LAKSHYA- A BEACON OF KNOWLEDGE, MARCH EDITION 2023

Lakshya is an initiative by Club Kaizen which is our monthly supplement designed for people who dare to think above the average and believe in connecting the dots. In an age where technology has taken over every sphere, information is abundant and data is omnipresent, we have conspired to bring to you a collection of thoughtfully created and carefully curated pieces of work by some bright aspiring minds of ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad on the current trends and hot topics in the field of Operations Management and their relevance in different Industries.

Everything is growing at the pace of nanoseconds and hence it is quintessential to know about every minute change in the ecosystem. With Lakshya we aim to present our readers with compact yet explicit articles on vivid topics such as the Internet, Banking, IT, IoT, etc. A fair share of this edition focuses majorly on the banking systems and payment gateways. With the constantly evolving technology, it will be interesting to ponder over changes that could be seen soon.

We look forward to providing the students with some valuable insights and inculcate the passion for reading once again within our readers.

Lakshya is an amazing platform for readers as well as aspiring readers to showcase their talent and pen down their thoughts which in turn will be a gold mine for information for the students of not only IBS but from the outside world too.

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OUR KNOWLEDGE PARTNER

Club Kaizen is privileged to have The International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA, USA) as the Knowledge Partner from Lakshya’s 24th edition.

To be a single source for Total Supply Chain Knowledge through Education, Certification, and Recognition is the mission of ISCEA. Many workshops/events are conducted by ISCEA to improve the knowledge of manufacturing and service industry professionals.

ISCEA provides a platform to explore leadership potential to the aspiring leaders in the supply chain industry while developing the skill sets and knowledge desired by corporations, through SCNext (ISCEA Young Supply Chain Professional Association).

Some of the internationally recognized certification programs developed by ISCEA include1. Certified Supply Chain Analyst (CSCA).

2. Certified Demand Driven Planner (CDDP).

3. Supply Chain Case Competition.

To know more about ISCEA, visit http://www.iscea.net/india.

We look forward to working with ISCEA in spreading knowledge and reaching greater heights together.

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EDITOR’S LETTER “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it."

Welcome to the 58th edition of “LAKSHYA”, our monthly supplement designed for people who take that one extra step to reach perfection. To step above the average, one needs to strive for excellence.

That is exactly what we aim to achieve here. Preaching continuous improvement since its inception, Club Kaizen brought forward this magazine, which enables young writers to garner a platform where they can learn, grow and re-learn new things every day. A magazine is a tool that aids students and professional managers to get deeper insights into the current trends and latest happenings around the world.

Lakshya is an amalgamation of articles from corporate professionals, faculties, and students from reputed organizations and institutions all across the world. The articles published through Lakshya aims to provide a hands-on experience from great minds and business leaders who wish to inculcate theoretical concepts and strategies with practical implementation. We all collectively wish to bring in the best, organic and fresh ideas from the young pool of budding managers as well.

Also, the most important aspect of a magazine is that it provides a platform for students to enhance and improve their writing skills, it would also create an environment for them to enrich their thought process where they research and write articles.

We hope that you like this issue and please let us know if there are any areas or topics that you'd like us to address in upcoming editions. Please write to us and become a part of this discussion.

Email ID: kaizenclub.ibs@gmail.com

SHIVANGI JAIN SENIOR CREATIVE OFFICER Club Kaizen – IBS Hyderabad Batch 2022-24

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CONTENTS

S. NO.

TITLE

PAGE NO.

1

From the Mentor’s Desk

5

2

Technologies to control air pollution

7

3

Operations Manager’s Role – Bridge between Management and Operations Team

11

4

Agile Project Management

14

5

Management of Waiting Lines

19

6

How McDonald’s operations and chain management has given the company a competitive sustainable edge

22

7

In what ways can technology aid the expansion of microfinance institutions?

25

8

Evolution of demand forecasting methods through the years

29

9

Introduction to Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)

33

10.

3D printing and its Impact on New Product Development

37

11

Decision of risks could Hamper Production

41

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From the Mentor’s Desk In the era of competition, students must be prepared for the ever-changing business environment. Knowledge creation plays an important role to learn to tackle the dynamic nature of business.

I appreciate and congratulate the initiative of club KAIZEN for bridging the gap between the corporate world and academia through LAKSHYA which is an excellent platform where industry practitioners, academicians, and researchers can share their knowledge and experience, acting as a beacon guiding students to reach their goal.

My best wishes to Club KAIZEN in their endeavor of knowledge creation through LAKSHYA.

Dr. Nishit Kumar Srivastava Mentor, Club Kaizen

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FACULTY’S INSIGHTS

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Ms. Shubhangi V Urkude Assistant Professor Department of Operations Management and IT IBS, Hyderabad.

Technologies to Control Air pollution Introduction: Some people may wonder why pollution needs to end when the ecosystem is not as badly damaged as some claim. The environment is actually far more impacted than any of us realize.

In addition to providing us with clean air, a better lifestyle, clear visibility, a healthy environment for all Earth's inhabitants, and other benefits, controlling pollution will lower health risks, liability risks, and economic losses.

The governments of different nations and organizations throughout the world have made numerous efforts to lessen the negative impacts of pollution on our environment. The United Nations Environment Programme is one of the initiatives the UN has taken, with the goal of inspiring people all over the globe to collaborate, protect the environment, and take action to raise standards of living for not just current generations but also future generations. In order to bring representatives of all member countries together to discuss environmental challenges, raise awareness, and spur action, the United Nations has also proclaimed June 5 of each year as World Environment Day. One of the most promising areas for enhancing air quality is the development of new technology.

We've created techniques to stop air pollution both inside and outside, from catalytic converters to low-emitting consumer goods. We will talk about six innovations that are actively preventing air pollution from hurting our environment and our health in recognition of these technological advances. Regulatory and market-based approaches to reducing air pollution had already been considered; each had advantages and disadvantages of its own. We will address each invention separately rather than discussing technology as a whole because new innovations typically do not have the same kind of cost-benefit ratio as these other ways.

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Here are some of the technologies that are clearing our skies:

Multi – pollutant Monitoring Devices: Although this piece of equipment does not directly reduce emissions or clean the air, it is still an essential component of the system that controls air pollution. Factories, power plants, and other sources of pollution all produce more than one pollutant; on the other hand, some pollution control methods do so as well. Multi-pollutant monitoring lowers the expense and time burden of ambient pollution monitoring while enabling regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with emission limitations for a variety of pollutants.

Catalytic Convertors: One of the most important sources of air pollution worldwide is vehicle exhaust. Gasoline and diesel-powered cars were fitted with catalytic converters, a device that catalyzes a redox reaction that converts harmful air pollutants into less harmful pollutants, in response to increasingly rigorous environmental restrictions starting in the 1970s. There are some drawbacks to catalytic converters. For starters, these devices may limit exhaust flow, lowering vehicle performance and fuel efficiency. Moreover, catalytic converters have a warmup time during which the car can release as much pollution as it wants. These converters have drawbacks as well; many of them call either platinum or palladium, which are scarce metals that pollute during the refining process.

Scrubbers: Scrubbers are a sort of pollution-control tool that eliminates air pollutants from industrial emissions, including Sulphur dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen sulphide, and hydrogen chloride. Wet scrubbers and dry scrubbers are the two primary categories of scrubbers that will be covered. Wet scrubbers, which range in energy level, employ a liquid (often water) to collect particles or gases from an air stream. A spray tower is a typical low-energy wet scrubber that disperses liquid by sending exhaust through an open vessel equipped with sprayers. The liquid either absorbs the target gas or takes up floating particles as the exhaust passes through the apparatus. Dry scrubbers work similarly, except instead of spraying a liquid, these devices spray dry chemicals into the flue stream, neutralizing gases before they can enter the atmosphere.

Scrubbers are a very useful technology for pollution management because they keep populations near industrial hubs like power plants and water treatment facilities from being harmed by harmful air pollutants. Furthermore, because these devices don't interfere with production, commercial and industrial activity can continue without an increase in air pollution.

