Manual vs. Automated Statistical Process Control Food...

Israel Ortega-Ramos The Prime Example Our recent visit to a food packaging plant in New Jersey highlighted the inconsistent results of statistical process control routinely faced by Quality Control Managers. Product weight readings were taken from the manufacturing floor, entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed. The results produced no predictable under or over filling trend despite the fact that the same people used the same scales at the same time of day. The problem is simple and fundamental. Human error is an inevitable part of the process of collecting statistical data. This is consistently overlooked in companies that utilize manual SPC[1] (statistical process control) for their manufactured goods. To ensure the†¦show more content†¦The scale will then calculate the statistical data after the last product is placed on the scale and store this data in a password-protected memory for collection by the Quality Manager. This statistical data can then be sent wirelessly to a spreadsheet, printed on a label to accompany the sampled product, or simply viewed on the scale interface. The flow diagram below shows the improved SPC process. Companies can also utilize various connectivity and software options that can integrate filling machines to automated SPC scale systems. This means that fill volumes based on trends calculated by the scale can be adjusted via an automated system. Quality Control Managers and Plant Managers can also connect all the SPC scale systems in a factory via a central control computer that will provide easy access to â€Å"real-time† data. Integrating an automated SPC Scale System into a manufacturing environment will have the following advantages over the older manual SPC systems: Upgrading outdated manual SPC processes is the first step to improve overall quality, efficiency, and trace ability. This can be accomplished with as little as $5,000 in capital investment. Quality Control Managers and Plant managers have to take a hard look at how their product samples are being weighed and how these measurements are turned into results that can improve production line efficiency. It i s now time forShow MoreRelatedInformation Systems Supply Chain Management6162 Words   |  25 PagesManagement 7 Strategic Perspective: 8 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): 8 Application of Information system in supply chain managements context: 8 Just in Time Manufacturing: 8 Vendor Managed Inventories: 9 Figure: Traditional Supply Chain Vs VMI 9 RFIDs in Supply Chain Management: 10 Chart 1: Projected U.S. Retail Supply Chain Spending on RFID. 10 Section 2.0: Information System in Supply Chain Management: 10 Concept: 10 People: 11 Processes: 11 Applications: 11 Integration:Read MoreGoogle Self Driving Car Marketing Plan Essay11358 Words   |  46 Pagesand/or service attributes. 20 7.3.1 Product life cycle 20 7.4 Place 22 7.5 Promotion 23 7.5.1 Media Advertising 24 7.5.2 Public Relations and Publicity 24 7.5.3 Direct Mail 24 7.5.4 Trade Shows 25 7.5.5 Catalogs, Literature and Manuals 25 7.5.6 Telemarketing 25 7.5.7 Personal Selling 25 7.6 Price 25 7.6.1 Costs 25 7.6.2 Competition 26 7.6.3 Customers 26 7.7 Branding 27 8 Sales forecast 28 9 Conclusion 30 10 References 33 Abstract The Google self-drivingRead MoreOperations Management23559 Words   |  95 PagesChapter 1-17 Operations Management Roberta Russell Bernard W. Taylor, III Organization of This Text: Part I – Operations Management Intro. to Operations and Supply Chain Management: Quality Management: Statistical Quality Control: Product Design: Service Design: Processes and Technology: Facilities: Human Resources: Project Management: Chapter 1 (Slide 5) Chapter 2 (Slide 67) Chapter 3 (Slide 120) Chapter 4 (Slide 186) Chapter 5 (Slide 231) Chapter 6 (Slide 276) Chapter 7 (Slide 321) ChapterRead MoreManaging Business Activities to achieve Results8707 Words   |  35 PagesObjectives LO1 Evaluate the interrelationship between the different processes and functions of the organisation 1.1 Justify the methodology to be used to map processes to the organisation’s goals and objectives 1.2 Evaluate the output of the process and the quality gateways 1.3 Be able to develop plans for own area of responsibility to implement operational plans LO2 Design plans which promote goals and objectives for own area of responsibility 2.1 Write objectives, which are specificRead MoreApplication of Gis in Natural Resourse Management10836 Words   |  44 Pagesdepletion of natural resources (satapathy etal., 2008). This degradation, especially of forest cover has led to diminishing soil fertility, soil erosion, increase severity of the impact of drought, and the further reduction in the ability to produce food and other biological resources demanded by the human and animal population (ibid ) Nigeria is not an exception with reference to these problems. It is facing serious land and environmental degradation due to increasing anthropogenic pressure on itsRead MoreQuality Improvement328284 Words   |  1314 PagesI Sixth Edition ntroduction to Statistical Quality Control DOUGLAS C. MONTGOMERY Arizona State University John Wiley Sons, Inc. Executive Publisher: Don Fowley Associate Publisher: Daniel Sayer Acquisitions Editor: Jennifer Welter Marketing Manager: Christopher Ruel Production Manager: Dorothy Sinclair Production Editor: Sandra Dumas Senior Designer: Kevin Murphy New Media Editor: Lauren Sapira Editorial Assistant: Mark Owens Production Management Services: Elm Street PublishingRead MoreThesis About Call Center Agents14127 Words   |  57 Pagesand vacation trips a month ago, you should have recently wondered hey whats next for me now? Well you are not alone. In fact, many of my review mates in a local review center headed to many local BPO companies here in our city. BPO or business process outsourcing involves the contracting of the operations and responsibilities of specific business functions (or processes) to a third-party service provider. Employees who work under these companies are referred