significant part of the proof might be suspended because of the strategy. A cop gathering proof must do as such as per set down rules else they should be possible away with. For this situation, proof on tape can't be contemplated if the charged didn't know that a chronicle was occurring as he was being examined by the police. This has prompted blameworthy individuals leaving without any penalty for violations they have submitted. This is on the grounds that the death of sentence is suggested by a similar board of legal advisers who decided their case the procedure turns out to be reasonable. Besides, the procedure gives makes a decision about a great deal of opportunity while condemning hoodlums. Reeves (2008), refers to instances of situations w here two individuals get distinctive time periods when they have submitted a similar lawful offense. That will in general be one of the weaknesses of the state legal procedure. The article proposes one rule, neither ought to there be least nor most extreme sentence.Unfortunately, separation when passing greatest sentence is by all accounts kept to dark guys, as most of the populace gets reasonable sentencing.â

Operational Excellence and How to Use It

Operational Excellence and How to Use It WHAT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE REALLY ISIn order to gain a better understanding of operational excellence, we first need to take a look at the concept of “continuous improvement”, and how it is connected with operational excellence.In the context of business operations, continuous improvement (CI) â€" also often referred to as the continuous improvement process (CIP) â€" refers to the ongoing effort of the organization to improve its processes, products and services.CIP comes in two forms, depending on the approach taken by the organization.Incremental improvement: The continuous improvement is achieved in increments or parts, over time.Breakthrough improvement: The improvement happens all at once, or in one go.Through CIP, there is a greater chance of sustaining the improvements of operations of a business forever, or for an indefinite period of time. However, the focus is not solely on whether the operations improve in their effectiveness or not. Efficiency also has a large role t o play.Say, for example, that the business takes steps to use CIP in improving its operations. The business may also hit two birds with one stone, improving its product, service or process, while reducing costs over time. In the process, it also makes sure that the business continues to grow. That is called operational excellence.If taken from a leadership point of view, operational excellence is defined as an element of organizational leadership that puts emphasis on the application of certain principles, systems and tools toward sustainable and continuous improvement of key performance metrics of the organization.Another insightful definition for operational excellence â€" one that may be easily understood at the employee level â€" refers to it as the point at which each employee or member of the organization can see the flow of value to the customer or end user, and that each employee is also able to fix that flow before it breaks down.Thus, it can be said that operational excell ence is a continuous journey that involves the proper, ongoing and consistent application of certain tools and methodologies in order to implement the right business processes and practices, and creating the right work culture[slideshare id=7265141doc=buildingacontinuousimprovmentculture-110314194141-phpapp02w=710h=400]CORE PRINCIPLES OF OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCEIn 1988, the Shingo Institute of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business of the Utah State University started giving out the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence.This prize is given annually to organizations that can prove that they have a “world-Class organizational culture” based on applied business improvements and accomplishments and other principles of enterprise excellence. For organizations all over the world, the Shingo Prize is seen as the world’s highest standard for operational excellence.What follows are the ten core principles of Operational Excellence, as identified by the Shingo Institute in its Shingo Mo del.Respect Every IndividualEvery person in the organization must have respect: for other members of the organization, for management, for the customers, for suppliers and business partners, for the community that it belongs to, and for society in general.This does not stop at simply having respect; it must be demonstrated at all times. It is not enough to say that you respect every individual. You should also actively show that you mean it.People feel more motivated and empowered in their work performance when they know and feel that they are respected.The model also provided examples of ideal behavior that shows respect for every individual. One is for management to create and implement a development focused on employees, including their individual goals. Involving the employees in improving the tasks or job in their assigned areas is also another, since it shows that their input â€" beyond the minimum that is expected of them â€" is highly valued.In some companies, they also demo nstrate respect by providing coaching and mentoring programs for their employees to learn from and enhance their skill sets.Lead with HumilityLeaders have to exercise humility, instead of keep a clear distance between him and those who are lower than him. A humble leader is one who is:willing to seek input from other members of the organization, even those who are under him;listen to his subordinates and colleagues with care and caution, evaluating their input;willing to learn continuously from various sources.In short, the leader should not be close-minded and admit that he, too, has shortcomings. By acknowledging that he does not know everything and that he needs help from others, he will effectively