CFC and HCFC Substitutes: After the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, the manufacturing and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), both of which reduce the ozone layer, were gradually phased out. We needed to develop substitutes for CFCs and HCFCs because they were often employed as solvents, propellants, and refrigerants yet had a high potential to deplete the ozone layer (ODP). Hydrofluorocarbons 8| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

(HFCs) are one of the primary CFC and HCFC replacements used today. Long story short, HFCs lack chlorine, which is the chemical that is primarily to blame for destroying the ozone layer

Conclusion: Environmental pollution is burning issue in the current situation. There should be some measures to control the pollution if not it will affect entire world and all the living and nonliving things exist on the earth. Due to increase in pollution the global warming started and the effect of that every year average temperature is increasing by 5 degrees. The iceberg present in the Atlantic Ocean is melting by increasing the sea water level. This will lead to the increase in the volume of salt water. Very soon there will be shortage of drinking water. Major reason for pollution is the Carbon emission due to various sources like industries, vehicles, burning wastages, plastics, charcoal, excessive use of electronic gadgets, deforestation and so on. This article is discussed about some of the tools which will reduce the carbon emitted by various sources up to certain extent.

About the Author Shubhangi V Urkude is an Assistant Professor in department of Operations and IT, in ICFAI Business School. She has 11 years of teaching experience and published 10 papers in reputed journals, conferences etc. Her research areas are machine learning, blockchain technology, social network analysis, natural language processing and various applications of these technologies.

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CORPORATE ANGLE

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Mrs. Rohini Ramapriya Associate Operations Manager JPMC Operations Manager’s Role – Bridge between Management and Operations Team

Introduction Operations Manager role is a crucial role in performing it as a bridge between High Level Management Team and the Operations Team. The Operations Manager has to first understand the objectives or goals of the Company or Procedures, as a Whole and break the objectives to suite the team activities that are performed by the individual team members. An operations Manager should be able to sync the individual goals with the Company goals or the objectives.

Additionally, The Manager should be able to gain an understanding of how the team should support the firms' objectives and assign the objectives to the team and ensure the task is run smoothly. It is important that the Manager should first learn all the procedures in detail and have a good knowledge of the activities that are performed by his team members. This would help him in resolving the issues and concerns that arises within the team and will be able to handle the escalations appropriately. Necessarily, they should be able to communicate any escalations to the management team with a proper hierarchy so that the issue is being made understood by the Senior Management Team as well.

Operations manager should prioritize his/her work schedules and ensure that all the requirements are delivered on a timely manner. Manager should always keep track of the performance of the team members and ensure that the feedbacks are given to the team members on a monthly basis as per the goals set to the team member. This would help the team member to understanding their progress on a month-on-month basis avoiding unnecessary discussion during year end performance discussion. Furthermore, the Operations Manager would take back all the concern and issues of their team members to the senior management team, which can help the management team to take necessary steps to improve the work-life balance and resolve the issue of the teams. This, successively would increase the performance of the teams and also help to achieve the company goals. This is one of the Operations Managers’ Role as a bridge between Management Team and Operation Team. Likewise, Managers also act as a bridge between 11| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

several other inter-connecting teams to coordinate and ensure his/her process is run smoothly.

What happens when finance and operations operate together?

Operations performs as a skeleton for every organization. It provides supports to different cross functional teams. In this article we will discuss how operations is providing its support to the financial team. Both finance and operations work simultaneously, thus we can say both are crucial for the business incorporations. In generally a typical question might arises that what a finance teams do? Well to answer this here are few insights and one can understand the relevance and necessity of financial team.

Majority of the finance team traditional responsibilities are to maintain accounts and create financial weekly reports, monthly reports, quarterly and annually. The importance of the finance department has reached to that extent where the company major decisions will be taken by the finance departments. With their expertise, knowledge, the top management is involving the financial teams to take crucial decisions. To understand in a better way few examples are explained in detailed. For example conducting financial planning and analysis in order to facilitate strategic planning. Anay zing financial and planning for realistic forecasts is crucial and difficult. Tremendous efforts will be put by the internal team in order to get the accurate results. Companies major focus is more on getting the accurate results but not the simple results.

Forecasting is a recent technique which is helpful for the many cross functional teams and predict how well the firm performs in future. The method compares expected and actual results to find areas for improvement.

Additionally, it enables the company to remain adaptable and manage interruptions like losing clients to a rival. Another example could be managing the risks to avoid unpleasant surprises.

For many companies’ debt has become a bane. However, debt is not considered as bad. It does, however, provide a number of hazards. As a result, finance teams work to determine and assess the risks that could affect a company. To forecast measurable impact, it takes into account a number of variables, including interest rates, legal complexities, and more. Financial and operations work together in managing the budget for optimum Return on Investment. Finance department is a treasurer which never runs out of money. However, this money should not be utilized for unnecessary purposes.

To control all these additional expenses operations department, interfere and control the additional non required expenses. As a result, financial experts oversee working capital and produce the appropriate estimates. The group also takes part in capital budgeting to aid in corporate expansion. The best initiatives are found, and the risks of using the capital that is available are evaluated in order to get the best return on investment.

How does a typical operations team and finance team collaborate together to perform organization functions 12| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

An operations team keeps track of the internal aspects that guarantee a business's profitability. It makes an effort to provide all the necessary circumstances for the company to produce the proper goods. Operations teams are hence directly related to client satisfaction. Consider the situation of a restaurant. The management of the inventories and raw materials will fall within the purview of the operations team. But the procedure is trickier than most people realize. You must guarantee the availability of raw materials as well as their quality and freshness. Your operations will also take into account the price of the personnel, materials, and related procedures. Also, it will aim to establish long-term ties with suppliers and vendors.

Some typical functions are mentioned below:  Managing and facilitating the optimum use of resources  Ensuring products and services meet customer needs  Helping C-suite in planning KPIs  Assessing customer feedback to suggest improvements  Optimizing supply chain to boost productivity  Managing and minimizing costs and risks Each operations team's ultimate objective is to inspire all stakeholders to support the value of a firm. It also contributes significantly to quality control and enhancing the company's reputation.

The operations team is therefore just as important to any business or entrepreneur as the financial team.

About the Author Mrs. Rohini Ramapriya is a professional with more than 25 years and a handful of experience and in-depth exposure to the entire spectrum of planning, implementing process management, team management, client serving, escalation, and MIS. She is expertise in developing and motivating highly focused teams which successfully meet and exceed the company’s objectives.

Her core competencies are operations management, customer relationship management, quality assurance, MIS reporting, process improvements, SLA management, etc. She is a highly dedicated individual with a reputation for consistently going beyond by using high personal standards to achieve results. .

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Mr. Satish Chandra Mishra Assistant Vice President at DBS Bank, Singapore

Agile Project Management

Introduction

Agile project Management is a flexible way of building a project management. APM (agile project Management) away by which a project can be managed by dividing it into several sprints. APM doesn’t work on delivering the entire final project at the end, rather it believes in dividing the project into small tasks, eventually it reaches its desired stage. APM process doesn’t needs any supervisor i.e., a project manager and his central authority is not required.

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Agile Development Cycle Agile development cycle methodologies consist of several small cycles. By the end of each stage, we will get a mini project. Let us discuss here the various sprints in detail. a.) Product Backlog: this module explains the relevant changes in the features, suggests new changes and also other improvements in the project. b.) Sprint Backlog: In this module there are list of tasks that are yet to complete during each sprint.

This module is a combination of planning, design, testing and release, and this is a cyclic process.

By the end of the each sprint there is a mini project that will be delivered to us, and new featured are embedded in each mini project. Every mini project will be playing a significant role for the overall development of the project. After adding the new features to the existing projects and suggesting new, there might be a less change of project failure.

Why industries are turning towards Agile Project Management?

In this era, Agile Project Management has been adopted by various industries, such as software companies, product development, marketing campaigns, and even in construction companies.

The reasons that industries are showing their interest towards agile management are as follows: 1.) High product quality: it refers to the smooth functioning of the project, by fulfilling the demands of all the stake holders. Product quality testing is performed through the entire project development process. Regular checks will be conducted to improve the project quality.

2.) High customer satisfaction: projects will be developed based on the customer requirements.