as call center agents or customer serviceRead MoreLearning from the Fashion Industry: a Structured Literature Review39302 Words   |  158 PagesCRANFIELD UNIVERSITY ELEFTHERIA DIMITRAKOU LEARNING FROM THE FASHION INDUSTRY: A STRUCTURED LITERATURE REVIEW CRANFIELD CENTRE FOR LOGISTICS SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT MSc THESIS CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY CRANFIELD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT CRANFIELD CENTRE FOR LOGISTICS SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT MSc THESIS Academic Year 2006-2007 ELEFTHERIA DIMITRAKOU Learning from the Fashion Industry: A Structured Literature Review Supervisor: Dr. Chris Morgan August 2007 This thesis isRead MoreCost Accounting134556 Words   |  539 PagesSolutions Manual for COST ACCOUNTING Creating Value for Management Fifth Edition MICHAEL MAHER University of California, Davis Table of Contents Chapter 1 Cost Accounting: How Managers User Cost Accounting Information Chapter 15 Using Differential Analysis for Production Decisions Chapter 2 Cost Concepts and Behaviour Chapter 16 Managing Quality and Time Chapter 3 Cost System Design: An Overview Chapter 17 Planning and Budgeting Chapter 4 Job Costing ChapterRead Moreeconomic15014 Words   |  61 PagesQuestions for Discussion Review †¢ Online Activities †¢ Collaborative Work Case 2, Business Case: Station Casinos Loyalty Program Case 3, Video Case: Superior Manufacturing Wipes the Competition Data Analysis Decision Making: SunWest Foods Improved Bottom Line References Learning Outcomes â‘   Describe various types of functional systems and how they support managers and workers at the operational level. â‘ ¡ Define how manufacturing, production, and transportation information systems

Kettering University Admissions ACT Scores, Admit Rate

Gelatin cryogel sheets (5%) were synthesized using...

Gelatin cryogel sheets (5%) were synthesized using glutaraldehyde as the cross-linker. The aldehyde groups of glutaraldehyde form covalent imine bonds with amino groups of gelatin. Initially different concentrations of gelatin were used (4%, 5%, 6% and 8% respectively). On physical examination of the cryogels produced with these concentrations, it was observed that at higher concentration of gelatin polymer (8%) the rate of polymerization was very fast and hence cryogel sheets formed were not proper. As the percentage of gelatin was increased the amount of cross-linker required was low i.e., the amount of cross-linker required decreases with increase in monomer concentration. Increase in polymer concentration also leads to less elasticity†¦show more content†¦Decrease in glutaraldehyde cross-linker on increasing the polymer precursor might be happening due to the increased probability of colliding polymers and cross linking agent in this unfrozen liquid microphase where all chemical reactions take place. More probability of colliding might be decreasing the amount of glutaraldehyde required to crosslink polymers for gel synthesis. It was also observed that if the amount of glutaraldehyde used was more than the optimum concentrations (Table 1.1), the gel formed lack porous network and were tough and brittle. When the glutaraldehyde concentration was reduced and kept lower than the optimized one, the gels were weak in mechanical strength. This observation suggests that there seems to be some competition between the nucleation process which takes place in frozen regions and gelation process which takes place in unfrozen liquid microphase. When the concentration of glutaraldehyde was lower than optimum, nucleation process dominates the gelation process and the gels formed were weak due to large pores and less polymer wall formation by cross linking of polymers. When glutaraldehyde quantity was taken more than optimum, gelation dominates the nucleation proc ess and the gels formed were without any pores and were brittle. Figure 1.1A shows the digital images of optimized gelatin sheets. Figure 1.1B and 1.1C shows that at an optimized polymer and cross-linker ratio

Essay about Mexicos Economy An Politics In 19th Century

Civil war had destroyed both social stability and the economy. Also, few people had enough political experience to bind Mexico together. The first constitution, spread in 1824, giving state legislators the power to elect both the president and the vice president. A result of this constitution, caused a series of weak presidents struggled to form an effective government. During this time, Mexico’s political elite began to divide into two opposing factions: conservatives and liberals. The conservatives favored a highly centralized government and wanted to maintain the Catholic Church’s power and control of educational facilities. The liberals wanted a federation of states that was not strictly controlled by a central government. They also†¦show more content†¦troops occupied much of northern Mexico by the end of the year. Mexico City fell on September 14, 1847, and Mexican forces surrendered soon thereafter. The Rà ­o Grande was fixed as the southern boundary of Texas. Territory, which now forms the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, became part of the United States. Liberal rebel leader Juan à lvarez became the provisional president of Mexico. The 1855 takeover of the government by the liberals began a period known as La Reforma, in which liberal leaders sought to reduce the power of the church and the military in Mexican politics and society. Later that year Ignacio Comonfort, a liberal who sought a more gradual pace of reform, replaced President à lvarez. In 1857 the liberals enacted a new constitution, which reestablished a federal form of government. It provided for individual rights, universal male suffrage, freedom of speech, and other civil liberties. The constitution also abolished special courts for members of the military or clergy, and ordered the church and other institutions to auction off any land or buildings not absolutely necessary for their operation. Conservative groups bitterly opposed the new