South africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

South africa - Essay Example The companies’ efforts were however met with government’s counter strategies to maintain the practice of apartheid. Caltex, owned jointly by Texaco and SoCal is one example of foreign company operating in South Africa whose shareholders on many occasions tried hard to pass resolutions that were anti apartheid. This paper seeks to highlight Caltex, its conception in the South African market, its operations and how it affected the growth or downfall of the practice of apartheid. First we consider whether the entry of Caltex in South Africa empowered apartheid. Whether or not the utilitarian benefits of Caltex’s operations stood above the moral rights and justice violations that its presence seemed to propagate. In 1975 Caltex sought to expand its investment in South Africa. The expansion could cost $135 million, increase south Africa’s refining capacity by 11% and it promised a return on interest of about 20% i.e. approximately $27 million annually. In essence, a Return on Interest of $27 million annually, had a strong utilitarian benefit. After all Caltex is a profit making company and profit making is the major focus. However, this expansion would consequently strengthen the economy of the very government that was steadfast at maintaining apartheid as its legal policy. A strong economy meant a strong government and thus widespread apartheid. The commitment that Caltex later showed to the plight of their black employees is another utilitarian benefit that requires consideration. They moved 40% of their black workers to refinery jobs initially held by whites and they moved a total of 29 to the topmost four of the white collar and skilled job categories. Even though most blacks remained in the lower job categories, Caltex had at least shown their commitment to eradicating apartheid. The utilitarian benefits of Caltex presenting better working conditions

Lean Production System-(JIT) Just In Time Inventory Research Paper

Lean Production System-(JIT) Just In Time Inventory - Research Paper Example n.d., par. 1). In HMC’s situation, therefore, JIT inventory is perceived to be a crucial part of the lean production system whereby the identified goals contain the need to focus on maximizing the use of the most appropriate inventory levels which are consistent with the strategies used. Explanation on How JIT would Help HMC’s Subassembly Area The current situation at HMC’s subassembly area is as follows: (1) an increase in outsourcing brought greater demands for assembly operations; (2) management was reported to have been experiencing difficulties in allotting space for assembly operations; (3) there was no permanent and enough space for assembly operations as case facts indicate that management often located the assembly areas in any location where there was open floor space; (4) with anticipated demands for increased assembly operations, HMC finds itself experiencing extreme cases of excess materials or the need to expedite materials from suppliers at the ver y last minute to prevent from missing a customer’s deadline; (5) the original plant layout did not include a space of assembly operations; thereby current assembly layout causes inefficiencies and increases costs and wastes in production time and resources. The JIT would definitely help the sub-assembly area by recommending strategies that would improve sourcing, delivery and level (as well as costs) of inventories and improving the lay-out for production, among others. As emphasized, â€Å"JIT applies primarily to repetitive manufacturing processes in which the same products and components are produced over and over again. The general idea is to establish flow processes (even when the facility uses a jobbing or batch process layout) by linking work centers so that there is an even, balanced flow of materials throughout the entire production process, similar to that found in an assembly line. To accomplish this, an attempt is made to reach the goals of driving all inventory buffers toward zero and achieving the ideal lot size of one unit† (Just-In-Time (JIT) Production, n.d., par. 2). By eliminating the need to movement of people and materials (layout); observing and calculating the most effective inventory level; as well as observing the goals of JIT partnerships (â€Å"elimination of unnecessary activities; elimination of in-plant inventory; elimination of in-transit inventory; and elimination of poor suppliers) (Ahmadi, n.d., p. 13), JIT would have helped HMC in improving the subassembly area. Explanation of Impact These Actions on the Objectives Established As one has explained, the JIT goals are consistent with the goals that were established by HMC, to wit: