Dell Computer Corporation Essays - Lean Manufacturing,

Dell Computer Corporation SYNOPSIS In this report an examination will be made of the production and logistics system of Dell Computer Corporation. Emphasis will be placed on the following: The important aspects of Dells product/ service How effective is the firms resource planning procedures? Dells internal and external logistics process The key difficulties - potential points of failure in the Dells logistics process How technologies are being used or can be used to make the logistics function more efficient/effective? What is Dell Computers all about? Michael Dell founded Dell Computer Corporation in 1984 having only $1000 start-up capital. To date, his business has grown to become the second largest computer systems producer in the world, with average daily sales of more than $5 million. The hub of Dells production system is based in the U.S (Round rock, Texas), while other factories are located in Nashville, Tennessee, Limerick, (Ireland), Penang, Malaysia, Xiamen, China and Eldorado do Sul, Brazil. Dell has offices in thirty-four countries around the world and sells its products and services in more than one hundred and seventy countries. The table below provides a break down of Dells global market growth and position. Monetary values are quoted in US$ in millions. Continent Market Position Net Revenue as at January 28/2000 Annual Growth Rate Dell Americas Dell Europe/Middle East/Africa Dell Asia Pacific and Japan 1 2 7 17879 5590 1796 48% 24% 52% According to Dells forecast it is estimated that total revenue will amount to US$33 billion this year, where US$20 billion will be as a result of online transactions. (1) In the Appendix of this report, a consolidated statement of income on Dells financial position for the year ending 28/1/00 is presented. The important aspects of Dells Product and Service Dells core competency lies in customising its product computer hardware and software to the specific needs of the consumer. The organisation has been able to gain a cost advantage by creating a standardised product as well as achieving the market advantage of variety and uniqueness. The modular design of Dells products has made that possible. Dells use of modular design involves using a standardised building block/chassis to which; value is added by building each product to the customers specifications, the outcome being a unique finished product. Modular design also gives Dell the increased flexibility in its procurement function. The diagram below highlights this flexibility: Dell Computers Corp Suppliers (figure 1.1) Suppliers Figure 1.1 provides a simplistic example of Dells supply chain. The numbered squares each represent a component supplier. Hypothetically speaking lets us assume that supplier number 5 provides Dell with circuit boards. Management has discovered that it would be more efficient ordering that component from a regional supplier, therefore decides to cut supplier 5 out of the supply chain and switches to supplier number 6. The modular design of the product makes that possible as well as the fact that the bulk of the components are not being ordered from a single supplier. Dells product range includes the following: Based on the information above it can be said that, Dell is one of the most ideal models of a market-orientated organisation. By having a direct relationship with its customers the organisation has been able to gain an understanding of their individual needs and therefore, strategically segmenting the market as follows: Home and Home office Small business Center (businesses under 400 employees) Medium and large business (businesses with over 400 employees) Internet Service Providers (Internet service providers, application service providers and web hosting companies) Health Care business Government agencies Education facilities Dell has characterised its relationship with the market segments above under one broad heading that is The Dell Direct Model. The Dell Direct Model This model involves several factors namely: Build to order manufacturing Low cost high speed distribution and procurement system Direct relationship with customers These three factors are essentially the backbone of Dells operations and the means through which the organisation is able to differentiate itself from competitors, therefore sustaining a significant competitive advantage. Dell is the entire distribution channel from the procurement to the delivery of the finished product/service to the consumer. By eliminating the middleman in the supply chain Dell is able to exert greater control over cost and quality in the product and the efficiency of the lead-time. The organisation realises that each of its market

Analyze How Chinese Women Immigrants History was Linked to American Womens History essays

Analyze How Chinese Women Immigrants' History was Linked to American Womens History essays The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of American history. Specifically it will link Chinese women immigrants' history to American women's history. Chinese women have a particularly difficult history in America, because many of the first Chinese women to immigrate to America were prostitutes imported to serve the many single Chinese men working in the country. Chinese women were effectually banned from immigrating to the country for many years, and most Chinese men left their wives and children behind in China because it was much cheaper for them to live there. The men simply sent money back home to support their families. 1 Chinese women's history parallels American women's history in many ways, but Chinese women have a much shorter history in this country, and most faced many hardships due to their race. Chinese women immigrated to American in exceedingly small numbers until the 20th century. In the mid-1800s, there were 63,000 Chinese in the United States, and nearly all of them were men. They came to this country as laborers, and left their families behind. Most of them fully intended to return to China and reunite with their families, and perhaps half of them did, but many remained in the U.S., mostly on the West Coast, where Chinatowns sprang up in most large west coast cities. 2 In 1882, the U.S. passed an exclusion law, banning almost all Chinese from immigrating to this country, and it made it illegal for Chinese already here to become citizens, too. This kept even more Chinese women in China, and this law lasted until the 1943, and kept the ratio of Chinese men to Chinese women extremely high. One author notes, "By 1890, there were about twenty-seven Chinese men for every Chinese woman. As late as 1930, the ratio was still four to one." 3 During the time of immigration exclusion, thousands of Chinese were smuggled into the country, and many of them were women. Most of ...