shed all prejudices and focus on the resolution of problems or issues that the organization is currently facing.This humility will also help create an environment where employees will feel more respected. They will feel that their input is valued, and that their words are going to be heard. As a result, they will feel more motivated to work and perform better. Seek PerfectionJust because the phrase “nobody is perfect” is popular does not make it true. And just because it may be true does not mean that you cannot strive for it.When the organization cultivates a culture of “continuous improvement”, does it end there? Should the organization make it its ultimate goal? Of course not. You should pursue perfection, no matter how unattainable it may seem. By setting the bar high, you will be more motivated to strive for operational efficiency.One way to demonstrate this behavior is by looking at problems and coming up with long-term solutions, instead of stop-gap or temporary measures. In some organizations, this attitude is demonstrated by how they continuously look for ways to simplify the work, without compromising its quality.Learn from Nordstrom how they transformed to a culture of continous improvement. Embrace Scientific ThinkingTaking a systematic appro ach towards ideas is a good way to ensure innovation and continuous improvement and, subsequently, operational excellence. And it’s not just the good ideas and results that will get this treatment. If anything, more focus may be given to failures in order to correct them.By setting a guide for response, management can encourage that all members of the organization take on a structured approach towards solving problems.Employees are also encouraged to come up with new ideas and not let fear of failure or authority stop them from expressing their thoughts and opinions.Focus on ProcessWhen you evaluate the reasons for failures or botched ideas, the natural response of many is to point fingers towards the person or persons involved, thinking it might be how they performed that caused it to fail. However, there is also a greater possibility that the problem is not with the person, but with the process itself.Processes can be imperfect, and that is what should first be looked at. When a n error occurs, the first order of business is to assess which part or area of the process the error occurred in, so it can be better analyzed.This will allow the organization to make the necessary adjustments â€" change materials or components, rearrange work assignments or implement new steps in the process â€" to get the desired results.Assure Quality at the SourceThe moment an error is detected, it must be addressed immediately. It would be wasteful to let the whole process run its course, when the error or problem has been detected early on, say, on the second or third stage of the process. If you can do it right the first time, then do so.The portion of production management where plant or factory layout will play a very important role. This ensures that workflow is facilitated and organized in such a way that there would be no wastage, and the problem can be easily detected.Flow Pull ValueOne of the objectives of the organization is to provide value to customers, and ensure that said value is maximized. There is a real demand from the customers, so the organization should ensure the process and work flow is continuous and uninterrupted. After all, interruptions will mean waste and inefficiencies.To avoid waste, the organization should evaluate the customer demand and meet exactly that demand, instead of creating more than is necessary. The company should also make sure that resources are readily available when required.For example, at the factory, they should ensure that raw materials are on hand when needed so as to avoid delays or backlogs caused by unavailable resources.Learn more about value stream mapping.[slideshare id=4692916doc=valuestreammappingfornon-manufacturing-martin-replacement-100706084816-phpapp01w=710h=400]Think SystemicallyMembers of the organization should avoid taking on a narrow vision.In a system, there are different components that are interconnected and interrelated, and it is necessary to understand these relationships and con nections so as to make better decisions, especially with regards to operational improvements and efficiencies.Create Constancy of PurposeFrom the beginning, members of the organization are made aware of the goals, vision and mission of the organization. It should not be limited to that time only. It is important for the organization to emphasize on these goals the whole time, in order to encourage its employees to keep their actions and own objectives aligned with that of the organization.By constantly communicating with the employees and reiterating organizational goals with them, management will be able to successfully create constancy of purpose within the organization.Create Value for the CustomerIt is important for the organization to know what customer needs and demands it is trying to meet, because that is what they are willing to pay for.Sustainability will be assured if the organization ensures that it continuously delivers value to the customer. Staying in touch with the m arket, particularly the customers’ needs and wants, is one way.METHODOLOGIES AND TOOLS FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE Many tend to encounter confusion when presented with the topic on “operational excellence”. For some, it’s too broad a topic to be discussed in one sitting. Others find the several definitions available to them to be quite ambiguous, not really capturing what operational excellence really is.If we look at the dictionary meaning given, operational excellence is described as the philosophy in a work environment where “problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership results in the ongoing improvement in an organization.” © Shutterstock.com | Rawpixel.comOperational excellence has also been described as a process where the