Operations Management & Continuous Improvement

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Introduction

Operations Management:The advent of globalization has significantly increased competition in the international business market as well as opened new doors of opportunities for new ventures for a wide range of industries. The companies are utilizing this opportunity and focusing on creating a lasting consumer-brand relationship and striving to maintain higher levels of customer loyalty to the products and services they offer (Naor, Linderman & Schroeder, 2010). Today’s consumers are more aware than ever and are greatly concerned about the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices of the brand or company they are associated with. In the 21^st century, the social impact of the companies is one of the major attributes when we think of consumer needs and expectations with the product (Maloni & Brown, 2006). Furthermore, in order to stay competitive and capture new markets in the globalized business world, it is also imperative to constantly improve the quality of products and services.

For manufacturers, the notion of ‘quality’ can be defined as the ability or fittingness of a product to suit the consumer needs. This means that product attributes and most prominently product quality creates a better consumer experience. Quality not only caters the consumer needs but also a key ingredient in maintaining customer satisfaction. It is not just associated with the physical product characteristics but the improvement of quality includes quality of processes, operations, services, and products and so on (Dale & Bunney, 2015). The continuous quality improvement involves inspiring the consumer with the reliability, durability and safety of the product which is free from all the risks and hazards specified by the company on the label. The only way to achieve this level of quality improvement is through effective and efficient management and adopting a lean approach towards business operations (Sadikoglu & Zehir, 2010).

ABP Food Group –  An Overview

ABP Food Group Ltd is a leading beef and meat producer, processor and exporter in UK and Ireland. The company specializes in the processing and packaging of grass-fed meat. ABP offers an extensive product line which includes frozen beef, lamb, and pork burgers; steaks and ground meat along with a wide variety of vegan soy-based protein. The company also deals in the distribution of cooking oils to the major catering businesses in the region and also collects and reprocesses used cooking oil and food waste/leftover from food manufacturing and retailing companies, and transforms it into renewable biofuels. Moreover, the company is also involved in the production and continent-wide distribution of pet food in a variety of packaging which includes pouch, aluminium and plastic trays and cans. ABP also operates in livestock management and animal health and assists the farm owners in different aspects of the business like data maintenance, assessment as well as optimization of operations. It supplies products to retailers, superstores, caterers, manufacturing, wholesalers, and other food-related businesses in Europe and worldwide. Previously known as Irish Food Processors Ltd, the company is headquartered in Ardee, Ireland with its production amenities and offices worldwide along with the UK, Ireland and Poland (Bloomberg.com, 2015)……………………..