Thus, customers are having a keen idea on everything that has been done by the end of the project.

They also expect the project should be delivered swiftly. A difficulty associated is customer may change their requirements at any stage in the project.

3.) Reduced risk: the project is divided into small modules, so even if the risk is vulnerable in the first sprint, it will not affect the second sprint. Risk analysis is simultaneously done with other project processes. Adapting to the client’s requirements all through the development phase is a major phase.

4.) Better Return on Investment: the project is completed in several versions, so the project is market-ready after a few versions. Agile helps in the fast release of the project and help stay ahead in competition with other companies. Agile project took a long time to complete and deploy earlier can now be released as beta versions of the project.

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Steps in Agile Project Management The goal of agile methodology is to produce shorter development lifecycles and more frequent product releases than traditional waterfall project management.

Agile Project Management: A six methodology framework a) Project Planning: project planning is a step that ensures everyone understands the end goal and value of that project. Here, the scope is developed and the work is estimated by breaking it into sprints or iterations. This includes feasibility study development of scope dividing the task into executable tasks and the time estimated to complete the tasks. b) Roadmap Creation: a roadmap is a list of all the features that the final product should have.

It acts as a plan of action on how a project will evolve. Hence, the road map is an integral part of the plan as these features are built during each sprint. c) Release Planning: A plan is made for all feature releases and this plan is revisited at the beginning of each mini project. Agile project methodology uses shorter development cycles, with features released at the end of each cycle. d) Sprint Planning: it ensures that each team member has an assigned task before the sprint begins. The stakeholders need to plan what is to accomplished in that sprint and that the workload is evenly shared amongst the team. e) Daily context: these meetings help the team in accomplishing their daily tasks in an efficient manner. During these meetings, each team member tells what they have accomplished the previous day and what is their task for the present day. f) Sprint Review and Retrospective: Sprint review and retrospective helps the team to inspect itself and plan to make changes to improve the forth coming sprints. Sprint retrospective takes place after the sprint review, and before the next sprint planning.

The evolution of Agile Project management Businesses face a lot of Volatility, Uncertainty, complexity and Ambiguity. They recognize that agile and the framework that derive from it and provides away to overcome those challenges.

The Agile Manifesto, is a philosophy, has evolved for 30 years. One of the emerging frameworks is called DevOps. DevOps is a combination of development and IT operations. Google platform defines DevOps as an organizational and cultural movement that aims to increase software delivery velocity, improve service reliability and build shared ownership among software stakeholders. Like all other frameworks DevOps aims to shorten the product lifecycle and deliver software products continuously with comprising with the quality. DevOps emerged when software companies were trying to figure out to ensure their software products would run reliably for billions of people across the world. It is a difficult task to break the product into bits and pieces. If a business has the ability to launch product and features fast and reliable to a global market place that’s a significant 16| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

competitive advantage. DevOps is growing and managing teams and organizations that can build and evolve large – scale systems at a rapid pace. These systems need to be secure and reliable, so they can better deliver value to the customers.

Conclusion Agile Project Management is a flexible way of building a project management. It helps in managing the entire development process of a project. A team member will be responsible for managing their own sprints and they will be responsible for delivering the product to customers, partners, vendors and other stakeholders. Agile projects are divided into mini projects that can be delivered incrementally over time, so it’s easy to see how Agile Project Management can help businesses achieve their goals.

About the Author Satish possesses nearly 25 years of industry experience in managing end-to-end complex projects in client intelligence data analytics, finance, legal and compliance domain in banking applying Agile Scrum conceptualization and visualization to technology mapping & execution of projects.

Satish has been an Agile champion practicing Agile Scrum since 2012. He has worked with Fortune 500 organizations such as American Express, Credit Suisse, ANZ And is now currently working DBS Bank based at Singapore

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EMERGING MANAGERS

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Mr. Akshay Kumar MBA, 2022 - 2024 International Management Institution New Delhi Management of Waiting Lines Introduction Awaiting line is when one or more customers wait for service. The customers can be people or objects, such as machines waiting for maintenance, sales orders waiting to be processed or shipped, or materials in inventory waiting to be used. In order to get an intuitive feeling for the behavior of waiting lines, let us start with a very simple model where the rate of the arrivals is homogeneous (i.e., the time between successive arrivals is always the same, like clockwork), and the rate of service is also homogeneous. Two observations can immediately be made: 1. If the rate of service is faster than the rate of arrival (even for a tiny bit), there will never be a queue and every arrival will be serviced immediately.

2. If the rate of service is slower than the rate of arrival (again even if by a tiny bit), the queue will continuously grow, and in theory could reach infinity.

Many people are surprised to learn that waiting lines tend to form even though a system is basically underloaded. For example, a fast-food restaurant may have the capacity to handle an average of 200 orders per hour and yet experience waiting lines even though the average number of orders is only 150 per hour. In reality, customers arrive at random intervals rather than at evenly spaced intervals, and some orders take longer to fill than others. In other words, both arrivals and service times exhibit a high degree of variability. services cannot be performed ahead of time and stored until needed, the system at times becomes temporarily overloaded, giving rise to waiting lines. However, at other times, the system is idle because there are no customers. It follows that in systems where variability is minimal or nonexistent (e.g., because arrivals can be scheduled and service time is constant), waiting lines do not ordinarily form. Just in Time or Lean systems strive to achieve this.

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Characteristics There are numerous queuing models from which an analyst can choose. Naturally, much of the success of the analysis will depend on choosing an appropriate model. Model choice is affected by the characteristics of the system under investigation. The main characteristics are: 1.) Population Source: The approach to use in analyzing a queuing problem depends on whether the potential number of customers is limited. There are two possibilities: infinite-source and finite-source populations. In an infinite-source situation, the potential number of customers greatly exceeds system capacity. Infinite-source situations exist whenever service is unrestricted.

Examples are supermarkets, drugstores, banks, restaurants, theaters, amusement centers, and toll bridges. When the potential number of customers is limited, a finite-source situation exists. An example is the repair technician responsible for a certain number of machines in a company.

2.) Number of Servers (Channels): The capacity of queuing systems is a function of the capacity of each server and the number of servers being used. The terms server and channel are synonymous, and it is generally assumed that each channel can handle one customer at a time.

Systems can be either single- or multiple-channel. A group of servers working together as a team, such as a surgical team, is treated as a single-channel system. Multiple-channel systems, those with more than one server are commonly found in banks, at airline ticket counters, at auto service centers, and at gas stations. A related distinction is the number of steps or phases in a queuing system. For example, at theme parks, people go from one attraction to another. Each attraction constitutes a separate phase where queues can usually do form.

3.) Arrival and Service Patterns: Waiting lines are a direct result of arrival and service variability. They occur because random, highly variable arrival and service patterns cause systems to be temporarily overloaded. In many instances, the variabilities can be described by theoretical distributions. In fact, the most commonly used models assume that arrival and service rates can be described by a Poisson distribution or, equivalently, that the interarrival time and service time can be described by a negative exponential distribution.

The psychology of waiting Despite management’s best efforts, in some instances it is not feasible to shorten waiting times.

Nevertheless, steps can be taken in certain situations that make the situation more acceptable to those waiting in line, particularly when the waiting line consists of people. The importance of doing so should not be underestimated. Studies have shown a difference, sometimes a remarkable difference between the actual time customers spend waiting and their perceived time.

Several factors can influence the differences. One is the reason for being in line for example waiting for police or fire personnel, waiting at the emergency room, having other appointments or a plane or train to catch. Aside from those situations, where the level of anxiety can make even short waits seem long, in many instances management can reduce their customers’ 20| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

perception of the waiting time, those waiting in line have nothing else to occupy their thoughts, they often tend to focus on the fact that they are waiting in line and usually perceive the waiting time to be longer than the actual waiting time. Conversely, if something else occupies them while they wait, their perception of the waiting time is often less than their actual waiting time.

Examples of distractions include in-flight snacks, meals or videos, and magazines and televisions in waiting rooms. Giving customers something to do while waiting, such as filling out forms, can make their wait seem productive. Of course, some customers provide their own distractions.

Also, informing customers how long the wait will be can reduce anxiety. For example, call centers sometimes announce the expected waiting time before a service representative will be available, and restaurants usually are able to tell patrons how long they will wait to be seated.

Managers constraints Managers may be able to reduce waiting times by actively managing one or more system constraints. Typically, in the short term, the facility size and the number of servers are fixed resources. However, some other options might be considered: Use temporary workers: Using temporary or part-time workers during busy periods may be possible. Trade-offs might involve training costs, quality issues, and perhaps slower service than would be provided by regular workers.

Shift demand: In situations where demand varies by time of day, or time of week, variable pricing strategies can be effective in smoothing demand more evenly on the system. Theaters use this option with lower prices to shift demand from busy times to slower times. Restaurants offer early-bird specials to accomplish this. Some retail businesses offer coupons that are valid only for certain (slow) days or times.

Standardize the service: We saw the effect of constant service on waiting lines compared to nonconstant service the number and time in line were cut in half). The more service can be standardized, the greater the impact on waiting lines.

Look for a bottleneck: One aspect of a process may be largely responsible for a slow service rate; improving that aspect of the process might yield a disproportionate increase in the service rate. Employees often have insights that can be exploited.

Conclusion Queues are an important part of the world of operations management. In this seminar, we describe common queuing systems and presented mathematical models for analyzing them. Forecasts are a critical part of the part of the operations manager’s function.

Demand forecast drives a firm’s production, capacity, and scheduling systems and affects the financial, marketing, and personnel planning functions. Qualitative approaches employ judgement, experience, intuition and different factors difficult to qualify, while quantitative approaches use historical data and causal or associative relations, to project future demand.

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Ms. Ankita Giri M.com, 2022 – 24 Delhi School of Economics How McDonald’s Operation and Chain Management Has Given the Company a Competitive Sustainable Edge Report

Introduction Research has uncovered that using staples has become a typical practice that has acquired worthiness in the public eye. Consequently, organizations like McDonald’s have embraced utilizing manageable methods to help their activities, mainly using supply chains. Since it is one of the fastest food administration shops, the organization has various diversified eateries in a few regions. This has empowered the organization to adjust its human asset and client requirements.

For example, McDonald’s has worked on its functional administration inside the stock chains.

This is one variable that has raised its tasks to a manageable edge. The organization has fostered areas of strength between its franchisees and the providers, making it conceivable to convey perfect and essential administrations to clients.

McDonald's tasks are designed in a way that they use franchisees to connect to the global market.

From a cautious survey of the history, more than 10,000 establishment shops are overseen and worked inside and outside the US. The organization has had the option to contact nearby shoppers directly through establishment activity. Also, the foundation of various chains in various regions has empowered the organization to connect more individuals than other organizations managing food items. For example, proof has been uncovered that the organization has laid out a limit of 20,000 cafés over 100 expresses everywhere. 80% of these eateries are establishments. Consequently, fostering a worldwide showcasing methodology is one issue that has situated the organization at a supportable edge.

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It is vital to note that a large portion of the organization's hierarchical tasks, for example, providing and creating consumable items, are outfitted towards fulfilling clients' necessities.

Thus, the organization's duties are described by special missions, even circulation, and the creation of normalized items for end clients.

Besides, inside the tasks and supply chains, the organization has utilized a promoting blend methodology that goes about as the ruling establishment through which showcasing plan is laid.

More consideration has been followed through on the four ideas: cost, items, spot, and advancement. Furthermore, various factors have been consolidated in the promoting blend.

These incorporate individuals, processes, and actual areas, known as the 7ps.

As indicated by Withiam, supply binds have been seen to be the most suitable devices for expanding the interest in delivered merchandise by the organization. Also, the stock chains guarantee that the organization can execute and address clients' issues. Hence, supply affixes enhance the activities of the organization. Rainbird alludes to the stockpile chains as worth impetuses.

At McDonald, the stockpile binds are intentionally made to guarantee deliberate administration, and consequently, they help to change the hierarchical potential into the real world. It is critical to note that the organization has embraced utilizing an inventory network to lessen functional expenses, reward buyers, and lift efficiencies. This has generally assisted with raising the standing of the organization on a worldwide scale.

Truly, supply chains increment association strength inside the market and subsequently set off the administration to fix approaching difficulties determined to increment adequacy in its activities. This has made it workable for the organization to accomplish long-haul objectives.

Furthermore, Lashley explains that the inventory network impacts hierarchical activities and sets off essential reasoning.

For instance, McDonald’s Organization has expanded its efficiency to guarantee consistent stock inside the chains. It requires the supervisory group to think usually and concoct a viable method for developing the creation proportion to accomplish the objectives. Expanding the supply of staples through diversified cafés has made the association dependable.

Clients gain certainty with the organization's products since they are accessible and available.

This is one of the elements that have empowered McDonald’s to acquire fame and acknowledgment, thus uplifting its functional maintainability edge.

With I am explains that the future business presence is exceptionally subject to the dedication of end clients. In this situation, devotion can be accomplished by upgrading excellent quality and convenient client administrations. There are various ways that McDonald’s has utilized to support client dependability in its tasks and cycles inside supply chains.

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For example, decreased costs have empowered clients to favour their items over those from different organizations. Subsequently, it is distinct that the client situated calculated become a good idea in the association. Most associations produce merchandise; however, they can't go after shoppers successfully in remote spots.

Consequently, clients must avoid using such products or even note their reality. Therefore, the store network assists with connecting for comonomers who don't need to cause additional expenses to get these items. Subsequently, since McDonald’s has figured out how to get to different regions of the planet, this has helped the fame of its merchandise and consequently raised its manageability edge.

For a considerable time, McDonald's has had the option to incorporate its business processes through the inventory chains. This has offered clients support, items, data, and influence worth.

Supply chains likewise improve coordination by which the progression of merchandise is managed by providers and dispersed equitably to end clients. Moreover, the foundation of various chains assists with circulating the organization's labor and products in multiple locales, an element that builds the piece of the pie.

To recap everything, McDonald’s is an organization that arrangements with groceries. The organization is perhaps the biggest café in the USA and has various diversified bistros from one side of the planet to the other. It has created vital activities and supply chains, empowering it to increase its maintainability edge amid contenders. For instance, the organization has various diversified eateries worldwide, making it conceivable to build the deal volume.

The organization has likewise settled various stockpile chains in additional than 100 nations everywhere. This has made it conceivable to disperse products equally to fulfill its end clients.

Prominently, a solid arrangement of diversified eateries and supply chains has made it feasible for the hierarchical activities to address the issues of clients agreeably. Other pivotal factors have been a significant concentration for the organization. These incorporate quality, cost, item, area, individuals, and climate.

Conclusion Macdonald's activity and supply chains have empowered the organization to acquire the upper hand in the worldwide market. Late study reports showed that the organization has strived to create supportable and dynamic methodologies to help its activity remain top among its rivals in the robust business climate. This paper examines how McDonald's activity and chain executives have given the organization a bitter and reasonable edge.

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Ms. Navya Reddy MBA, 2022-2024 IBS Hyderabad In what ways can technology aid the expansion of microfinance institutions?

Microfinance institutes are those organizations that provide low-income people with financial assistance. Microloans, micro-savings, and microinsurance are some of these offerings. The primary objective of microfinance is to quickly make financial services available to all social classes equally by assisting them in becoming self-sufficient and, at the same time, encouraging social change among specific community segments.

Worldwide usage of digital technologies is accelerating, significantly affecting how people live.

Digital innovation expands possibilities, opens up new communication channels, and boosts productivity for both people and companies.

In India, the Gujarat-based Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) established SEWA Bank in 1974 and was the first organization to implement microfinance. Since then, this bank has offered financial support to those looking to expand their businesses in rural regions.

Features of technology in MIF's  Customer centricity  Reduce operational risk  New business models  Partnership and collaboration  Consumer protection Since the early 2000s, technology use has been crucial to MFI growth and an essential objective for the regulator, supported by ongoing changes in consumer literacy and the rising use of digital contact methods. For instance, a study by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to evaluate the adoption of digital payments in India revealed that 25% of consumers in lowerincome groups are likely to choose digital modes of the transaction (average household income per year: INR 110,000). For customers on unified national platforms, 34 India Stack has given the required digital infrastructure and rails with various interconnected services. The economy

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centered around a paperless, cashless, presence less, and consent-based framework with four primary levels.

Lending value chain its components and use of technology in it: Customer Acquisition: With the help of digital tools and goods like mobile point-of-sales(mPoS), kirana shops, mobile recharge locations, and local influencers can interact with, attract, and serve underprivileged consumers by giving them a seamless digital experience in a secure setting.

Additionally, facilitating these solutions are video-based KYC, optical character recognition (OCR)-based national ID verification, and AI fraud detection and early warning system technology. Lack of customer awareness and dependence on physical modes of interaction has been a challenge for MFIs. Underwriting, verification, and risk management: The MFI borrowers are typically thin-filed clients.

Technology is essential to determine the customers' capacity and willingness to pay. Gathering and improving data touch places like Utility bill payments, mobile recharge data, information from land records, etc., can help MFI lenders evaluate borrowers' credibility more effectively and create products based on cash flows rather than assets owned. As a result, it becomes imperative technologically to make the required application programming interface (API) capabilities to enable easy integration with various data providers.

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Most customers who take out microcredit originate from low-income families and typically need a credit history. Furthermore, evaluating prospective borrowers' creditworthiness is difficult because insufficient supporting documentation and collateral have challenged MFIs. Services and collection: Most microcredit customers originate from low-income families and typically need a credit history. Furthermore, evaluating prospective borrowers' creditworthiness is difficult, as more supporting documentation and collateral are required. FinTechs are using multilingual chatbots to serve underbanked customers and address issues with digital literacy by answering commonly asked questions. As mobile technology has developed, MFIs' chances and address issues with digital literacy by answering commonly asked questions. As mobile technology has developed, MFIs' chances to deal with repayment issues have multiplied. The interoperable payment system through various digital rails, like UPI and AePS, could enable prompt loan repayment akin to a utility payment model. MFIs might also consider using digitized distribution methods for their assets. Customers can use these techniques to make digital payments online or through BC-assisted services. The reliance on physical forms of communication makes it difficult for MFIs to connect with their last-mile borrowers. The traditional payment touchpoints leave a gap in the collection process and undermine customer confidence.

Fraud Detection: Operational frauds are some of the kinds of fraud that happen during loan disbursements and repayment, including borrowers with false names and non-existent clients.

Giving loans to customers who are not verified and failing to keep records of the actual loan amount disbursed are two frequent examples of fraud.

Future Scenario: The use of technology creates new opportunities and improves origination, repayment, and client contact methods. The availability of different services, such as insurance, savings, and low-cost payment infrastructure, will be aided by technology.

Payment integrations: To improve their position in the market, MFIs have used Fintech in several different methods. It can use FinTechs to make mobile wallet use and debt repayment more efficient. They are enhancing the accessibility of funds.

Analytics: Technology has paved the way for a new era of analytics in the microfinance industry.

New Channels: The financially excluded society sector will benefit from the lower-cost financial products and services new players like mobile operators and distribution networks provide.

Global Expansion: In the upcoming years, it is more likely that microfinance institutions will expand internationally and offer their services to nearly all economically excluded sectors, significantly assisting in the fight against poverty. Microfinance companies can extend their offerings/products thanks to technology. The clients and their requirements are more likely to be the institutions' primary concern than the products and procedures.

Security: To increase security and compliance, microfinance organizations implement technologies like Finflux.

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Technologies currently used in wealth management or banking sectors for a better digital experience platform are: o Blockchain: Blockchain is an emerging financial services technology movement that is revolutionizing the financial world as we know it, but adoption of it is still quite slow. The technology that supports Bitcoin, known as the blockchain, has been adopted by major financial institutions like JP Morgan Chase and is regarded as one of the strongest possibilities available to banks and other financial institutions right now. o Artificial intelligence: The digital transformation of finance increasingly incorporates artificial intelligence solutions. They are used by financial institutions of all sizes, ranging from big banks to tiny credit unions, and are very common. Back office, product distribution, risk management, marketing, and security are all impacted by AI. Machines use data entry, risk assessment, and loan form processing algorithms. o Chatbots: The more widely known artificial intelligence applications are Chatbots. Smaller banks can easily access these cutting-edge financial services technologies, including tools to automate tasks like documentation, data sharing, data analysis, customer contact, and much more. o Automation in financial services: The most popular instrument for automation, known as robotic process automation, or RPA, mainly automates fixed and repetitive processes. RPAs primarily function to produce reports, log data, automate repeatable processes, and maintain logs.

Conclusion: Financial services such as microfinance organizations (MFIs) in rural areas where people are mainly involved in farming and legal services are not actively present; they have offered affordable and dependable credit services. Microfinance institutions have grown in acclaim as a tool to fight poverty and give families, and small businesses access to capital. Women's freedom is one of many objectives that many MFIs strive to accomplish. Significant progress has been made in the last few years to include women more monetarily. More women participate in financial tasks like saving, borrowing money, paying bills, etc. Even though the growth rate of women's financial inclusion appears encouraging, more should be done to improve gender equity. With the aid of technology, microfinance institutions can aid in narrowing this gender disparity, develop digital abilities, provide financial help, and have a more significant impact on people of local communities.

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Ms. Shivani MBA, 2022 -24 IBS Hyderabad

Evolution of demand forecasting methods through the years Introduction Forecasts are the current trending approach that helps the managers to enhance their production and can able to anticipate the future effectively and efficiently. Earlier manufacturing units and production houses were producing in bulk quantities. Once the customers start to adapt the new products and rapid changes in their taste and preferences will lead to the produced quantity go in vain. But thanks to the forecasting techniques, with the help of this managers are anticipating the future sales, not only the sales but also the required amount of quantity to produce. In this article we write to explain the evolution of demand forecasting techniques in a detail.

Forecasting techniques are broadly classified into two categories. Primarily qualitative and secondarily quantitative. Qualitative techniques rely on the use of Judgement, expertise and also needs expertise to formulate the forecast. However quantitative techniques need past or historical data for forecasting. Based on the availability of the data managers can create various trends and identify the hidden patterns in each data set. Forecasting techniques can give the accurate results but not the exact values. Moreover, all the forecasts include a certain degree of inaccuracy and allowance should be made for this.

Forecasting Techniques: Here are some of the traditional forecasting techniques which includes qualitative and qualitative methods: Qualitative forecasting techniques 

Sales force Opinion: Members of the sales staff or the customer service staff are often considered as the good sources of information. Because they have a direct contact with the consumers. Since they are the one who is directly contacting the end users, they are aware of the end consumer tastes and preferences. Often, they also create obstacle

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because of the service gap which mainly consider the differences between the customers’ expectations and perceived service quality. Often, they mis interpret the consumers’ needs and deliver the false information to the back - end team. Thus, after several periods of good sales, they may tend to be too optimistic. In addition, if forecasts are used to establish sales quotas, there will be a conflict of interest because it is to the salesperson’s advantage to provide low sales estimates. 

Executive opinion: A small group of upper-level managers for example marketing, finance, operations and other management related cross functional departments. Executive plan is often used as a part of the long - range planning and new product development. It has the advantage of bringing together the considerable knowledge and talents of various managers. However, there is the risk that the view of one person will prevail, and the possibility that diffusing responsibility for the forecast over the entire group may result in less pressure to produce a good forecast.

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Consumer surveys: Because it is the consumers who ultimately determine demand, it seems natural to solicit input from them. In some instances, every customer or potential customer can be contacted. However, usually there are too many customers or there is no way to identify all potential customers. Therefore, organizations seeking consumer input usually resort to consumer surveys, which enable them to sample consumer opinions. The obvious advantage of consumer surveys is that they can tap information that might not be available elsewhere. On the other hand, a considerable amount of knowledge and skill is required to construct a survey, administer it, and correctly interpret the results for valid information. Surveys can be expensive and time-consuming. In addition, even under the best conditions, surveys of the general public must contend with the possibility of irrational behavior patterns. For example, much of the consumer’s thoughtful information gathering before purchasing a new car is often undermined by the glitter of a new car showroom or a high-pressure sales pitch. Along the same lines, low response rates to a mail survey should—but often don’t—make the results suspect. If these and similar pitfalls can be avoided, surveys can produce useful information.

Other approaches: A manager may solicit opinions from a number of other managers and staff people. Occasionally, outside experts are needed to help with a forecast. Advice may be needed on political or economic conditions in the United States or a foreign country, or some other aspect of importance with which an organization lacks familiarity. Another approach is the Delphi method, an iterative process intended to achieve a consensus forecast. This method involves circulating a series of questionnaires among individuals who possess the knowledge and ability to contribute meaningfully. Responses are kept anonymous, which tends to encourage honest responses and reduces the risk that one person’s opinion will prevail. Each new questionnaire is 30| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

developed using the information extracted from the previous one, thus enlarging the scope of information on which participants can base their judgments. The Delphi method has been applied to a variety of situations, not all of which involve forecasting. The discussion here is limited to its use as a forecasting tool. As a forecasting tool, the Delphi method is useful for technological forecasting, that is, for assessing changes in technology and their impact on an organization. Often the goal is to predict when a certain event will occur. For instance, the goal of a Delphi forecast might be to predict when video telephones might be installed in at least 50 percent of residential homes or when a vaccine for a disease might be developed and ready for mass distribution. For the most part, these are long-term, single-time forecasts, which usually have very little hard information to go by or data that are costly to obtain, so the problem does not lend itself to analytical techniques. Rather, judgments of experts or others who possess sufficient knowledge to make predictions are used.

Quantitative forecasting techniques: Regression analysis method: the most effective and cutting-edge forecasting method. This aids in forecasting trends. With the aid of a regression equation, one is able to estimate the patterns for many months even if the manager lacks the most recent data for forecasting. Businesses can discover how one thing might affect another by looking at the relationship between two different variables (independent and dependent). They may, for instance, contrast sales volume with the cyclical nature of the seasons. Sales for the company would be the dependent variable since they depend on the season if findings indicate that they tend to rise or fall depending on the season.

Here, they can investigate how closely these two factors are connected to have a better understanding of how different seasons will affect future sales demand.

Econometrics method: In this approach, mathematical equations are created to help illustrate the interrelationships between various economic agents. This forecast's information can be used to demonstrate the relationship between variables like inflation, exchange rates, and GNP and how changes in these variables effect an organization's performance.

Index number method: This method, also referred to as the barometer method, is better suited for short-term quantitative forecasting. Using index numbers, firms use this strategy to gauge the status of the economy over a variety of different time periods. As a result, businesses can plan for drops in demand or increases in demand depending on the state of the local or global economy by knowing where the economy is headed in the near future.

Input analysis method: The end-use technique, often known as I-O, is another type of quantitative economic analysis. Businesses can forecast how a particular input would result in a particular output using the information from this forecast. An I-O system, for instance, will consider the cost of supplies, worker input to satisfy demand, and how much they might invest.

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Recent trends in the forecasting methods: In addition to creating forecasts, corporations aim to incorporate the projections into planning, optimization, and reporting systems. As one survey respondent, ForecastPro, put it, "More and more business users are calling for comprehensive forecasting solutions that can be used as the backbone of ongoing corporate processes like sales and operations planning (S&OP), demand planning, and supply chain optimization in addition to just generating statistical forecasts." This demand seems to be being met by several vendors.

Automatization: Automated model selection, alerts, visuals, and reporting are all elements that forecasters are interested in. There is a greater inclination to trust model design to the software as data complexity and velocity increase, especially when several projections are being generated at once. As a result, almost all of the suppliers contacted claim to have some kind of automatic or semi-automatic forecasting capability.

Visualization: Visualizations of a high calibre are quickly becoming "table stakes" for forecasting software programmes. Several of the tools available now offer a variety of graphics in addition to traditional statistical output, such as box plots, normal probability plots, histograms, ANOVA Pareto charts, decomposition charts, and automatically created range-forecast plots.

Capacity improvement: In addition to offering ways to incorporate more machine-learning techniques into their forecasting suites, forecasting software companies are paying more attention to "hard" forecasting challenges including the forecasting of intermittent demand and the forecasting of new products. To increase overall prediction accuracy, several providers provide the option to build automatic ensemble forecast models by integrating many forecasts made using various approaches.

Conclusion: Forecasting techniques are not without their limitations. The main limitation is that they cannot be used to forecast the future. For example, a forecast of the amount of new cars being produced in the next five years may be inaccurate if there is no data available on how many cars will be produced in each year. Also, forecasts must include some inaccuracy because it is impossible to predict accurately what will happen when a certain event occurs. As an example, you can’t predict exactly when a new computer system will be installed or when a new vaccine for a disease will be developed and ready for mass distribution.

Forecasting techniques are useful for technical forecasting but not so much for predicting the future. Forecasts can help managers understand trends and patterns in various areas of an organization's operations and can help them make decisions about which actions to take based on those trends and patterns. However, as with any forecasting technique, forecasters should always keep in mind that forecasts are only one part of an overall strategy; they should also include other aspects such as product development plans, marketing strategies, sales force opinions and customer surveys.

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Mr. Abilash N MBA, 2022 – 24 IBS Hyderabad Introduction to Automatic Guided Vehicles(AGVs)

Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) is an example of how automation can help business to optimize and increase their competitiveness. With AGV companies can reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve safety. ~ Henrik Christensen, Director of the contextual Robotics Institute at the University of California, San Diego

Introduction The Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) technology started to develop and broaden during the late 20 century, it’s a portable unmanned, self-guided, and self-propelled vehicle or robot which is used to transport materials, products, and equipment in and around industrial buildings like warehouses, shop floors in manufacturing facilities. The AGVs are equipped with software and navigation systems that allow them to travel in a pre-programmed and determined path with marked lines or wires on the floor th

These vehicles are powered by an electric motor and a battery unit that has the capacity to complete the in-house transportation process without much human interface. Adding to this the AGVs are efficient in handling various parts or loads, unsafe and potentially dangerous loads can be handled by them, and human error is minimized. They use sensors, radio waves, vision cameras, magnets, or lasers to respond to a change in the environment or any unexpected obstacles.

The purpose of using AGV’s are these unmanned vehicles are designed to operate efficiently and they tend to reduce operating costs and enhance productivity in, in-house material handling.

They are programmed to avoid obstacles, follow safety protocols, and start and stop automatically to avoid mishaps or collisions.

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Working of AGVs The General working of an AGV contains the following tasks: 

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Navigation and Mapping: The AGV uses onboard mapping software, with the help of a laser sensor they create a detailed map of the environment and this map is stored in onboard memory or in the central control system. Once the detailed map is stored, they move along the magnetic strip or tape which is embedded on the floor to execute the task assigned to it. Sensing: The AGV is equipped with various sensors such as cameras, and infrared sensors to detect obstacles in their path which are sensed and signals are sent to the control unit. These sensing units along with the control unit ensure the safe operation of AGV by avoiding collisions or any obstacles. Control: The control of the AGV is done by a central computer with the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) which receives instructions from the supervisory control system in the control room. Based on the environmental conditions, the type of load to be handled and the command received from the control room, the control system facilitates motion

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



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control of AGV which controls the vehicle’s speed, position, and movements and ensures safe and efficient operation.

Route Planning: Once a Specific task is assigned to the AGV, the best route for the destination from its current position is planned by the AGV’s control system, taking the consideration of traffic, obstacles, and other environmental factors that affect the travel of AGVs. Communication and Coordination: The AGVs communicate with each other with a central control system to coordinate their movements and optimize their operation. This mainly helps in avoiding congestion in one area or two AGVs can work together to carry a large load ensuring safe operation. Task Execution: The AGVs are programmed to receive commands from the main control center regarding the task which needs to be done. Based on the command the AGV plans its path and picks up and drops off the materials at the instructed locations with the help of the Load handling equipment. Load Handling: The AGV is equipped with load-handling devices like conveyer belts, forks, and lifters, allowing the AGV to pick up and drop the material to be transported. Charging: When the AGV runs out of charge it has the tendency to locate the charging station, and dock itself for recharging.