organization or business focuses on the needs of the customers while consistently and continuously improving the current business activities being conducted in the workplace.This process also ensures that the current employees and other members of the organization are taken care of in such a way that they remain positive, motivated and empowered while going about their tasks.In this guide, we 1) explore what operational excellence really is, 2) its core principles, and 3) methodologies and tools you can use for increasing your operational excellence.WHAT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE REALLY ISIn order to gain a better understanding of operational excellence, we first need to take a look at the concept of “continuous improvement”, and how it is connected with operational excellence.In the context of business operations, continuous improvement (CI) â€" also often referred to as the cont inuous improvement process (CIP) â€" refers to the ongoing effort of the organization to improve its processes, products and services.CIP comes in two forms, depending on the approach taken by the organization.Incremental improvement: The continuous improvement is achieved in increments or parts, over time.Breakthrough improvement: The improvement happens all at once, or in one go.Through CIP, there is a greater chance of sustaining the improvements of operations of a business forever, or for an indefinite period of time. However, the focus is not solely on whether the operations improve in their effectiveness or not. Efficiency also has a large role to play.Say, for example, that the business takes steps to use CIP in improving its operations. The business may also hit two birds with one stone, improving its product, service or process, while reducing costs over time. In the process, it also makes sure that the business continues to grow. That is called operational excellence.If ta ken from a leadership point of view, operational excellence is defined as an element of organizational leadership that puts emphasis on the application of certain principles, systems and tools toward sustainable and continuous improvement of key performance metrics of the organization.Another insightful definition for operational excellence â€" one that may be easily understood at the employee level â€" refers to it as the point at which each employee or member of the organization can see the flow of value to the customer or end user, and that each employee is also able to fix that flow before it breaks down.Thus, it can be said that operational excellence is a continuous journey that involves the proper, ongoing and consistent application of certain tools and methodologies in order to implement the right business processes and practices, and creating the right work culture[slideshare id=7265141doc=buildingacontinuousimprovmentculture-110314194141-phpapp02w=710h=400]CORE PRINCIPLES OF OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCEIn 1988, the Shingo Institute of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business of the Utah State University started giving out the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence.This prize is given annually to organizations that can prove that they have a “world-Class organizational culture” based on applied business improvements and accomplishments and other principles of enterprise excellence. For organizations all over the world, the Shingo Prize is seen as the world’s highest standard for operational excellence.What follows are the ten core principles of Operational Excellence, as identified by the Shingo Institute in its Shingo Model.Respect Every IndividualEvery person in the organization must have respect: for other members of the organization, for management, for the customers, for suppliers and business partners, for the community that it belongs to, and for society in general.This does not stop at simply having respect; it must be demonstrated at all times . It is not enough to say that you respect every individual. You should also actively show that you mean it.People feel more motivated and empowered in their work performance when they know and feel that they are respected.The model also provided examples of ideal behavior that shows respect for every individual. One is for management to create and implement a development focused on employees, including their individual goals. Involving the employees in improving the tasks or job in their assigned areas is also another, since it shows that their input â€" beyond the minimum that is expected of them â€" is highly valued.In some companies, they also demonstrate respect by providing coaching and mentoring programs for their employees to learn from and enhance their skill sets.Lead with HumilityLeaders have to exercise humility, instead of keep a clear distance between him and those who are lower than him. A humble leader is one who is:willing to seek input from other members of the org anization, even those who are under him;listen to his subordinates and colleagues with care and caution, evaluating their input;willing to learn continuously from various sources.In short, the leader should not be close-minded and admit that he, too, has shortcomings. By acknowledging that he does not know everything and that he needs help from others, he will effectively shed all prejudices and focus on the resolution of problems or issues that the organization is currently facing.This humility will also help create an environment where employees will feel more respected. They will feel that their input is valued, and that their words are going to be heard. As a result, they will feel more motivated to work and perform better. Seek PerfectionJust because the phrase “nobody is perfect” is popular does not make it true. And just because it may be true does not mean that you cannot strive for it.When the organization cultivates a culture of “continuous improvement”, does it en d there? Should the organization make it its ultimate goal? Of course not. You should pursue perfection, no matter how unattainable it may seem. By setting the bar high, you will be more motivated to strive for operational efficiency.One way to demonstrate this behavior is by looking at problems and coming up with long-term solutions, instead of stop-gap or temporary measures. In some organizations, this attitude is demonstrated by how they continuously look for ways to simplify the work, without compromising its quality.Learn from Nordstrom how they transformed to a culture of continous improvement. Embrace Scientific ThinkingTaking a systematic approach towards ideas is a good way to ensure innovation and continuous improvement and, subsequently, operational excellence. And it’s not just the good ideas and results that will get this treatment. If anything, more focus may be given to failures in order to correct them.By setting a guide for response, management can encourage that all members of the organization take on a structured approach towards solving problems.Employees are also encouraged to come up with new ideas and not let fear of failure or authority stop them from expressing their thoughts and opinions.Focus on ProcessWhen you evaluate the reasons for failures or botched ideas, the natural response of many is to point fingers towards the person or persons involved, thinking it might be how they performed that caused it to fail. However, there is also a greater possibility that the problem is not with the person, but with the process itself.Processes can be imperfect, and that is what should first be looked at. When an error occurs, the first order of business is to assess which part or area of the process the error occurred in, so it can be better analyzed.This will allow the organization to make the necessary adjustments â€" change materials or components, rearrange work assignments or implement new steps in the process â€" to get the desired res ults.Assure Quality at the SourceThe moment an error is detected, it must be addressed immediately. It would be wasteful to let the whole process run its course, when the error or problem has been detected early on, say, on the second or third stage of the process. If you can do it right the first time, then do so.The portion of production management where plant or factory layout will play a very important role. This ensures that workflow is facilitated and organized in such a way that there would be no wastage, and the problem can be easily detected.Flow Pull ValueOne of the objectives of the organization is to provide value to customers, and ensure that said value is maximized. There is a real demand from the customers, so the organization should ensure the process and work flow is continuous and uninterrupted. After all, interruptions will mean waste and inefficiencies.To avoid waste, the organization should evaluate the customer demand and meet exactly that demand, instead of c reating more than is necessary. The company should also make sure that resources are readily available when required.For example, at the factory, they should ensure that raw materials are on hand when needed so as to avoid delays or backlogs caused by unavailable resources.Learn more about value stream mapping.[slideshare id=4692916doc=valuestreammappingfornon-manufacturing-martin-replacement-100706084816-phpapp01w=710h=400]Think SystemicallyMembers of the organization should avoid taking on a narrow vision.In a system, there are different components that are interconnected and interrelated, and it is necessary to understand these relationships and connections so as to make better decisions, especially with regards to operational improvements and efficiencies.Create Constancy of PurposeFrom the beginning, members of the organization are made aware of the goals, vision and mission of the organization. It should not be limited to that time only. It is important for the organization to emphasize on these goals the whole time, in order to encourage its employees to keep their actions and own objectives aligned with that of the organization.By constantly communicating with the employees and reiterating organizational goals with them, management will be able to successfully create constancy of purpose within the organization.Create Value for the CustomerIt is important for the organization to know what customer needs and demands it is trying to meet, because that is what they are willing to pay for.Sustainability will be assured if the organization ensures that it continuously delivers value to the customer. Staying in touch with the market, particularly the customers’ needs and wants, is one way.METHODOLOGIES AND TOOLS FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCEThrough operational excellence, an organization or enterprise can continuously improve in all its areas of performance and, in the process, achieve profitability, growth and sustainability.To do that, there are several met hodologies and tools that have been introduced over the years to achieve operational excellence. We will try to look at each of these tools.Toyota Production System (TPS)If you’ve heard of the concept of JIT or just-in-time production before, the TPS will no longer be completely new to you. It advocates “making only what is needed, when it is needed, and only the certain amount or quantity that is needed”.JIT manufacturing is aimed at the reduction of flow times in the production process as well as the shortening of the response time from suppliers and to customers. This principle also applies in TPS.Taking the principles of JIT, Japanese automobile maker Toyota developed its own system, combining it with the concept of jidoka or “autonomation”, which is basically defined as “automation with a human touch.”Combining these two together, Toyota came up with the principles embodied in what is now known as the “The Toyota Way”.Continuous improvement towards the realiza tion of goals and objectivesRespect for people and promotion of teamwork to stimulate personal, professional and organizational goalLong-term philosophy over achievement of short-term financial goals in decision-makingImplementation of the right process to produce the right resultsDevelop your people and your partners to increase their value to the organizationContinuous solving of root problems to drive organizational learningThe TPS introduced the words “muda”, “mura” and “muri”. Waste (or “muda” in Japanese) may be created through “muri” (overproduction) and “mura” (inconsistencies in the production process. TPS specifically identified seven types of waste or muda:Waste of overproduction or overburdenWaste of time on hand or waiting periodWaste of transportation and shippingWaste of processingWaste of keeping stock in handWaste of movementWaste of making defective productsIdentification of these wastes is the first step towards eliminating them, which is t he primary objective of the TPS. Lean Manufacturing or Lean Production (Lean)Lean provides a systematic method to eliminate waste within a production or manufacturing system. It takes its roots from TPS. Its philosophy focuses on “making obvious what adds value by reducing everything else”.Elimination of waste, however, is not the only thing that Lean is concerned about. The common goals of the Lean principle include:Quality improvement. This puts emphasis on the organization making conscious efforts to gain an understanding of the needs and wants of the customers, and developing design process that will enable them to meet those requirements and preferences.Waste elimination. If there are activities or resources of the company that are being wasted, or causing the company to have waste, and does not add value to the product or service, then there is a need to eliminate them.Activity time reduction. If the organization can shorten or lessen the time it takes to perform one proce ss or activity, without compromising on quality and incurring waste, then it should do what it can. The less time it would take, the less costs will be incurred, and there will also be less waste.Cost reduction. Profit maximization is always on the sights of all organizations, and one way to do that is to reduce overall or total costs.Lean also based its principles from that which was originally introduced by TPS. However, Lean took it a step further by introducing its own 7 wastes or ”muda”, with the acronym TIMWOOD.Transport â€" These are waste incurred during the act of moving products or materials that are not really needed for production.Inventory â€" These refer to the items or components in inventory that are not being processed but are merely being held in storage in the In-Process and Finished Goods inventories.Motion â€" Equipment, machinery and manpower may be moving more than is necessary during the production process.Waiting â€" Waste may also be incurred in between steps or stages of the production process, when there is a waiting period.Overproduction â€" If the organization produces more than the demand, or produces when there is no demand yet, waste is incurred.Over Processing â€" There is waste if the product underwent too much production or processing, such as re-tooling or rework, due to poorly performing equipment and tools and a poorly-designed production process.Defects â€" Inspection, detection and fixing of defects will also lead to waste when there should have been no defects from the very beginning.The concept of Lean is not limited solely to manufacturing and production, since it has also found its way to Lean services. This is where lean principles are applied to the service industry, such as call centers service providers.Software application development and maintenance and other areas of information technology also found the Lean principles to be applicable, giving rise to Lean IT. Six SigmaThis refers to a set of tools and t echniques that are designed for purposes of improving processes or, to be more specific, the quality of the output of processes. The tools and techniques are applied to identify the defects in the process and what causes them, and also identifying variability in the entire production or manufacturing flow, and minimizing them.Through Six Sigma, an enterprise will be able to increase its performance and simultaneously decrease process variation which, in turn, will reduce the number of defects of a process and improve profitability.Along the way, employee morale will also get a boost as the company’s reputation will also go up, thanks to its quality products and services.Six Sigma follows the following protocols:Creation of teams that will be assigned to projects with a direct impact on the organization’s profitability and growth.Training all members of the organization in “statistical thinking”, and key personnel in project management and advanced statistics.Establishment of a supportive management environment.Emphasis on the DMAIC approach to problem solving.Six Sigma also introduced several tools, methodologies and approaches, not just the DMAIC. We will go through the most commonly used ones.Learn more from the following Six Sigma Case Study.[slideshare id=30030280doc=ronnieminniesixsigma-140115001509-phpapp02w=710h=400]DMAICDMAIC is short for the “Define Measure Analyze Improve Control” process. Although it is known to be a part of Six Sigma, it can also be used as a standalone tool for the same purpose: to improve processes. DMAIC is specifically used for projects that are aimed at improving business processes that already exist.The five phases of this process are:Define the problem and proceed to identifying the project goals, customer requirements, activities aimed at improvement, and various opportunities for improvement.Measure performance of the process.Analyze the process in order to determine the root causes of variations, defects and p oor performance.Improve process performance by eliminating the root causes identified previously.Control the improved process performance, including that of future process performance.