Publication: A study on business process reengineering
Abstract
Üretim ve servis sektöründeki pek çok şirket, pazar taleplerinde yaşanan kritik değişiklikler ve rekabet karşısında kendi işlerini geliştirecek yönetim teknikleri arayışına girmişlerdir. Bazı durumlarda, sürekli geliştirme programları ve toplam kalite kavramları sayesinde basamak kabul edilebilecek başarılar elde edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte, son yıllarda, şiddetli rekabet ortamı ve hızla değişen küresel piyasaların etkisiyle daha büyük ölçüde bir geliştirme ihtiyacı doğmuştur. İş Süreçlerini Yeniden Yapılandırma (BPR), toplam kalite yönetimi, örgütsel davranış, insan performansı ve bunun gibi diğer yöntemlerden türetilen ilkelerin, iş süreçlerine uygulanarak bu süreçlerin verimliliğini arttırmayı kapsayan, bu yolla üretkenlikte kazanımlar sağlama arayışında, devrimci bir yöntemdir. Bu çalışma, kimya endüstrisi kolunda BPR uygulaması hakkında bir değerlendirme yapmak üzere gerçekleştirilmiştir. Tezin ilk bölümünde, kapsamlı bir araştırma yapılmış ve BPR'nin uygulama yöntemleri gözden geçirilmiştir. Daha sonra kimya endüstrisinden bir şirketin gerçek hayat tecrübesi incelenmiştir. Teknik yönleriyle süreç basitleştirme, bazı kontrol faaliyetlerinin ortadan kaldırılması, faaliyetlerin eş zamanlı gerçekleştirilmesi önerilen değişiklikler arasındadır. İnsan kaynakları yönüyle de bazı işlevlerin birleştirilmesi ve ilgili personelin yetkilendirilmesi işletmenin daha etkin bir yapıya kavuşmasını sağlamıştır. İşletme faaliyetlerinin hızlandırılması ve düzenlenmesinde, yeniden yapılanmanın temel aracı bilişim teknolojisi olarak belirlenmektedir. BPR ilkelerine uygun bir şekilde bilgisayar destekli envanter yönetim sistemi elektronik iletişim ve ürün tanıtımı gibi öneriler sunulmuştur. Son bölümde, bu sektör için BPR uygulamalarının gerçekleştirilmesinde karşılaşılacak sorunlar üzerinde durulmuştur. Tedarikçi zinciri ve insan kaynakları ile ilgili zayıf noktalar vurgulanmıştır.
Facing critical changes in market demands and competition many companies in the manufacturing and service industries have searched for management techniques to improve their businesses. In some cases incremental accomplishments are realised through continuous improvement programs and total quality concepts. However, in recent years, the need for dramatic improvement has arisen due to fierce competitive conditions and the rapidly changing global markets. Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is a revolutionary method of seeking productivity gains that involve the application of principles derived from TQM, organisational behaviour and human performance among others to job processes in order to improve the efficiency of those processes. This study is carried out to make an assessment of BPR in a chemical processing industry. In the first part of the thesis, a comprehensive survey is conducted and the underlying methodologies of BPR are reviewed. Then a real life experience of reengineering effort in a company in the chemical process industry is investigated. On the technical aspects, process simplification and elimination of certain control activities are proposed. With respect to the human resources aspects, communication between departments, pooling of some functionality and personnel empowerment lead into a more effective business operation. In addition, information technology is identified as the key enabler of reengineering in speeding up and streamlining business activities. Recommendations in line with the principles of BPR are stated such as computer aided pattern design, communication and computerised inventory management system and electronic product introduction. The study is completed with pointing out the difficulties faced in the chemical industry while applying BPR. The drawbacks related to supplier chains and human resources are emphasised. The need for enhancing the BPR software tools for visual and mathematical models is suggested for further work.
Facing critical changes in market demands and competition many companies in the manufacturing and service industries have searched for management techniques to improve their businesses. In some cases incremental accomplishments are realised through continuous improvement programs and total quality concepts. However, in recent years, the need for dramatic improvement has arisen due to fierce competitive conditions and the rapidly changing global markets. Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is a revolutionary method of seeking productivity gains that involve the application of principles derived from TQM, organisational behaviour and human performance among others to job processes in order to improve the efficiency of those processes. This study is carried out to make an assessment of BPR in a chemical processing industry. In the first part of the thesis, a comprehensive survey is conducted and the underlying methodologies of BPR are reviewed. Then a real life experience of reengineering effort in a company in the chemical process industry is investigated. On the technical aspects, process simplification and elimination of certain control activities are proposed. With respect to the human resources aspects, communication between departments, pooling of some functionality and personnel empowerment lead into a more effective business operation. In addition, information technology is identified as the key enabler of reengineering in speeding up and streamlining business activities. Recommendations in line with the principles of BPR are stated such as computer aided pattern design, communication and computerised inventory management system and electronic product introduction. The study is completed with pointing out the difficulties faced in the chemical industry while applying BPR. The drawbacks related to supplier chains and human resources are emphasised. The need for enhancing the BPR software tools for visual and mathematical models is suggested for further work.