Operations Case Studies by topic

Some business improvements involve a giant leap forward. An example of this would be the development of a revolutionary new product such as the...

All organisations are faced with periods of evolution and revolution. As they prepare for a period of change, there will undoubtedly be immense upheaval....

Corus is an international metals company. In 2005 it was the eighth largest steelmaker in the world. The company has an annual turnover of...

With a proven track record in supplying the highest quality accommodation, Portakabin hires and sells permanent and relocatable buildings. Clients include hospitals and schools,...

Morrisons was founded over 100 years ago, as a stall in Bradford market. It has been a family business for most of the time since....

Customer satisfaction depends upon a product’s performance in relation to a buyer’s expectations. If the product’s performance falls short of expectations, the customer will...

In recent years, many UK manufacturing and service industries have transformed their production methods and processes. Businesses that have been at the leading edge...

When you run a large organisation, you are likely to have a large number of employees. The Singapore Airlines Group has more than 29,000...

Living is a risky business. Taking risks begins in childhood, and continues throughout our lives and into old age, when many accidents are associated...

Adding value to a product involves making it more desirable and better for the final consumer. Ways of adding value to a product or...

Everyone has the right to be in a safe and healthy workplace. This is a basic human right as most people spend a large...

The Burton Group is one of the largest fashion retailers in the UK, operating nearly 1,500 outlets and 92 department stores in high streets...

At one time, certain businesses operated in static environments, whereas others operated in dynamic environments. Today, the majority of businesses operate in a dynamic...

Companies must innovate in order to keep ahead of their competitors. If an organisation wants to create a business strategy that keeps it at...

Portakabin is an international company. It produces some of the most advanced building systems available. The company is part of the £700 million turnover Shepherd...

This case study focuses on the way in which Jaguar, one of the world’s most prestigious car manufacturers, has employed lean manufacturing processes. This...

It is easy to identify key competitors in a market by their goods or services. These products clearly meet customer needs in terms of...

This case study describes the relocation in 1994 of the Marks & Spencer store in Kendal. The situation presented is a relatively unusual example...

One of the most important decisions a business has to make is where to locate. The location of the business can have a significant...

Cement was invented in England in 1824 and is a key ingredient in concrete. Every year the average family uses one tonne of cement...

With the changing expectations of customers, organisations constantly need to adapt to remain competitive. When faced with such pressures for change, managers may look...

Customers are not simply looking for good products. Rather, they seek good products which address their individual needs and buying requirements. The result is...

As a newly-formed rail operating company, Great North Eastern Railway Ltd (GNER) took over one of the new rail franchises to run train services...

This case study focuses on how Cadbury Schweppes acquired the American-based company Dr Pepper/Seven-Up. Of particular interest is the thinking and purpose behind the...

“Roy, the first shipment has just arrived, I thought you might like to see one.” Gary Maughan passed Roy Doughty a handset across the...

Good design is an important attribute of a successful product. A well designed product will stand out from rivals, win customer loyalty and sometimes...

It's a colourful world! Akzo Nobel’s products are among the most looked at in the world. Its business is colour. It is a company literally...

The challenge facing the world economy today is to provide sustainable approaches to economic growth. Industrial processes have the potential to provide better living...

An independent research organisation recently examined the work practices of 1,501 companies in six countries. They found that disorganised work practices within these business...

Since Bill Gates founded Microsoft Corporation in 1975, its mission has been to create software for the personal computer that empowers and enriches people...

Consumers’ buying habits reflect their personality, income, age, lifestyle and aspirations. What people want to buy changes over the years. Many consumers constantly seek...

“IF YOU CAN INVENT A BETTER MOUSETRAP THE WORLD WILL BEAT A PATH TO YOUR DOOR!” Many of the best business lessons are based on...

The Chiefs of Air Staff of Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom signed an agreement to develop a new European fighter aircraft in...

Intelligent businesses in the 21st century operate with an awareness of their responsibilities to all of their stakeholders, not just responsibilities to directors and...

New goods and services come to market after a sequence of activities: researchdevelopmenttestingproduction and launch. This case study shows how BSI British Standards (BSI), the UK”s...

BSI was the pioneer in creating standards. It is the UK's National Standards Body - the world's first. It also plays a prominent role...

Successful businesses meet customer requirements. Customers expect products and services to meet certain standards and a Standard is a document that gives guidance on...

How we use oil is becoming an increasingly important issue. There has been growing concern over society's dependence on oil, the impact of vehicle's...

Courtaulds is an international chemical company with annual sales of more than £2 billion, employing 17,000 people in 45 countries worldwide. It developed from...

The population of the Earth is growing at a fast pace. In 1950, 2 billion humans lived on the planet. By 2006, this had...

What would happen if Christmas trees were not available until Easter? How would you feel if you tried to buy a coffee at your...

It is easy to take for granted everyday fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) such as bread. When consumers go to a corner shop or the...

Are you tired of running out of stock at the worst possible time? Or struggling to keep track of what you have in your...