[slideshare id=44449370doc=sixsigmapresentation-150209103044-conversion-gate01w=710h=400]DMADVThis methodology means “Define Measure Analyze Design and Verify”. It is also known as the DFSS process, which stands for Design For Six Sigma.Just like the DMAIC, it may also be used as a standalone tool, despite how it has always been closely associated with Six Sigma. DMADV is used primarily for projects that are aimed at the creation of new product or process designs.Just like the DMAIC, DMADV also has five phases.Define the design goals, carefully ensuring that they remain consistent with the demands of the customer as well as the strategy of the organization.Measure the characteristics that are critical to quality (CTQ characteristics), product capabilities, production process capability, and risks.A nalyze the process and identify the weaknesses or areas that need improvement.Develop and design an improved alternative based on results of analysis.Verify the improved design through testing, pilot and trial runs. After that, the process should be implemented and turned over to the rightful owners.Scientific ManagementThis is a management theory concerned with the analysis and synthesis of workflows in order to improve labor productivity and overall economic efficiency. It is basically based on the premise that science may be applied to management and the engineering of business processes. This was first conceptualized by Frederick Winslow Taylor, which explains why it is also known as Taylorism.A famous follower of this methodology is Henry Ford, who used it to coincide with his own principles of mass production in factories. The emphasis of scientific management was on:Assembly-line factories in large-scale manufacturing; andRationalization and standardization of work through:Di vision of laborTime and motion studiesWork measurementPiece-rate wagesTaylor talked about four principles of scientific management:Replace rule-of-thumb work methods with methods that have tasks subjected to scientific studies and experimentation.Take active part in the scientific selection, training and development of workers, instead of letting them train themselves or seek self-improvement on their own.Cooperate with the workers in order to monitor compliance with the scientifically developed methods and tasks.Divide work equitably between managers and workers. In fact, Taylor even encouraged the division of work to be nearly equal. The managers are in charge of applying scientific principles in planning and managing the work, while the workers are in charge of actually carrying out the tasks set out by the managers.Today, scientific management is no longer as widely applied as before, due to some criticisms volleyed against it, which include increased work monotony and turning w orkers into machines or automatons.Employee self-esteem is also getting a hard hit when this is applied, since there is a tendency for them being overworked and getting tired with their tasks.However, some of its principles are still being applied to this day, but with certain modifications.Kanban ToolKanban is a method designed for the management of knowledge work, effectively balancing the demand for work to be done with the available capacity and capability to actually start new work. Many associate the word “kanban” with the scheduling system that is used in Lean Manufacturing and JIT Manufacturing.Incidentally, “kanban” is a Japanese term that literally translates to “billboard” or “signboard”. It was conceptualized by TaiichiOhno of Toyota, and his objective was to come up with a tool that will help improve manufacturing and operational efficiency. Perhaps the most concrete example that we can use is that of a manufacturing system that makes use of cards, or ka nban cards. In the assembly line of the production process, cards will be used to display a sequence of specifications and instructions, showing the flow of components or raw materials coming in and moving along the line.The Kanban Method does not tell you to change the processes that are currently in place. Instead, it encourages evolving the process that you have now.There are three founding principles in the Kanban method:Start with what you have (and do) right now. It means you will work with what you currently have. You are not going to implement major changes, or introduce new processes.Agree to pursue incremental and evolutionary change. It is a “slow but sure” approach. Instead of drastic changes or turnarounds, you are going to seek an evolution or slow shift or transition. Setting this attitude will set up the right attitude and work environment in the organization.Respect the current processes, roles and responsibilities. Major changes often bring fear in the minds of members of the organization. They will fear for the stability of their jobs and positions. Kanban takes this fear out of the equation.Kanban encourages the use of the following 5 core properties.Visualize the flow of work.Limit work in process.Manage the flow.Make process policies clear and explicit.Improve collaboratively. The use of models and the scientific method is highly encouraged.Kaizen ApproachKaizen, which is a Japanese term that means “improvement”, is defined as the “practice of continuous improvement”. If you take a look at the kanji characters for the word kaizen, it can be broken down into kai (change) and zen (good). That is why it is interpreted as a way for organizations to “change for the better” for continuous improvement and operational excellence.Basically, kaizen is used to create a culture of continuous improvement. All employees and workers are actively engaged and participative in improving business and work processes, and the organization as a whole. They will work proactively together to achieve regular and incremental improvements to the production process.As a lean manufacturing tool, it encourages continuous improvement in product quality, technology, processes, productivity and safety. Waste elimination is, of course, part of this bigger picture that it paints.There is one simple principle in Kaizen, and that is to look at the state of things, and see how they can be improved. Improve them once, twice and, if necessary, improve them over and over again. Many use Kaizen because it helps organizations increase their productivity, quality and customer satisfactions, while lowering costs and risks to employees or workers in the workplace.