THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
Production management means planning, organizing, directing and controlling of production activities. Production management deals with converting raw materials into finished goods or products. Production management also deals with decision-making regarding the quality, quantity, cost, etc., of production. It applies management principles to production. Production management is a part of business management. It is also called “Production Function.” Production management is slowly being replaced by operations management. The main objective of production management is to produce goods and services of the right quality, right quantity, at the right time and at minimum cost. It also tries to improve the efficiency. An efficient organization can face competition effectively. Production management ensures full or optimum utilization of available production capacity. Production management, also called operations management, planning and control of industrial processes to ensure that they move smoothly at the required level. Techniques of production management are employed in service as well as in manufacturing industries. It is a responsibility similar in level and scope to other specialties such as marketing or human resource and financial management. In manufacturing operations, production management includes responsibility for product and process design, planning and control issues involving capacity and quality, and organization and supervision of the workforce (Daneshjo, 2013).
One of the ways to improve the production management process is through the use of appropriate tools. In today’s world, information is the most valuable asset of any organization so that the importance of information technology and its effects has grown tremendously and sense its growth and development. Acquisition of key technological tools that helps manufacturing companies to maximize the utilization of available resources for maximum production is very important. With the maturing of manufacturing, companies large and small are looking to other areas that offer opportunity for significant value addition and growth. At the same time, advances in sciences and engineering are producing significant new discoveries and technologies such as in genomics, stem cells, renewable energy, and networked information technology. With the ever-increasing demands by the clients and customers, raw materials suppliers, as well as the pressure from the upper management of the organization for increased efficiency and profit, collaborating and effective management of priorities in the production constantly pose challenges and beset the operations management of the company. As such, it is inevitable that the organization implement programs and production systems that will best suit the needs of the company and its clients. Utilizing technological systems in the workplace provides more advantage in terms of receiving, recording, processing, storing and transferring information (Rahmani, 2015).
Production and operations management must also help develop a better understanding of the information-intensive contexts in which technology commercialization occurs today. Given the importance of technology in production management, this research work is therefore focused on the impact of technology on production management.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Several manufacturing firms have suffered from inefficient and imprudent management of resources and product scarcity, which has resulted in low level of productivity, inability to meet up with meeting customers’ needs, delayed production because of lack of modern technology to aid in the production processes and consequently this brings about financial losses. Poor production management leads to scarcity and this scarcity can be attributed to shut downs and breakdown of manufacturing firms, due to absence of relevant technology to facilitate smooth maintenance activities and production. This is brought about by the unavailability of critical and useful technology, which should have been provided by the production management department. The use of technology in production management department is very important especially in view of the high level of competition that exists in the global market. Frequently, the production management department has been accused for the frequent breakdown and shut downs as a result of its inability to provide the necessary equipments and tools for production process as at when they are needed.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of the study are:
- To ascertain the impact of technology on production management in manufacturing firm.
- To ascertain the need of utilizing technology in production management in manufacturing firm.
- To identify the importance of production management in manufacturing firm.
- To reveal the ways of fostering adoption of technology for production management in a manufacturing firm.
1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions are formulated based on the research objectives:
- What is the impact of technology on production management in manufacturing firm?
- What is the need of utilizing technology in production management in manufacturing firm?
- What is the importance of production management in manufacturing firm?
- What are the ways of fostering adoption of technology for production management in a manufacturing firm?
1.5 Statement of the Hypotheses
As a guide to achieve the objectives of the study, the following hypotheses were formulated:
- Ho: Improved production standard, increased output level, satisfaction of the demand of customers for manufactured products are not the impact of technology on production management in manufacturing firm.
Ha: Improved production standard, increased output level, satisfaction of the demand of customers for manufactured products are the impact of technology on production management in manufacturing firm.
- Ho: Maximizing utilization of production resources, reducing time of production, increasing profitability are not the need of utilizing technology in production management in manufacturing firm.
Ha: Maximizing utilization of production resources, reducing time of production, increasing profitability are the need of utilizing technology in production management in manufacturing firm.
- Ho: Accomplishment of firm’s objectives, optimum utilization of resources, expansion of the firm are not the importance of production management in manufacturing firm.
Ha: Accomplishment of firm’s objectives, optimum utilization of resources, expansion of the firm are the importance of production management in manufacturing firm.
- Ho: Willingness of management to invest in the acquisition of technological tools for production management, training of workers on how to use technological equipments, support from government for manufacturing enterprises to acquire needed tools for effective production management are not the ways of fostering adoption of technology for production management in a manufacturing firm.
Ha: Willingness of management to invest in the acquisition of technological tools for production management, training of workers on how to use technological equipments, support from government for manufacturing enterprises to acquire needed tools for effective production management are the ways of fostering adoption of technology for production management in a manufacturing firm.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is significant in the following ways:
- It will help the manufacturing firm know the impact of technology in contributing positively to the production management process.
- It will provide useful information to enable manufacturing firm know the need to utilize technology for production management.
- It will help manufacturing firms to meet the demand of their customers and also increase their profitability through the use of technology tools.
- The research work will reveal the importance of adopting technology in production management.
- It will serve as a useful reference material to other researchers seeking for related information.
1.7 Scope of the study
This study covers the impact of technology in production management using Semek group of companies in Ikot Ekpene as a case study.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
The study was limited by the following factors:Financial Factor: Inadequate funds affected the way data were
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THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