Anxiety disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Anxiety disorder - Essay Example Anxiety can be that severe, or it could be simple little fears that many people share. Many people are afraid of the dark, and get extreme anxiety if they are left in a dark room, or in a place with no lights. Claustrophobia is another common fear or anxiety, where a person gets extremely uncomfortable when they are cramped in tight spaces for a period of time. The phobias however, can range to other extreme, irrational phobias, such as autophobia, the fear or being alone, which can ultimately develop into being afraid of your own shadow and reflection. These types of extreme phobias often lead to painful and life effecting anxiety attacks. The anxiety caused by these mental conditions can hinder a person’s life, and could even have greater negative consequences than that. Anxiety is a mental condition that affects everybody. From being anxious about the little things, or developing full blown anxiety attacks, anxiety affects everyone at one point in their lives. This hard to deal with nervous breakdown can have negative impacts on the rest of our lives, as well as how we view the world. Whatever if is you are afraid of, chances are it causes you some anxiety. This fear, or irrational sense of fear from, or cause by something, can sometime have a root in your past, but other times it cannot. This fear can also come at you all of a sudden, or some phobias or anxieties develop over time, and thus may be rooted somewhere in your past. Anxiety and fear can result from these phobias, and can lead to unwanted mental conditions or even hinder your everyday, normal routine and life activities. This is an unwanted result of the anxiety, which often leads a more negative then positive result on the person who is under an anxiety attack from their fear of phobia. An exact definition of what exactly anxiety is, is slightly hard to come by,

Psp go Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Psp go - Essay Example According to Joseph Schumpeter (Schumpeter), an entrepreneur may innovate in the form of new products, new production methods, new markets or new forms of organization. However, entrepreneurship does not just involve owning a small business. Firstly, there has to be some innovation. Secondly, entrepreneurs take much bigger risk and the gains are much higher. However, not all entrepreneurial ventures may be successful. The success of the business or idea depends on a number of factors. A lot of people have researched on different entrepreneurial setups and have looked into what makes an entrepreneur successful. In this research paper we shall analyze the process of entrepreneurship from different angles and identify the key factors which relate to the success or failure of the entrepreneurial venture. The organization that we have selected for this project is Sony (SCEI). This is because Sony is quite famous for its innovative products and technologies. Over the years Sony has releases some of the breathtaking inventions of today and is considered to be a pioneer in developing new ideas. Sony is also famous for its entrepreneurial culture and environment which supports innovation within the organization. Further, the product that we have selected is their PSP Go, which is a unique handheld gaming console for kids and adults. Sony’s Game business venture is made up of game software and consoles offered by the Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporation (SCEI).The current global digital lifestyle has lead to the innovation and evolution of portable digital games to match. Based on Sony’s Corporation five year strategy, (Sony’s Annual Report 2009, p.23), Sony Computer Entertainment unveiled PSP- GO (Play Station Portable go) in Tokyo on June 3rd 2009 which was made available in stores as from 1st October 2009.PSP go is a new evolution of handheld digital entertainment system, uniquely