[slideshare id=52223703doc=preview-officekaizen08-2015-150830162523-lva1-app6891w=710h=400]5S MethodologyYou may have encountered the 5S methodology in your workplace. It is often described as a workplace organizational and “housekeeping” tool, which is also considered an effective tool in seeking continuous improvement and operational excellence.This has also been one of the techniques applied in JIT manufacturing.5S originally pertains to five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsuand shitsuke. Translated to English, the first letters also start with S.SortThe factory or production area may be crowded, giving workers a harder time to move around and perform their tasks. The clutter may be due to a lot of unnecessary items getting in the way, or being stored in nearby areas when they aren’t really needed in the process.The disorganization of these materials may also lead some workers to waste time in looking for the parts they need, because they will end up rummaging through items they do not really need, just to locate those that they do.Thus, there is a need to sort the items or components that are needed, and those that aren’t. Only the essentials or the items that are needed should be present in the work area. All items that are not necessary in the production process or operations must be removed.Set in OrderA disorganized work area may lead to a lot of waste: waste of time looking for items needed, waste of motion and energy on the part of the workers, waste of space due to excess inventory, waste of defective products because of disruptions in the process flow, and waste due to unsafe conditions.Set in order and arrange all the items that are needed so that they are easy to find and use. It is also advised to label them properly for easier identification.ShineA clean workspace is a good place to work in. Workers will feel more motivated to perform their best, and they will also be inclined to avoid incurring wastage. Worker morale will greatly benefit from a well-lit, well-ventilated and clean work area.Injuries and other workplace-related safety hazards will also be avoided. This also means that machines and other tools used in the process are kept in top and working condition.5S dictates that the work area, and ever ything in it, must be kept clean every day. For example, at the end of the day, someone should clean up before leaving the work area, so it will save time in cleaning up the next day, before the processes are began anew.StandardizeThere is a possibility that, over time, dirt and waste will accumulate if left unchecked. Therefore, there is a need to standardize.Management often imposes on all employees to conduct 5S in their respective workplace at the end of each working day. This means integrating the Sort, Set in Order and Shine principles in their individual tasks.Sustain5S should not be a one-time thing, or a once a month thing, or even a once in a year endeavor. See to it that it becomes a habit among the workers, to avoid backsliding and going back to their old ways.With the right mindset and culture, combined with the appropriate tools, an organization can achieve operational excellence. We may not have touched on all these tools and methodologies to implement and measure con tinuous improvement and operational excellence, but there is a wealth of resources out there, talking about these various useful tools.It’s just a matter of looking harder and finding the one that works best in your current organizational setup.

High-Performance Computing in Meteorology Essay - 275 Words

High-Performance Computing in Meteorology (Essay Sample) Content: High-performance computing in MeteorologyHigh-performance computing (HPC) also referred to as supercomputers are the future in the IT world and are the pinnacle in terms of getting maximum ability and use a computer. For this specific reason, supercomputers are only needed for certain tasks that require this sort of computing power. A supercomputer is the peak of processing capacity and with measurements of speed in nanoseconds it portrays just how super these machines are and the speeds they run at. This paper will look at high-performance computing in meteorology; ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s a very intriguing topic with supercomputers enhancing meteorology in terms of weather forecasting and climate change. Meteorology can be defined simply as the study of the atmosphere that is scientific in nature. It also encompasses observing weather events that occur on the Earthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s atmosphere. The earthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s atmosphere variables include air pressure, water vapour and temper ature. It is imperative to study how these variables interact and change over time, these will help the meteorological department in determining how this variable impact weather on the local region or the globe. This paper will critically analyse the current trends on the impact of high-performance computing on meteorology and future developments in the area as well as look back at the history and how it has progressed over time.The study of meteorology has gained a lot of renewed interest globally in terms of raising the environmental awareness, especially in the aftermath of the tsunami phenomenon. Weather anomalies can have far reaching impact on fields ranging from energy, infrastructure planning, and construction to agriculture. Therefore, there is a need to harness technological integration on meteorology. Meteorological data is not only extremely valuable but also vital in determining what impact it poses on