constitution. In 1858 a political revolt overthrew President Comonfort and Juà ¡rez became provisional president. Soon afterward conservatives who had participated in the revolt forced Juà ¡rez to flee Mexico City; he established a new seat of governmentShow MoreRelatedThe Path Of Federal Vote For Women During The Mexican Revolution1502 Words   |  7 Pagesfor women in Mexico was a unique history to the Mexican Revolution. The nation was known as a great independent movement, which highly looking for economic modernization, and practice liberal ideals. Because they were lacked of education, Liberal was a big concerned for women and fear that women might harm and cause more problems to the progressive politics (Pablos 45, 60). The battle for the right to vote was only thought in England, Europe and United States. However, women in Mexico going throughRead MoreThe Impact Of United States On America927 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica over the centuries have contributed to the United States growth. This paper seeks to discuss the impacts that the United States had on the Americans from approximately 1880s to present. Effects of United States on the economy and cultural values of America? By considering the history of America, one can recognize that the formation of the United States in the 18th century marked the beginning of the economic prowess. That United State has been enjoying. In the 1880s, the economy of the UnitedRead MoreThe Republic of Rwanda Essay1438 Words   |  6 PagesProgress is evident in countries from their period of colonization to their struggle for independence and struggle in the political arena. The following paper will focus on the struggle and hardships of two distinct countries: Rwanda and Mexico, countries in search for the power, recognition and independence necessary for them to grow and prosper. Growth and prosperity are desirable by all, whether a small country or big country. The Republic of Rwanda a small country in CentralRead MorePost Independence, The Western Hemisphere1571 Words   |  7 Pagesdefinition of power: the capacity of something to affect the emotions or intellect strongly, the â€Å"underdogs† of the Latin America society post-independence held on to an immaterial power that surpassed the unjust design of the social hierarchy. During 19th century post-independence Latin America, the creoles and caudillos had the traditional sense of power with economic and political advantages; however, the gauchos, slaves, and natives also possessed an unconventional and intangible power, by demonstratingRead MoreClassical Era in Latin America and Europe Essay1569 Words   |  7 Pagescivilization developed its own unique style of politics, culture and economies, the economic and social patterns in Latin America distinctly detached this civilization from any Western society, which accounted for obvious distinctions in both cultur e and politics. In politics, the most apparent feature of the Western Society was the creation of new political ideologies, resulting in neither an absolute or dictatorial structure. The instability of Latin American politics created a weakened structure, thereforeRead MoreMexico And The European Colonization Of The Americas1637 Words   |  7 Pages Mexico is a large country that was reborn as a result of the European colonization of the Americas. Although colonial influence largely reshaped Mexico, its Native American roots have remained a prominent element of its culture. Mexico’s history marks the origin of several advanced Amerindian civilizations, including the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec (cia.gov). It was conquered and colonized by Spain in the early 16th century, and administered as the Viceroyalty of NewRead MoreThe Effects Of Slavery On The United States1390 Words   |  6 Pagesformulated into two groups, in support of either the Sou th or North. Prior to 1861, ethical issues regarding slavery transpired nation wide. The United States imported slaves from the Triangle trade. Over time, the common practice of slavery increased the economy s wealth and employed opportunities to expand to the Pacific Ocean. Slavery affected people to support two sides, either to be in support of slavery or want to abolish it. Strong opinions amassed, outrage and emphasis for the morality of slaveryRead MoreTexas Political History : The State Of Texas1592 Words   |  7 PagesAlabama. Rick Perry the former governor of Texas, and Ted Cruz a state senator have both ran for the presidency in this past election. The 19th congressional district of Texas has quite a unique history as well. In 2003 the district was redrawn during an off year election process. That year Republican Randy Neugabour became the state representative for the 19th district, for which he held until 2017. State Voting It is very well known throughout the U.S that the state of Texas typically votes RepublicanRead MoreBrazil, Mexico And Argentina1287 Words   |  6 PagesThe Brazil, Mexico and Argentina are the largest, most industrialized and most diverse economies of Latin America. The three became independent countries in the early 19th century and, at the end of it, slowly started their industrialization processes, which have intensified only from the early 1930. With the crisis of 1929 and the economic depression that followed, the industrialised countries started to buy less goods sold by the exporting countries of agricultural and mineral products. AtRead MoreMexico : Physical Geography : Mexico1556 Words   |  7 PagesMexico Physical Geography: Mexico is a famous country which is located in the southern part of North America. I went to Cancun in spring 2012. It was an amazing trip. I really enjoyed the nature there. Most of Mexico s land is covered by mountains, with only about a third of the land being flat. Moreover, there are five main areas in Mexico. The first one is The Central Plateau which is located just south of The United States. It increases in altitude from the north to south from more than

The Importance Of Acquiring Ben Revere From The Phillies...