Philosophy as Metaphysics Essay Example for Free

Philosophy as Metaphysics Essay ABSTRACT: Philosophy works with special types of objects: the totalities. The basic characteristics of this type of object are their metaphysical, transcendental, and total character. The character of these objects determines the specificity of language and the methods of philosophy. The language of philosophy represents symbolic language; speculation is the basic method of philosophy. On the one hand, objects of this type emphasis homo sapien as essences capable of constructing such objects, which in turn assumes the ability of human consciousness to make synthetic acts. On the basis of philosophy as metaphysics, an original approach is offered which divides the history of philosophy into periods as well as providing analysis of different philosophical systems. Feature of philosophical activity, as against a science, is the work with special, not physical objects — the totalities, which are constituted by the philosopher. One of such objects is the world, and, in this sense, we often say, that philosophy is a wel-tanschauung (world-outlook) . Certainly, the world as some set of things can be studied by physics (sciences in a broad sense), but in this case a researcher can miss the point that the world is a totality, not just a simple set of things. As distinct from scientific study the philosophy takes its objects as the totalities, which the subject of knowledge cannot study as ordinary objects, because the including the learning subject character of these the totalities excludes any standard scientific approach to knowledge in principle. Others examples of the above mentioned objects (the totalities) are Ego and God. Objects of this type (with some reservations) are a lot of human being phenomena, such as love, virtue, conscience, courage, bravery, understanding and so on. All these objects are those, that the precise fixing of objective criteria of their existence is impossible, it is impossible to create the high-grade theory of these phenomena (for example, theory of love or bravery), as they assume not only objective Contemplator (as it occurs in case of objects of scientific knowledge), but also postulate the Actor inside them, that causes essentially twinkling way of them being. (2) Exactly the character of these objects determined essential features of the philosophizing as metaphysical activity. The underlining of metaphysical character of philosophy objects dictates the special procedures of work with them, distinct from of methods of scientific knowledge. Metaphysical objects — constructs cannot be given in frameworks of physical experience; the study — constructing of these objects occurs by a way of thinking means, procedures of speculation. That is why the one of the most typical mistakes in the researching of these objects is procedures of naturalization metaphysical objects, i. e. consideration of natural (physical) analogs of these objects. For example, instead of work with the world (the world as totality) we consider the world as some sets of physical, chemical, biological etc. objects, and instead of the analysis of phenomenon of consciousness proper as metaphysical object the natural analog of consciousness — brain or mentality of the particular human being, we examine. Specifying the status of these objects, it is possible to tell, that the subject of the philosophy activity are metaphysical-transcendental objects, i. e. objects having the boundary status of their existence. The boundary character of these objects allows to specify Kantian distinction sensible phenomena and transcendent things in itself. Moreover, metaphysical-transcendental objects are located on border of other known distinctions of classical philosophy. (3) They are, for example, not subjective and not objective, not conscious and not material. It is interesting in this respect appearance of the first proper philosophical category of being, which, in fact, was entered Parmenid`s as boundary metaphysical-transcendental object being-thinking (in this case, alongside with Parmenid`s postulating his first thesis, entering a category of being, presence of the second his thesis, establishing the coincidence of an entered category of being with another category — the category of thinking). In some sense, metaphysical-transcendental objects are Husserl`s phenomenal, from which as a result of procedures of objectivizing and (or) subjectivizing the subjects and objects can be received, i. e. is entered subjective-objective distinction of New time. On the other hand, the boundary character of these objects allows still to work with them ( I specially avoid the term to learn, as far as these procedures are applied only for work with usual objects). Above this mode of working with them was named as speculation, which, as a result, the construction of these objects to occur by a way of thinking means. The creation such thinking construct is caused by that the person aspires to understand mode of functioning of the totalities, which surround him. And just this phenomenon of surprise before presence of such totalities is a beginning and basic nerve of philosophy. In this sense, philosophizing is possible only as an act of work of the beings, capable to postulate these totalities, due to synthetic acts (Kant), as being, perceiving the environmental world not in itself, but by means of symbolical function (Cassirer), through a prism of the transformed forms (Marx, Mamardaschvili). Another important characteristic of metaphysical objects is their total-making nature. It means, that the purpose of designing such objects is the attempt of understanding of some phenomenon of totality (for example, the world as whole, totality) in light of a question how (why) this phenomenon is possible?. The answer to this question assumes revealing mechanism of existence of this phenomenon. That is why it is important for the philosopher not to know some common aspect, that is allowed at a level of the primary, superficial description of it and other similar objects, but to know general (total) principle of functioning of objects of this type. For example, if a row of the plane polygons is given to us, a triangle(4) will act as general principle of this variety, because all others plane polygons can be given with the help of a triangle. Thus, philosophical constructs act as transcendental condition of seeing of other physical objects. That the phenomenon of seeing of a house was possible as some totality, it is necessary to postulate a row of