Safety Features in AGVs  Obstacle Detection Sensors: As said earlier, the AGV is equipped with this sensor, to detect any obstacles in their path such as walls, persons, or other vehicles. When detected it slows down and comes to a halt.  Emergency Stop Buttons: This button is placed on the AGV or in the surrounding operating area of the AGV allowing the worker to stop the vehicle in case of any emergency situation.  Warning Signals: The vehicle is equipped with warning signals like a flashlight, and audible alarms to alert the nearby workers of their presence and movement.  Bumpers: The AGV is equipped with bumpers in order to absorb the impact of the collision and minimize the damage to other AGV vehicles and surroundings.  Zone Control and speed limit: The AGVs are equipped with zone control allowing them to operate at a particular zone and the speed limit in AGVs allows them to move at a safe speed which reduces the risk of collision.

Types of AGVs Based on the nature of the work, these are some types of AGVs that are majorly used in industries:

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a) Unit load AGV: They are used in the transportation of unit loads like pallets or cartons in the organization. These types of AGVs can be found in manufacturing plants, warehouses and distribution centers. b) Tugger AGV: This kind of vehicle is used in the transportation of multiple-load vehicles at once with the help of a trailer or cart. These types of vehicles are mostly found in the automobile industry where they are used to transport material between workstations. c) Forklift AGV: These kinds of vehicles are often used in warehouses and in manufacturing facilities and are used to move heavy loads with the help of a forklift in the AGV. d) Hybrid AGV: These AGVs combine multiple types of AGVs into a single system allowing for increased flexibility and efficiency. For example, a hybrid AGV can switch from unit load AGV to picking up AGV depending on the task. e) Picking AGV: These AGVs are designed to automatically pick up and place individual items upon a conveyer or a pallet on them for storage or item retrieval from storage racks.

These types of vehicles are often used in warehouses and distribution centers. f) Assembly line AGV: These vehicles are designed to operate along the assembly lines to move material and components which is to be assembled to make a finished product.

These kinds of vehicles are mostly found in the automotive, electronics, and manufacturing industries. g) Cleaning AGV: These kinds of vehicles are found in the pharmaceutical and in semiconductor industries and is operated to clean the environments where they can transport material and product without introducing contaminants.

Advantages of Using AGVs: The AGVs reduces the risk of accidents in the workplace ensuring safe and efficient operation during in-house transportation and it has the ability to work 24*7 by optimizing the material flow with little human intervention. The AGVs minimize human error and labor costs and have the capacity to handle potentially unsafe parts efficiently.

Disadvantages of Using AGVs: As far as disadvantages are concerned, the initial cost for the setup of the AGV is high, followed by their limited flexibility in working because they do only specific tasks and they need regular maintenance for its seamless working.

Sectors Using AGVs As discussed, the sectors like Manufacturing, Warehouse and Distribution facilities, Health care, Food and Beverages, Automotive, Retail and Aerospace sector uses AGVs for their in-house transportation of goods like raw materials, semi-finished goods, finished goods, parts to be assembled etc

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Mr. Subhagato MBA 2022 – 24, IBS Hyderabad 3D Printing and its impact on New Product Development An opportunity is transformed into a product to satisfy a customer through a comprehensive set of multidisciplinary processes known as new product development.

NPD is the engine that propels businesses and is essential to their natural expansion. Strong global competition, unquenchable consumer demand, and evolving consumer behaviour and technology force businesses to invest in new products in order to succeed or to stay in business.

The importance of introducing new products can be summarised in these “Seven reasons why new product development is necessary.”       

Changing consumer Increasing competition Technological advancement New opportunities (growth and development) Risk diversification To increase company & brand reputation To utilise excess capacity

Now the media spotlight has focused a lot of attention on 3D printing recently. It has been portrayed as both the manufacturing industry's saviour and nothing more than a means of producing cheap trinkets. However, 3D printing has established its worth and applicability. Its effectiveness as a tool for product development and manufacturing is beyond question. Through its promotion of creativity, accessible customization, and design freedom, 3D printing has completely changed how products are developed.

The term "3D printing," also known as "additive manufacturing," refers to a variety of procedures used to construct three-dimensional objects. A machine builds up layers of material into a specific shape while being controlled by a computer.

The template for a 3D print job is typically made using a CAD (computer-aided design) programme, which also creates the virtual design and all the necessary dimensions for making a 37| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

physical object. A 3D scanner can also be used to create the printing template for an existing object.

Let's examine how this technology is altering the process of creating new products and making businesses more agile.

Higher-quality Goods When businesses try to save money by using traditional processes, the quality of the end product suffers. Because subtractive processes like CNC and injection moulding are not appropriate for optimising product design, this is the reason. 3D printing, on the other hand, guarantees a highquality product development process without compromising any of the desired requirements. A 3D manufacturer can accommodate all requests, whether they involve plastics, ceramics, or durable metals. This innovation lowers the bar for high-quality products.

Highly Flexible & Cost-Effective The product development process is becoming more agile and cost-effective thanks to 3D printing technology. When compared to conventional techniques, additive manufacturing provides a greater variety of materials at a lower price. It's the perfect technology for businesses conducting extensive research and development. Processes become agile as improvisations can be carried out without having to start from scratch. Businesses can use 3D printers to create any type of project, whether it be a single model or a full-scale production.

Easy of prototyping The most trustworthy advantage of 3D printing technology is that it allows designers to quickly make physical prototypes of two designs so they can compare them. With conventional manufacturing, rapid prototyping becomes expensive and resource-intensive. High-quality prototypes can be created by engineers to improve design and usability. Manufacturing takes place more quickly because 3d printers don't need tooling or support equipment. Businesses can identify design and functional issues early in the manufacturing process, saving time and resources.

Considerably faster Due to its breakneck speed, 3D printing technology is revolutionising the entire process of designing and producing new products. This process is quicker than many conventional methods, regardless of the complexity, quantity, or materials of the product. For businesses looking to gain a competitive edge by reducing their time-to-market, additive manufacturing is a powerful catalyst. Businesses can gain a competitive edge in the market through uninterrupted production, from designing to manufacturing and post-production.

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Simple Outsourcing 3D printing is a hassle-free choice for businesses looking for dependable manufacturing outsourcing techniques. Companies can scale their production without incurring internal costs, whether it's a 3D printed prototype or a full inventory. The only steps required by engineers are to create 3D CAD files, choose materials and sizes, and have them manufactured by expert 3D printing companies. Higher personalization and on-demand manufacturing are becoming more and more popular, which has led to lower prices for 3D printing services.

Decreased errors later on in the production phase Fast iterations combined with accuracy, tolerance, and repeatability are features of 3D printing.

People can experiment and test out new ideas because of this. Designers and engineers can take significant risks with 3D printing without incurring significant costs or delays. Costs associated with manufacturing, shipping, and even research and development have all decreased thanks to 3D printing.

Instead of designing for manufacturing, we can now manufacture for design. Engineers and designers now have more freedom to experiment and explore novel concepts without the time and financial risks of the past. This capacity for experimentation, testing, and improvement results in better products in the end and significantly lower costs and errors later in the production phase.

Due to rising demand and accessibility, this $12.6 billion industry will prosper going forward.

More small businesses will adopt this technology to change their product manufacturing in the coming years. Additionally, the introduction of effective Industry 4.0 implementations will enable 3d printing to significantly alter how conventional product development is done.

3D printing has applications across all industries. owing to its use as a manufacturing aid, flexibility in design, quick turnaround, affordable customization, and affordability. The validity of 3D printing has already been established, without a doubt. It is now unquestionably a step in the creation of a product. Product designers must utilise it right away. There is no justification whatsoever for not making the most of this technology.

Other areas of impact are    

3D Printing in Automotive Industry 3D Printing in Aerospace and Defense (A&D) 3D Printing in Supply Chain 3D Printing in Consumer Goods 3D Printing in Medical and Healthcare

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Certain examples of 3D printing used in small scale business are-

The Original Prusa MINI The Original Prusa MINI is generally the best option for small businesses operating from homes.