As of this writing, the Orioles find themselves 6.5 games out of first place in the AL East and 2.5 games out of the second wild card spot, with no other team currently in front of them. However, nearly the rest of the American League is in a similar situation, with only a total of four teams being more than 5 games behind the Twins. Even though the standings could look very different by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Orioles have recently stated (again) that they will be buying at the deadline. As the title suggests, this article will focus on the idea that acquiring Ben Revere from the Phillies would help the Orioles. Admittedly, the post would have probably been more appropriate last week, prior to Baltimore getting swept by†¦show more content†¦After all, corner outfield positions are associated with power hitting†¦power hitters who don’t have to play defense all that well to justify a spot in the lineup. By contrast, Revere is a 27-year-old outfielder listed at 5’9† and 170 lbs on the Phillies website (so consider him slightly less in both regards) who has a reputation of being a slap-hitting speedster with a weak outfield arm. That reputation is justifiable, as Revere has a career ISO of .053 and 3 home runs in over 2,400 plate appearances. However, if one only looks at the paltry power numbers, the bigger picture is being missed. That bigger picture is that Ben Revere is a league average hitter in 2015 who has contributed 1.9 wins abo ve replacement in approximately half a year’s worth of plate appearances. Revere is currently sporting a triple slash line of .302/.340/.381, which is good for a 101 wRC+, which would put him behind only Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold among Orioles outfielders, although Reimold has only accumulated 67 PAs (I’m considering Chris Davis a first baseman here). Yes, his offensive production is largely dependent on batting average, which makes his acquisition a little riskier, but he’s been very consistent over the last 3 years, as the table shows. Revere isn’t necessarily another platoon player either, something of which the Orioles have plenty. While he’s had trouble against left-handers in 2015 (58 wRC+ in 92 PAs), he’s actually hit better

Hamlet The Theme of Having A Clear Conscience Essay Example For Students

Hamlet: The Theme of Having A Clear Conscience Essay Hamlet: The Theme of Having A Clear ConscienceThe most important line in Hamlet is, The plays the thing, wherein Ill catchthe conscience of the king. (II, ii, 617). In the play, the issue of a clearconscience forms a key motif. When the conscience of the characters appears, itdoes so as a result of some action; as in the case of the aforementioned line,which follows Hamlets conversation with the player. This line is of particularsignificance because it ties action and its effect on the conscience of thecharacters. The nature of Hamlet is conscience, and action plays an importantrole in creating the development of the plot. No where is this development seen clearer than with Hamlet. The Princesdevelopment comes as a result of the self-evaluation of the actions that havetaken place, and the ensuing actions that he takes are a clear result of thisself-evaluation. So, in essence, the actions cause him to think of hisconscience and then act upon these feelings. Hamlets several soliloquies are atestament to this method. His first soliloquy, following a conversation withhis recently wed mother and uncle reflect the uneasiness he feels. He feelsbetrayed. O, most wicked speed, to post, with such dexterity to incestuoussheets. . . but break my heart, for I must hold my tounge. (I, ii, 156-159). Hamlets conscience tells him what is wrong-in this case, the hasty marriage-buthe is ambivalent as to how to approach it; before he meets the ghost, silence ishis method. When Hamlet meets his fathers ghost however, he feels sure ofhimself, and knows what he must do. As a result of the dialogue with the ghost,Hamlets conscience makes him feel that revenge is the best method to deal withthe problems that face him. The consciences of Hamlet, and to a lesser extent, Claudius, affect theirdecisions in the play. However, both characters only question themselves afterthey have been prompted by some specific action or dialogue. By self-evaluation,the characters then make the conscious decision to take action with theirfeelings. An example of this is at the end of act II, following Hamletsconversation with the player. In the soliloquy to end the act (whereupon themost important line is derived), Hamlet questions his passion for the plot hehas planned, and his conversation has clearly affected this ambivlance. However,after mulling over his passion- or lack thereof-towards his plot, Hamlet endsthe soliloquy determined to carry out the play. Hamlet is questioning hisallegiance to the pact he made with his father in Act I, but by the end of thesoliloquy, he has a clearer conscience and knows what action he is to take. Claudius is prompted by the Murder of Gonzago to do penance for his sins. Hedoes this to absolve himself of his guilty conscience, and it is the first timewe see the king show any penitence towards the sins he committed, and it offersa different perspective towards Claudius. Although he is a man who is craftyand wicked in the play, and his actions following this confessional do little tooffer anything to the contrary, it is possible to say that the penance is theaction which follows a conscience mulling action by the king.At the beginningof Act III, Claudius states, How smart a lash that speech doth give myconscience. (III, i, 49-50). The remark is made in response to a statement byPolonius speaking of sugaring the devil, which Claudius alludes to himself. By doing this, the kings conscience is brought up because this is the firsttime he confesses to comitting the crimes. With a little insight, even theactions of the king follow suit with the conscience to action motif. .