transcendental conditions of this phenomenon, among them we can allocate necessity being of the house (Parmenid), recognition (and taking shape) this being by means of idea of home (Plato), fixing the house as an object of perception by some subject (Decartes) within spatial-temporary a priory forms of sensuality (Kant). On the other hand, a row of such philosophical constructs define a horizon, a way of seeing of subjects (Wittgenstein), associated with a certain epoch. For example, the mentioned above transcendental conditions of a phenomenon of seeing of a house define a way of seeing of subjects within the framework of classical philosophy. In this sense these constructs act as total-necessary cultural machines, that set the cultural way of living activity of the person and made imperceptible but essential background of his existence. For example, when a modern man looks at star sky, he sees not simply separate stars, but constellations — and it is impossible to explain to a person from other culture (and the more so, being, which is not having ability to the synthetic acts). Moreover, developing this example with constructing of constellations, it is possible to tell, that exactly it has made possible occurrence of such activity as an astrology. The above mentioned metaphysical character of philosophy objects causes the specification of the language and methods philosophizing. The language of philosophy has not signal, but symbolical character. Lets stop on it hardly more in detail. Already science differs from the common sense description, because it uses some abstraction, ideal elements, which, in a common case, it is impossible to compare any certain objects of the physical validity. For example, as D. Gilbert says, in mathematics, those are language fictions, and one of the main problems of a substantiation of mathematics is either an exception these fictions, or imposing some certain restrictions — all that prevent the appearance of negative consequences, while using language fictions. Any language works with signs, besides that, any theory deals with mentioned language fictions (=  «symbols »), i. e. such kinds of signs, with which nothing corresponds in sensible reality. For example, in physics has concepts a material point, an absolutely black body, etc. They are often called as abstract — ideal objects, which turn out by a way of abstraction (idealization) from any properties of real physical objects. But in physics there are and more fictitious objects: cwarcks, for example, which not only is evident not imagine, but also until last time have acted only as theoretical constructs essentially of unobservable nature. In this case we can postulate a metaphysical mode of existence for these objects. It is important to emphasize, that these metaphysical objects do not exist in the same sense, as it is for the particular objects of a physical reality, such as table, chair,etc. The majority of the philosophy terms, its categorical apparatus have such symbolical character. It is impossible to give any referents of philosophical categories inside a physical reality. We can take as an example of such philosophical categories as being, consciousness etc. , for which we can somehow find certain physical analogues (for example, for a philosophical category  «being  » such analogue is the category  «substance » or matter). But there are more humanitarian objects connected with some features of a human being way, for which in general there are no analogues in a nature. These are, for example, concepts virtue, conscience, love, debt, bravery This specification of the philosophy language, which symbols indicate an existence of a special metaphysical dimension of a reality could be expressed by Kantian exclamation Excuse me, but it is not, what I speak about (mean)! in reply to German poet Schiller`s misunderstanding his categorical imperative. The metaphysical character of the categorical philosophical apparatus predetermines also specification of philosophical reasoning. The postulated non-sense character of perception of objects of the filosophizing assumes the special procedures of work, which were above characterized as a procedure of speculation. The main difficulty thus — is absence of a support on sensible analogy, which often helps us in daily life. The structure a reasoning about pure being (or conscience) is principle different from the reasoning about a tree, or a sex, or other objects of the physical world. Danger, which here waits us — influence of our vital experience, influence sensible hooks, which can destroy the ability for the reflex and philosophical analysis. To explain the idea about involuntary influence ours sensible apparatus, M. Mamardaschvili in the lectures about M. Proust, used as an example biblical commandment when they beat you on the one cheek — put another one as a vivid example of inhibition (Husserl`s  «phenomenological reduction ») of a standard human reaction (reflex), imposed to us by sense-figurative thinking (if somebody hearts you — reply with the same). Moreover, it is possible, that some other logic operates in area of speculative objects, distinct from usual, earthly logic. In particular, according to opinion of the Russian philosopher and the logic N. A. Vasiljev, validity of the logic law of excluded third, has purely earthly an origin and it is connected with primacy, after Aristotle, of individual existing things. (5) If we, following Plato, consider classes of subjects as primary (for instance, subject a class of tables), the law of excluded third will be incorrect, as the table as one of set of subjects of a class of tables can be simultaneously both white and non-white (in instance, green). Of course, here it is necessary to realize, that the opposite properties are attributed to the different individuals of primary subject — different things of the same class). The transfer of the point of view from single objects to classes of objects has allowed N. Vasiljev to formulate imagined logic with the law of excluded fourth. This logic in anything does not concede on its parameters to our habitual logic with the law of excluded third, but expands opportunities of our thinking. Within the framework of this logic the paradoxical coincidence between maximum and minimum, revealed Nikolaj from Kuza, does not cause surprise. The only acceptable procedure for understanding of philosophical categories within of some philosophical framework is the correlation of the different speculative (metaphysics) objects with the help of a method language game.

