Executive Summary
This report aims to demonstrate the existing operation management processes promoted by the Coca-Cola corporation, evaluate quality management procedures, and present relevant tools to achieve organizational objectives. As an effective optimization mechanism, the benchmarking strategy and the lean manufacturing approach are analyzed, and the value of both concepts is described from the perspective of the impact on domestic and global operational activities of the company. The value of artificial intelligence is described based on the capabilities that computer algorithms have, and certain aspects of Coca-Colaâs work are reviewed from the standpoint of expanding the opportunities of remote control over its branches. As recommendations, additional measures are proposed to promote the benchmarking approach and create an artificial intelligence program to monitor the activities of the corporation globally and contribute to the decision-making process.
Introduction to the Organization
Creating conditions for effective operations management is one of the priority tasks in enterprises specializing in mass production. To evaluate current operations management approaches, the Coca-Cola corporation will be evaluated as an example of the organization that has achieved recognition in the international market. The company is global and, as Singaram et al. (2019) state, dates back to 1886. Since then, from a small factory, the enterprise has transformed into the international market participant producing non-alcoholic beverages, and today, it occupies one of the leading places in the ratings of consumer recognition. As tools for analysis, benchmarking and lean manufacturing concepts will be applied to assess their role in achieving the companyâs organizational objectives and competitiveness. In addition, the possibility of enhancing the corporationâs business operations in both domestic and global markets will be considered in the context of the implementation of the artificial intelligence (AI) mechanism. Introducing proactive approaches to supporting operations management in Coca-Cola is a valuable practise that helps strengthen control over production processes, and the application of relevant optimization tools can increase the companyâs competitiveness and contribute to achieving its organizational objectives.
Success of the Existing Operations Management Processes
Since Coca-Cola is the global corporation, its development strategies are focused on mass production and marketing in most of the worldâs regions. The existing operations management processes promoted in the company allow it to realize the goals of maintaining a sustainable business and control over manufacturing and marketing. Mangâeli and Kilika (2018) offer to pay attention to the concept of quality management in the organization in question and note that to achieve its strategic objectives, the company uses different tools that help maintain customer satisfaction. Among the current practices, the researchers mention management commitment, client focus, continual improvement, and some other ways to earn market recognition (Mangâeli and Kilika, 2018). Another approach, which can be regarded as a long-term development strategy, involves establishing partnerships, and today, according to Brondoni (2020, p. 19), the corporation cooperates with ânearly 250 bottling partners worldwideâ. Such a practice of operations management and quality control proves the interest of the corporationâs leaders in maintaining sustainable production and stable consumer interest.
To realize both short-term and long-term development goals, Coca-Cola promotes a policy of comprehensive control over all the operational processes. Cheptegei and Yabs (2016) assess corporate performance from this perspective and argue that the organization takes comprehensive measures to evaluate and improve its resources to maintain a strong competitive position. In particular, the authors note that Coca-Cola carries out work to evaluate âpersonnel, assets, international experience and the suitability of its productsâ (Cheptegei and Yabs, 2016, p. 73). These actions allow the corporation to cover different aspects of the companyâs business and overcome potential challenges. Mangâeli and Kilika (2018) remark that one of the critical risks is the loss of competitive advantage, which may be caused by the vigorous activity of some other global beverage corporations. To avoid losing a leadership position in its market segment, Coca-Cola adheres to the provisions of strategic management and adapts its operating activities to modern trends and the interests of the target audience. All these processes form the concept of quality management and make it possible to implement objective solutions both in the short and long term.
Tools to Achieve Organizational Objectives and Competitiveness
To achieve organizational objectives and competitiveness, large companies tend to implement efficient techniques and tools that, in turn, help optimize specific areas of operations. Due to its global status, Coca-Cola also promotes relevant practices that enable the corporation to ensure sustainable production. Singh and Sahin (2017) cite different approaches and note sales promotion, product quality improvement, and other tools that provide an opportunity to strengthen the companyâs market position. Many researchers, such as Daniel (2018), focus on Coca-Colaâs external strategies that expand its reach through marketing and advertising practices to maintain the brand loyalty. However, internal operational interventions also allow achieving organizational objectives, and as effective tools, the strategies of benchmarking and lean manufacturing will be considered in relation to the corporation in question.
Benchmarking Concept
Benchmarking is a strategy that makes it possible to compare operational data and adapt the current mode of production for specific mechanisms that help bring manufacturing closer to benchmarks. Maltz, Bi, and Bateman (2016) analyze this approach to optimizing business activities and argue that, despite its value in the context of assessing potential development paths, some challenges may be encountered, such as the need to identify multiple goals or develop distinctive long-term perspectives. When applied to the activities of Coca-Cola, this concept, however, can be an effective tool to achieve its organizational objectives. Firstly, structuring strategic plans helps obtain a comprehensive picture of manufacturing gaps. Secondly, due to the global reach, the Coca-Cola management can identify objective data on the challenges in specific sales regions and use this information to implement appropriate strategic decisions to strengthen the business. Therefore, the benchmarking concept can help the corporation determine optimal steps to improve production and create conditions for maintaining its competitive advantage.
Lean Manufacturing
This concept is a sought-after approach that facilitates the establishment of production in accordance with modern optimization standards. According to Kezia, Kumar, and Sai (2017, p. 168), the strategy âwas formulated in response to the fluctuating and competitive business environmentâ. At the heart of this concept is green manufacturing that contributes to increasing market recognition if implemented properly. For instance, regarding the operations of Coca-Cola, Kezia, Kumar, and Sai (2017, p. 172) cite an example of reducing âthe weight of its soft drink cans by 5%â and note that this measure has made it possible to save tons of packaging material in the long term. By implementing such solutions, the Coca-Cola management can increase the cost savings and use profits wisely to optimize the required aspects of production, while acting as a valuable participant in the green manufacturing market.
Value of Artificial Intelligence
Leveraging the advances of the modern technology industry is a common practice in many companies. One of the approaches is using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that imply utilizing computer mechanisms to optimize specific work steps. For Coca-Cola, there is value in implementing AI in the business practice, and, as Mohammadi and Minaei (2019) state, the corporation has already used this option in its manufacturing process. The authors give an example of a procedure that involved generating designs for the companyâs products by analyzing the existing trends and consumer preferences (Mohammadi and Minaei, 2019). Gathering information, helping with decision-making, and other options are useful procedures to implement in Coca-Colaâs operations and help the corporation maintain its competitiveness in both the domestic and global contexts. As Bhattacharjee (2019) remarks, this practice can be accompanied by some challenges, for instance, the needs to establish the smooth operation of computer algorithms or create additional principles of control over this field of activity. Nevertheless, such optimization can have a positive effect on the improvement of operational processes in the company.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Coca-Colaâs operations management practices are essential mechanisms that enable the enterprise to maintain a strong market position and achieve organizational objectives effectively. The company has been active for many decades, and during this time, it has transformed into the global corporation with numerous branches. As effective tools to apply to enhance the quality management procedures, the benchmarking concept may be utilized, as well as an expanded AI algorithm. The lean manufacturing standards promoted by Coca-Cola enable the company to minimize costs and comply with the status of the corporation adhering to the principles of green production. As recommendations for strengthening the organizationâs operations management, the benchmarking strategy can be implemented, and an AI program may be developed to control all the branches of the corporation globally to minimize risks and create an efficient control system.
Reference List
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