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 , .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .postImageUrl , .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 , .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849:hover , .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849:visited , .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849:active { border:0!important; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849:active , .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849 .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u543d9f9ea69cb58deec246aadd7e9849:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Identity Theft, By Margaret Rouse EssayAll of the soliloquies in Hamlet are prompted by some sort of action, and theyall serve to clear the Princes conscience. From the aforementioned firstsoliloquy to his last soliloquy following his conversation with the captain ofFortinbras forces, Hamlets conscience is affected by some action. Hamletsdecisions are keyed by pondering over his conscience and it is the decisions hemakes which further the actions of the play. It is action which prompts Hamletto mull over his conscience, and the clearing of his conscience which promptsaction. English

Tyeps of Marketing

Question : Discuss about the Types of Marketing ? Answer: Introduction The assignment is about the appropriate benchmarks and milestones that would be used to maximise the opportunities of Qantas airways so that future success can be ensured. These are the alternative future futures that could occur in the organisation so that different environmental challenges can be met. Qantas airways are the largest airline company of Australia and also renamed as one world Airline alliance. The company pays attention on its benchmarking process so that it can meet challenges of external and internal environment. It focuses and adopts benchmarking standards like Total quality management and it needs to adopt some benchmarking standards for its future success.Qantas is the most popular airline of Australia and it is also the largest one if the fleet size is compared. The airline has 65% of share in the total airline market of Australia. Being the biggest airlines of Australia, it needs to adopt some benchmarking so that it could achieve its future objectives. Benchmarking Benchmarking is the process where the business and its performance have been compared to the performance of the industry. It is the ongoing process which improves the performance of the organisation. It also helps in identifying the gaps in the processing of organisation and helps in achieving the competitive advantage in the industry (Singh, 2016). Qantas being the leader is the aviation industry in Australia has to measure its performance continuously so that its performance can be improved and it can maintain its competitive position. It is already discussed above that Qantas Airways is planning to improve its operations by creating sustainable environment for its stakeholders, by developing technologies for the effective operations and by creating and developing a good service culture in the organisation. There are competitors benchmarking and also a strategic benchmarking. Competitive benchmarking helps the company to evaluate its position in the industry while strategic benchmarking is used in the case of evaluating and analysing the performance of the company (Min Min, 2015). Benchmarking is one of the strategies to facilitate Qantas airways for designing a successful model in the airline industry and it proved as a benchmark for many other airlines in Australia and the world. It not only helps in achieving the objectives of the business but also helps in minimising the costs and maximising the profits. One of the technique or practice to measure the performance of the Qantas airways is performance benchmarking (Mehta et al., 2015). To develop and implement any strategy, it is very important to measure the performance of the company. Performance benchmark is the process which recognizes the best practices which helps the company to improve its performance. Time frames are set and the standards are fixed according to which the company has to maintain its operations so that the standards can be met and the efficiency and performance of the company can be improved. There is a process of benchmarking which is an ongoing process and helps in achieving the goal s (Wang, et. al., 2014). Future benchmarking practices for Qantas Airways Qantas is a strong performer of the year 2015. It also strived and gave its maximum to make its balance sheet strong and to provide maximum returns to the shareholders. The employees of Qantas are hardworking and they are committed to bring best performance in the business for laying foundations for its growth. It continuously brings new and innovative services to meet the demands of the passengers and take part in certain programs which are designed for building the sustainable future for the business and societies. Sustainability is in the strategies of the company (Sarina Lansbury, 2013) . (Source: https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/qantas-heads-towards-a-full-year-aud1-billion-profit-and-now-needs-to-look-for-market-growth-211539) The above graph shows that the performance in 2015 increased to a great extent for Qantas in total.In the highly uncertain business environments, the businesses have to set its strategies to shape its future. Qantas can adopt a range of alternative futures for responding to the