the current or future weather patterns. Modernization through digi talization of meteorological services have improved over time, for instance, the introduction of high-performance computing have enabled the meteorological department to process data in a super speed manner. Given the fact that the use of meteorological data by the meteorologist and the public have been increasing over the years (J. T. Overpeck,2011) . Therefore, it becomes necessary for the need to employ high but efficient computing power such as the introduction of cloud computing.The historical background of meteorology dates back in 650 B.C through Babylonians prediction of weather changes through analyzing clouds appearance. In around 340 wrote meteorologica was written by a Greek philosopher that details formation of rain, hail, wind, thunder and many more meteorology variables. Western civilization on meteorology took centre stage in the year 1401-1464 by the introduction of hygrometer instrument used to measure air humidity. The invention of the telegraph and the teleg raphic networks in the nineteenth century led to the observation of weather from observers to compilers. Crude weather maps and weather patterns were derived from the data collected by these compilers; these resulted in sprouting of weather forecasting stations all across the world. Another great stride was made in meteorology in the year 1920 with radiosonde invention, an instrument that comprises of a variety of weather instruments and a radio transmitter. The instrument produced data that measures temperature and moisture content of the air and transmits it the weather station. These set the ball rolling for computer use in meteorology. For instance, in the year 1963 picture that was transmitted automatically from satellite was launched known as (APT). A camera with a high-resolution was mounted on the polar-orbiting satellite, the camera recorded the meteorological data and was broadcasted to the globe at a very high frequency (VHF). With these accomplishments on weather predic tion, pictures on the earth surface and atmosphere the focus now shifted on the incorporation of high-performance computing technology in meteorology. These were witnessed on the successful launch polar-orbiting satellites in 1972 that was designed using high- performance computing model. The model was equipped with land remote sensing that was able to analyze meteorological parameters and relied the same to the meteorological control centre.Advancement in technology in this century has revolutionized the way meteorology is approached. Though such scientific advancements have not been embraced fully (Ashford 1992). The introduction of outer space observation has changed our perception of the atmosphere; coupled by the introduction of large-scale motion and the observational breakthrough have given out a platform for taking advantage of the HPC. The world was fascinated by creation of the numerical weather prediction model ( Phillips 1951) after the world war two; these set the sta ge for the advancement of weather forecasting. McIntyre (1988) laments that the ability of human beings to process plays a significant role in weather forecasting compared with the computational model. Though the scientist had predicted that the future human forecasters will take a back seat while technological based weather forecast will take precedence. Doswell 1992 highlighted the importance of integrating data with the models to be used in meteorology.The current trend that shapes the HPC is the rapid integration of super- computing power coupled with data depositories that are large enough to sufficiently handle a large volume of data. In the meteorological arena there are significant challenges involved in predicting the frequency and outcome of extreme weather patterns, but due to technological advancement of HPC it has made it easy to predict these meteorological variables. The current development of high-performance computing is used in the different field of meteorology , that includes aviation weather, severe weather and tropical weather (Raymond S. Bradley, Philip D. Jones,1992). Through the use of (HPC), meteorologist have managed to predict weather pattern to almost month ahead. Today we have a plethora of computer algorithms that are used to create weather forecast computer models such as Global Forecast Model that can predict the weather up to upwards of fifteen days ahead. Moreover, meteorologist have incorporated the use of upper air observation through the use of weather balloons that is used to measure weather parameters and records them and finally transmits it to the weather station. Furthermore, they have created and employed the use of sea level networks for marine observation. Which are generally used for detecting and issuing warning on the imminent occurrence of a tsunami, tide observation and for monitoring sea level. Numerical weather prediction has also be used, and they utilize mathematical models for predicting weather on the atmosphere and ocean (Pitcher Partners, 2011).Future development on the use of high- performance computing in meteorology will be shaped by the use polar and geostationary satellites integrated with the state of the art computers fitted with upgraded hardware and advanced meteorological instruments. These satellites will employ the use of high-performance computing that will be used to gather meteorological data and seamlessly transmits the same to the weather forecast control centres. The proposed satellite will be fitted with infrared and microwave sensors that can generate three-dimensional images or information regarding the state of temperature, moisture and pressure of the atmosphere. Since, infrared sensors can easily measure the space whilst the microwave sensors can effortlessly be used to analyze the earthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s surface. During the berlin show, the world had a sneak peek of the second generation satellites to be used for weather f...