Its build area is about 355 square inches, taking up less than 2 square feet of valuable desktop space. You can easily use it with a variety of filament types, and its layer resolution ranges from 50 to 200 microns. Calibration can be difficult, but considering the $350 cost, it might be worthwhile to deal with this problem.

Ultimaker S3 Your best option for printing larger objects is the Ultimaker S3. It works with a variety of materials and has a layer resolution range of 20 to 600 microns. With a build area of about 530 square inches, it is also fairly small for a large object printer. However, it is notorious for printing slowly, and its $4,080 cost is quite high.

Anycubic Vyper The Anycubic Vyper might better suit your needs and budget if you need to print large objects but can't afford Ultimaker's models. For $680, you'll get a layer resolution of at least 100 microns.

A built-in accessory drawer and 950 square inches of additional build space are also included.

However, some reviewers have pointed out that the Vyper has uneven build quality and causes excessive initial stringing.

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Ms. Vrinda MBA, 2022 – 2024 IBS Hyderabad Decision of Risks could Hamper Production

In today's fast-paced business world, decision-making is a crucial aspect that can determine the success or failure of any organization. However, when it comes to taking risks, many businesses tend to be cautious and avoid making decisions that could potentially lead to losses.

While this may seem like a sensible approach, it can also hamper the production and growth of the company. In fact, taking calculated risks and stepping out of your comfort zone can often lead to significant rewards, both in terms of financial gains and overall progress. In this article, we will explore the impact of risk aversion on business production and why it's essential to strike a balance between caution and calculated risks to achieve optimum results. So, if you’re ready to take a closer look at the decision of risks and how it can impact your business, let’s dive in!

Understanding the types of risks in production Before we delve into the impact of risks on production, it's essential to understand the various types of risks that businesses may face in their production processes. The most common types of risks in production include market risk, operational risk, financial risk, and reputational risk.

Market risks refer to the potential losses that may arise due to changes in market conditions.

Operational risks stem from internal factors such as system failures, human error, and supply chain disruptions. Financial risks concern the financial health of the organization, such as liquidity risk, credit risk, and interest rate risk. Reputational risk is the potential damage to a company's reputation due to negative publicity, customer complaints, or unethical practices.

Each type of risk requires a different approach to risk management, and businesses must identify and assess the risks they face to develop an effective risk management strategy that is tailored to their unique circumstances. Failure to do so can result in significant losses and damage to the company's reputation. Therefore, businesses must prioritize risk management as an integral part of their production processes to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.

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Impact of risks on production The impact of risks on production can be significant, and failure to manage risks effectively can lead to reduced productivity, increased costs, and decreased profitability. For instance, market risks such as changes in consumer preferences or economic conditions can lead to decreased demand for the company's products or services, resulting in reduced revenue and profits. Operational risks such as system downtime or supply chain disruptions can cause delays in production and delivery, leading to dissatisfied customers and lost sales. Financial risks such as high debt levels or interest rate fluctuations can increase the company's borrowing costs and reduce profitability. Reputational risks such as negative publicity or customer complaints can damage the company's brand image and lead to a loss of customer trust.

The impact of risks on production can be mitigated through effective risk management strategies that seek to identify, assess, and manage risks in a proactive manner. By doing so, businesses can minimize the impact of risks and maintain their productivity and profitability in the long run.

The decision-making process in risk management Effective risk management requires a robust decision-making process that involves identifying, assessing, and managing risks in a proactive manner. The decision-making process should be based on a thorough understanding of the risks faced by the organization and the potential impact of these risks on the company’s production processes and overall business objectives.

The decision-making process in risk management typically involves the following steps: 

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

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Identification of risks: This involves identifying the various types of risks that the company may face in its production processes. This step requires a thorough understanding of the company’s operations and the potential risks associated with each process.

Assessment of risks: Once the risks have been identified, the next step is to assess the likelihood and potential impact of each risk on the company’s production processes and overall business objectives. This step involves analyzing historical data, market trends, and other relevant information to determine the level of risk posed by each risk.

Development of risk management strategies: Based on the results of the risk assessment, the company can develop risk management strategies that seek to mitigate the impact of risks on its production processes and overall business objectives. These strategies may include risk transfer, risk avoidance, risk reduction, and risk acceptance.

Implementation of risk management strategies: Once the risk management strategies have been developed, the company can implement them in its production

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processes. This step involves monitoring the implementation of risk management strategies and making adjustments as needed.

Review and evaluation of risk management strategies: The final step in the decisionmaking process is to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the risk management strategies implemented by the company. This step involves analyzing the results of risk management strategies and making changes as needed to improve their effectiveness.

The role of cost-benefit analysis in risk management Cost-benefit analysis is an essential tool in risk management that helps businesses identify the costs and benefits of different risk management strategies. This analysis involves weighing the costs of implementing a particular risk management strategy against the potential benefits that could be realized if the strategy is successful. Cost-benefit analysis can help businesses make informed decisions about which risk management strategies to implement, based on their potential impact on the company’s production processes and overall business objectives. For example, a company may decide to invest in new technology to mitigate the risk of system downtime. The cost of implementing the new technology may be high, but the potential benefits in terms of increased productivity and reduced downtime may outweigh the costs in the long run.

Strategies for mitigating risks in production There are several strategies that businesses can use to mitigate risks in their production processes. These strategies include: Risk transfer: This involves transferring the risk to another party, such as an insurance company or a supplier.

Risk avoidance: This involves avoiding activities that carry a high level of risk, such as investing in new markets without proper research.

Risk reduction: This involves implementing measures to reduce the likelihood or impact of a particular risk, such as implementing backup systems to reduce the risk of system downtime.

Risk acceptance: This involves accepting the risk and its potential impact, such as accepting the risk of reputational damage due to negative publicity.

Each strategy has its pros and cons, and businesses must evaluate the potential impact of each strategy on their production processes and overall business objectives before deciding which strategy to implement.

The importance of contingency planning in risk management Contingency planning is an essential component of risk management that involves developing a plan of action to be taken in the event of a risk event occurring. This plan should outline the 43| K A I Z E N ’ S O P E R A T I O N S & R E S E A R C H E N T I T Y

steps to be taken to mitigate the impact of the risk event on the company's production processes and overall business objectives.

Contingency planning can help businesses respond quickly and effectively to risk events, minimizing the impact on their operations and ensuring business continuity. For example, a company may develop a contingency plan for supply chain disruptions that outlines alternative suppliers and delivery routes in the event of a disruption in the primary supply chain.

The role of technology in risk management Technology plays a crucial role in risk management by providing businesses with tools and resources to identify, assess, and manage risks in a proactive manner. For example, data analytics tools can help businesses analyze historical data and market trends to identify potential risks and develop risk management strategies. Automation tools can help businesses streamline their risk management processes, reducing the risk of human error and increasing efficiency.

The use of technology in risk management can help businesses stay ahead of emerging risks and respond quickly and effectively to risk events, minimizing their impact on the company's production processes and overall business objectives.

Case studies of successful risk management in production Several companies have implemented successful risk management strategies in their production processes, resulting in increased productivity, profitability, and overall business success. For example, Toyota has implemented a risk management approach that focuses on identifying and addressing potential risks in its supply chain. This approach has helped Toyota minimize the impact of supply chain disruptions and maintain business continuity.

Another example is the risk management approach adopted by British Airways, which focuses on identifying and addressing potential risks in its operations. This approach has helped British Airways reduce the risk of operational disruptions and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.

Conclusion: The importance of effective risk management in production In conclusion, effective risk management is essential for businesses to maintain their productivity, profitability, and overall business success. Businesses must strike a balance between caution and calculated risks to achieve optimum results, identifying, assessing, and managing risks in a proactive manner. By implementing effective risk management strategies, businesses can mitigate the impact of risks on their production processes and overall business objectives, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.

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The word “Kaizen”, where “Kai” = change, “Zen” = good, signifies change for the better. In its birthplace Japan, the word Kaizen is imbibed as a process that many small continuous changes in systems and policies bring effective results than few major changes. This methodology applies to every department across different sectors.

Kaizen – The Official Operations Club of IBS Hyderabad has always been aspiring “Constant Change ad Evolvement”. We, as an organization work to inspire and aspire to the student community for the betterment of the future.

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