different environmental changes. There are considerable changes in the external environment of Qantas like the trends and changes in society, cultural diversity and demographic changes, changes in technology and environment. The following are the alternatives which leads it to success: Working with the customers, environment and communities Qantas is among the first few airlines which introduced the carbon offsetting program. It does not provide any profits to the company but the funds which are collected are used to purchase the carbon offsets. Qantas can run these types of programs in future so that the social and environmental goals can be met. For this Qantas is planning to expand its range of offset programs so that carbon can be offset. They are also expanding their business with the benefit of environment by collaborating with the tour operators of Australia who work on the sustainability (Abdullah, et. al., 2016). (Source: https://investor.qantas.com/FormBuilder/_Resource/_module/doLLG5ufYkCyEPjF1tpgyw/file/annual-report/qantas_annual_review_2015.pdf)The company also planning to work on the reduction of the wastage of electricity, water and waste. It plans a strong sustainable future for all the stakeholders of the company. The company also cares for its employees, to maintain their safety and security. The company is aiming to implement a long term strategy so that the significant Workforce involvement can be achieved (Maimbo and Melecky, 2016). The company also runs different programs which focus on preserving the employees from the injuries and many other risks. The company strives to maintain an environment which improves safety in the business and encourages trust and confidence in the employees of Qantas (KUZEMKO, 2015) The company has the highest priority of saving its customers and employees so that collaboration can be maintained between the company, employees and the customers. Technology Qantas has the main focus on technology in future growth plans. It developed a strong turnaround strategy which brought the company back into profits. The airline business is not easy in terms of costs and profits which is dependent on the prices of fuel in the international market. The company is planning to focus on technology and digital strategies in future to differentiate from the competitors (Qantas airways limited: Travel tourism - company profile, SWOT financial analysis, 2016).For the company, new technology is the priority and the company uses its customer relationship extremely well to create its new business. The company is investing in the areas which matters to its customers. The airline company developed its technology for the savings of time and to provide convenience to the customers. It also focussed on the digital transformation where it enhanced the experience of the customer through social media where the customer service is provided 365 days in a year. The co mpany is also planning to develop a mobile application and is planning to develop its own digital channels to enhance the customer experience (Oxenbridge, et. al., 2010). The company is also planning to strengthen its technology for protecting the business against cyber risks. In the next 10 years, the company is planning to operate with latest technology which takes it better than its competitors. For which, it has to consider various external environment of the company. The Qantas group is among the leading ones in the industry and it has made many investments in its services to make them better. The company has already made many improvements in the recent years and started providing many new services so that it can build up new customers and entertain the existing ones (Sarina Lansbury, 2013). The airline company has started investing in new projects to achieve more customers and markets. The company focuses on the customer satisfaction thorough its services and is a proud brand because it receives highest ratings from its customers. It aims at providing safety to its customers and minimise the risks. For this, the company is running many projects of research for providing the best services to the customers and maximum satisfaction to them. For this, it involves its people by supporting and empowering them so that the main objectives of the business can be met. The company runs training programs to unite their people and to empower them. These prog rams are committed to develop leadership skills in the employees and the company has a diverse workforce which shows the multicultural Australia. The company promote this diversity as its strength. The company focuses on maintaining the gender equality, indigenous employment and flexibility between the Woking hours (Sarina Lansbury, 2013). The company uses New Promoter Score (NPS) to benchmark its performance and the feedback from the customers goes directly to the employees. It helps the company in taking the strategic decisions and in improving the experience of the travellers. Benchmarking is the process which has to be followed with sufficient time and efforts. Companies nowadays follow benchmarking without devoting time and efforts which leads to poor results of benchmarking. Benchmarking is the tool for future and is the most commonly used tool for improvement in the organisations (Albertin et al., 2015). The techniques of benchmarking which can be used by Qantas for improvement in technology, services and cultures and for creating the sustainable environment for stakeholders are Corporate social responsibility system, customer surveys and knowledge management (Okhrimenko, 2016). Bringing sustainability to businessCorporate social responsibility systems Corporate social responsibility is the term which encourages the company to make a good impact on