Expansion Of Government Power :: essays research papers

Expansion of Government Power During the Civil War and Reconstruction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Contrary to what I believed in the past, the United States federal government retained and expanded their power and authority during the years of the Civil war along with the period of Reconstruction. Through drafts and monitored elections, they exercised this power during the Civil War. Then, as Reconstruction began, they initiated other methods of increasing their authority over the citizens. Military was placed in Southern states, by the federal government, in order to keep control over the rebellious people. Not only that, but, the idea of putting the federal government in charge of Reconstruction and rebuilding an entire nation gave them an enormous amount of power. Finally, the creation of the 14th and 15th Amendment were two more big achievements on the part of the government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the month of April of 1862, the government issued the first draft of the Civil War. Throughout the war, they put out drafts because so many men were needed to fight. Citizens were expected to obey these orders, and as the war progressed, it was harder and harder for men to avoid fighting for their country. Towards the end, the government began forcing almost every able man to enlist in the army. Men of ages 17-50 were drafted in the South (20-45 in the North); bodies were needed. And the government made sure that they got what they needed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Along with drafts, the federal government also monitored elections in order to control who the people were voting for. Ballots only contained candidates which were appropriate according to the government, and various colored slips were associated with the different nominees. Everyone could see what color slip everyone else was holding, and people holding slips that they â€Å"weren’t supposed to† were later caught and punished.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The power of the federal government can also be seen during Lincoln’s presidency at the time of the Civil War. He swayed the entire purpose of the war to something far off from what had been the initial purpose. From fighting for the preservation of the Union, Northerners readily began to accept that the abolition of slavery was the cause of the war for them, not the Union. Lincoln and his power made this happen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As Reconstruction began, our government was given the full responsibility of rebuilding and revising many areas of our nation. That is some incredibly power– having the authority to change an entire country to what they thought was correct.

Airbus Consortium

Turbulence wrecks Airbus Consortium Airbus Industry is a consortium of European aircraft-manufacturing companies formed in 1970 to meet the demand for short- to medium-range, high-capacity jetliners. Members include the German, French and Spanish-owned European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company EADS (80% stake) and the British owned BAE Systems (20%). Since its inception, Airbus has become a case study for how a multi-lateral consortium can be a disaster in a market-sensitive industry like Aviation.Technical and cultural issues †¢Socio-cultural differences: It is well known throughout Europe that Germans prefer consensus and involving others in decision making, while the French like to have a centralized committee making all major decisions. The Spanish are known to be flexible but not very communicative. All these differences have hugely impacted productivity and working efficiency within Airbus. †¢Governmental interference: It’s hard to enforce economic efficien cy where subsidies are involved.Every time there was a crisis in investment or Opex, the governments of the countries involved jumped in to help out their respective players in the consortium. This led to huge overheads and repeated delays. †¢Technical oversight: Incompatibility in the versions of CATIA software used by plants in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany resulted in 530 kms of cable wiring throughout the aircraft having to be completely redesigned. This delayed the launch of Airbus A380 for two years, and as much as $6. 1 billion in losses and penalties for late-delivery. A fractured assembly line: Owing to political compulsions, different parts of the aircraft were built at different locations: nose sections in France, fuselages in Germany, wings in UK, tails in Spain, etc, while the final assembly was done in Toulouse (France). All this led to overheads in logistics, not to mention communication gaps, and unforeseen delays. †¢HR issues: Positions and placeme nts in top management is always a prickly issue, even in well-managed corporate companies owned by a single entity.The same can become hundred-fold in a joint-venture of this magnitude. To make matters worse, Governments of the countries involved tried to lobby for top positions to their representatives, along with manufacturing contracts to their native countries. A direct consequence of all this was that the launch of Airbus A380 had to be pushed from 2006 to 2008. With several airlines canceling their orders, this resulted in a loss of over 2 billion Euros, a drastic cut in the size of the workforce, closure of a few plants, and a highly damaged brand image.Lessons Learned †¢While workplace diversity is desirable in general, adequate research must be done on both its short-term and long-term impact. †¢While technical glitches can be easily overcome, cultural differences should be highlighted and pro-active measures undertaken towards cultural integration. †¢Ability or Proficiency cannot be taken for granted, and Training of employees must be an integral part of any joint venture. †¢Deadlines must be realistic and all issues known or unknown must be factored, as all of them have an impact on the final delivery.