the society, customers, environment and other stakeholders. Qantas aims at developing a sustainable business for its customers and environment which shows that it has to undertake corporate social responsibility activities to fulfil the same. Benchmarking is done on the basis of corporate social responsibility and different points and aspects are considered in this like how many environmental initiatives are taken by Qantas to reduce harmful impacts on the environment (Carroll, 2015). Which all social activities it has understand to crate positive impact on the societies and communities like how it strives to provide benefits to its employees, what all health and safety policies are adopted by the company? It also follows the product responsibilities like how the product or services are being produced and how they are provided to the customers, ethics are been considered over here. It al so involves the analysis of political contributions of the company, anti-corruption activities and the other practices for the betterment of societies. After following this benchmarking process, it is seen that Qantas airways has won many awards for performing its sustainability like Eco- aviation award in 2013, Australian business award for sustainability in 2015, etc. the company has been identified as the sustainability leader in the country and in its industry (Kusunoki, 2016). It focuses on the environmental, social and governmental practices which help in improving the societies, environment and relations of the company with the government.Client surveys This is the tool through which the customer satisfaction of the company is measured. In future, Qantas airways are aiming at providing the customer services and culture to the customers and to the employees which benefits them the most. Customer surveys are the tools which help in collecting the information about the customers and helps in tracking the changes in the satisfaction levels of the customers and for identifying the customers who are at risk. Some of the companies conduct client satisfaction surveys to know the feedback of the customers so that the potential impact on the business can be known. It is very important to know what customers feel so that the business can provide the customers with the expectations they have from the company. Client satisfaction surveys are used by Qantas because they serves as a benchmark to perform and provide the services to them which fulfils their needs and demands. It helps the company to work in collaboration with its customers and helps in meeting the competition. The data of customer surveys are compiled to form a benchmark report. The results of the customer surveys are set as the benchmarks and the surveys are repeated to know whether it is moving in the right direction. Knowledge management It is the process through which the knowledge is created, stored, shared and used for managing the organisation and its operations. It involves using the knowledge for achieving the business objectives. It involves efficient handling of information and the available resources in the organisation (Shokri-Ghasabeh and Chileshe, 2014). It provides a baseline to the organisation. The assessment of knowledge management identifies the required elements which are missing in the organisation to create and develop an effective knowledge management framework. Qantas is aiming to develop and adopt latest and efficient technologies for effective operations and for better business performance. It requires a pool of knowledge to develop and implement such technologies (Borjigen, 2015). This knowledge is then used by the organisation to run effective programs andsystems. The knowledge is updated at regular intervals to match the industry requirements. The assessment of knowledge management will be directly compared to the competitors in the industry and then the comparison is made as to which organisation has better knowledge management. It helps in making the organisation aware about different tools and techniques which can be used to achieve the set objectives of the organisation. So, knowledge management is another benchmarking tool for meeting the challenges of the future of the business and achieving the set objectives. Milestones to achieve these benchmarks S. No. Particulars Milestone 1. Working with the customers, environment and communities July 2017 2. Technology December 2017 3. Service and culture April 2017 4. Corporate social responsibility systems December 2017 5. Knowledge management Jan 2018 6. Client surveys Completed and ongoing The action plan to achieve the benchmarks Benchmarking has a very strong future. It is a strong indicator for achieving the set goals. Benchmarking provides an opportunity to provide knowledge and innovation which are then used to achieve the objectives of the company. It main idea is to develop an understanding in the business as to how the business can improve in comparison to others. Benchmarking has the process which is divided into different stages (Singh, et. al., 2016). These stages are as following: Planning and analysis: First of all, to improve the operations and practices of the company for future, the company has to devote its time for planning of the whole benchmarking process. Here the management of Qantas has to identify the opportunities and then prioritizing the activities according to their importance. It is to be decided that what is to be benchmarked. Like in Qantas airways, the services and culture has to be benchmarked. Also, the technology has to be benchmarked. So, the processes of service delivery and technology will be considered. The most critical processes which require bench marketing will be identified (Walsh, 2011). In the phase of analysis, the information which has been collected will be analysed and then the process of improvement will be developed after that. The company will have to set a goal to achieve from the benchmarking process. The techniques of benchmarking will be decided and the cost benefit analysis will be done (Elskamp et al., 2015). Integration Integration maintains the relationship between the two stages of planning and analysis and the Act onstage. It recommends the action plan for the success of the project. The strengths and weaknesses will be analysed for the company and recommendations will be given related to processes, job responsibilities, staff involved and the use of technology (Min Min, 2015). Action plan This is the last phase of this process in which process is continued. Here the action plan will be developed for the implementation where all the targets and the time duration consumed in achieving those targets will be discussed. Here the responsibilities of the management regarding the process will be discussed and the process will be continued to achieve the milestones (Zurell et al., 2016). The activities have to be reviewed for reviewing their performance and to ensure the benefits of the process. Recommendations The recommendations are given at last, after reviewing the whole process. This involves recognising the gaps and filling them to achieve the set objectives. Conclusion The assignment report focuses on the benchmarking methods which are used to fulfil the objectives of the business which has been set for future of the business to respond to different environmental changes. The assignment consists of the explanation of benchmark and its techniques. The process of benchmarking has also been discussed to explain how the milestones will be covered step by step. This covers the range of alternative futures of the organisation so that the available opportunities can be maximised. References Abdullah, M., Chew, B., Hamid, S. (2016). Benchmarking key success factors for the future green airline industry.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences,224, 246-253. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.456 Albertin, M. R., Pontes, H. L. J., Frota, E. R., Assuno, M. B. (2015). Flexible benchmarking: A new reference model. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 22(5), 920-944. doi:10.1108/BIJ-05-2013-0054 Borjigen, C. (2015). Mass collaborative knowledge management. Program: Electronic Library and Information Systems, 49(3), 325-342. doi:10.1108/PROG-02-2015-0023 Carroll, A. B. (2015). Corporate social responsibility. Organizational Dynamics, 44(2), 87-96. doi:10.1016/j.orgdyn.2015.02.002 Elskamp, F., Kruggel-Emden, H., Hennig, M., Teipel, U. (2015). Benchmarking of process models for continuous screening based on discrete element simulations. Minerals Engineering, 83, 78-96. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2015.08.011 Kusunoki, S. (2016). Hayek on corporate social responsibility. Constitutional Political Economy, 27(1), 93-110. doi:10.1007/s10602-015-9192-4 KUZEMKO, C. (2015). Climate change benchmarking: Constructing a sustainable future?Review of International Studies,41(5), 969. doi:10.1017/S0260210515000418 Maimbo, S. M., Melecky, M. (2016). Financial policy in practice: Benchmarking financial sector strategies around the world. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 52(1), 204. doi:10.1080/1540496X.2015.101239 MEHTA, D. D., SONI, E. S., Dr. Naveen K MEHTA, Dr. Rajesh K MEHTA. (2015). Indian management education and benchmarking practices: A conceptual framework. Economia : Seria Management, 18(1), 69-74. Min, H., Min, H. (2015). Benchmarking the service quality of airlines in the United States: An exploratory analysis.Benchmarking: An International Journal,22(5), 734-751. doi:10.1108/BIJ-03-2013-0029 Okhrimenko, G. V. (2016). The implementation of benchmarking process in marketing education services by ukrainian universities. Marketing MenedÃ… ¾ment Innovacj, 7(1), 84-93. Oxenbridge, S., Wallace, J., White, L., Tiernan, S., Lansbury, R. (2010). A comparative analysis of restructuring employment relationships in Qantas and aer lingus: Different routes, similar destinations.The International Journal of Human Resource Management,21(2), 180-196. doi:10.1080/09585190903509472 Qantas airways limited : Travel tourism - company profile, SWOT financial analysis.(2016). (). Basingstoke: Progressive Digital Media. Sarina, T., Lansbury, R. D. (2013). Flying high and low? strategic choice and employment relations in Qantas and jetstar.Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources,51(4), 437-453. doi:10.1111/1744-7941.12006 Shokri-Ghasabeh, M., Chileshe, N. (2014). Knowledge management. Construction Innovation, 14(1), 108-134. doi:10.1108/CI-06-2013-0026 Singh, A. K. (2016). Competitive service quality benchmarking in airline industry using AHP.Benchmarking: An International Journal,23(4), 768-791. doi:10.1108/BIJ-05-2013-0061 Singh, N., Jain, S., Sharma, P. (2016). Environmental benchmarking practices in indian industries: Evidences from an empirical study.Benchmarking: An International Journal,23(5), 1132-1146. doi:10.1108/BIJ-08-2014-0079 Walsh, C. R. (2011).Airline industry: Strategies, operations and safetyNova Science Publishers, Inc. Wang, K., Fan, X., Fu, X., Zhou, Y. (2014). Benchmarking the performance of chinese airlines: An investigation of productivity, yield and cost competitiveness.Journal of Air Transport Management,38, 3-14. doi:10.1016/j.jairtraman.2013.12.012 Zurell, D., Thuiller, W., Pagel, J., Cabral, J. S., Mnkemller, T., Gravel, D., . . . Zimmermann, N. E. (2016). Benchmarking novel approaches for modelling speciesrange dynamics. Global Change Biology, 22(8), 2651-2664. doi:10.1111/gcb.13251