8600-325 Understanding How to Manage the Efficient Use of Materials and Equipment

Introduction

Module 8600-325 Understanding how to manage the efficient use of materials and equipment is a crucial component of the ILM Level 3 program designed to equip leaders with the knowledge and strategies necessary for ensuring optimal utilization of organizational resources. Leaders bear the responsibility of overseeing the effective use of materials and equipment under their supervision.

In organizational structures materials and equipment are allocated to specific groups and it falls upon leaders, particularly those at the forefront managing multiple teams, to guarantee their efficient utilization. The primary objective is to align the use of these resources with task completion and the attainment of organizational goals.

This unit with its focus on managing the efficient use of materials and equipment reinforces the leadership responsibilities associated with these assets. It emphasizes the leaders’ role in ensuring that materials contribute effectively to task accomplishment. The unit also aids first-line managers in maintaining adequate stocks and conducting risk assessments for equipment security. This proactive approach helps organizations minimize misuse and waste thereby contributing to the overall achievement of organizational objectives.

The unit’s overarching goal is to cultivate an understanding among practicing or potential first-line managers regarding their pivotal role in facilitating the efficient use of materials and equipment within the organizational context. The curriculum involves 7 hours of guided learning and contributes 2 credit values toward the completion of the ILM Level 3 module.

Who is this unit suitable for?

Different teams within the organization require different equipment and materials that they use to accomplish the tasks and responsibilities assigned to them and ensure they successfully achieve the set goals and objectives. As such, Module 8600-325 Understanding how to manage the efficient use of materials and equipment is a unit that is important in improving the knowledge and skills of leaders who deal with the teams directly by ensuring that information is provided to them on the significance and techniques of facilitating efficient use of materials and tools in the organization. The unit is designed to cater to different elements, including stock keeping, handling of security of materials and equipment, and minimizing waste within the organization to ensure that there is optimization of performance within the teams based on the materials and equipment that they are assigned. The unit is designed to meet the learning needs of first-line managers but is also highly relevant for team leaders and junior managers within the organization who are responsible for overseeing the activities of project teams. This ensures that these leaders can oversee the effective use of the materials and equipment under their care and ensure that there is no misuse or excessive wastage of materials which could compromise the performance of the teams and hence reflect on the productivity of the organization in general.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, learners should acquire the following competencies:

• Describe the process of determining stock requirements in the workplace:
  • Understand and articulate the steps involved in assessing and determining stock needs within the workplace.
• Show understanding of the consequences of failing to maintain optimum stocks within the workplace:
  • Demonstrate awareness of the repercussions associated with inadequate stock maintenance and its impact on workplace operations.
• Identify various principles and procedures for stock control within the workplace or in their areas of responsibility:
  • Recognize and delineate the principles and procedures governing effective stock control, tailored to their specific workplace or areas of responsibility.
• Explain the procedures set up within the organization to record the receipt and issue of supplies:
  • Articulate the established protocols within the organization for accurately recording the receipt and issuance of supplies.
• Describe the significance of maintaining stock records to ensure efficient operations and quality standards within the workplace:
  • Elaborate on the importance of maintaining accurate stock records in facilitating efficient operations and upholding quality standards in the workplace.
• Explain the significance of using equipment effectively and efficiently:
  • Provide insights into the importance of utilizing equipment effectively and efficiently to optimize workplace processes.
• Describe the process of monitoring and controlling the use of equipment and materials within the workplace:
  • Detail the procedures involved in monitoring and controlling the utilization of both equipment and materials in the workplace.
• Show understanding of the importance of having a scheduled maintenance program for equipment within the workplace:
  • Demonstrate comprehension regarding the necessity of implementing a scheduled maintenance program to ensure the longevity and optimal functioning of equipment.
• Develop a compilation of a simple maintenance program for equipment within the workplace:
  • Create a comprehensive compilation of a straightforward maintenance program tailored to the specific equipment used within the workplace.
• Conduct a risk assessment on equipment security and explain how risks could be mitigated:
  • Perform a thorough risk assessment related to equipment security and articulate strategies for mitigating identified risks.
• Identify the main forms of waste experienced within their organization:
  • Recognize and categorize the primary forms of waste prevalent within their organization.
• Develop effective techniques and methods of measuring and monitoring waste within the organization:
  • Formulate practical techniques and methods for accurately measuring and monitoring waste within the organizational context.
• Develop an action plan that can be implemented in minimizing the waste in their areas of responsibility and the organization in general:
  • Create a comprehensive action plan aimed at minimizing waste, both within their specific areas of responsibility and across the organization as a whole.

Key Learning Areas

Module 8600-325 Understanding how to manage the efficient use of materials and equipment is designed to equip learners with a comprehensive understanding of the principles governing the effective utilization of materials and equipment. This unit encompasses key learning areas to achieve this objective, including:

Stock Control:

This segment enlightens learners on the significance and methodologies involved in determining stock requirements within an organization. It aims to instill an understanding of principles associated with maintaining optimum stocks, ensuring learners comprehend the vital concept of stock control and management. Additionally, participants delve into store and stock control procedures, covering aspects such as recording receipts and issues of supplies and maintaining records to uphold quality standards. This learning area is instrumental in ensuring that practicing or potential leaders grasp their role in handling and enhancing material and equipment management within the organization.

Handling Equipment:

Focusing on the use of equipment and materials to achieve organizational goals and objectives, this learning area imparts knowledge on the implications of equipment usage, encompassing acquisition and operation costs within the organization. Learners delve into concepts such as marginal costs and their application in organizational contexts. The module introduces principles of capacity planning and methods for establishing scheduled maintenance within the organization to enhance the effective utilization of materials and equipment. Finally, learners explore security issues that could impact the use of materials and equipment, along with the process of developing risk assessments for these security concerns.

Waste:

In this learning domain, participants are educated on identifying potential areas of waste and inefficiency arising from factors such as misuse, extravagance, shrinkage, rework, or other causes. The focus extends to developing skills in techniques and methods for monitoring and measuring waste, along with critical principles of waste management. This knowledge equips learners to formulate action plans relevant to minimizing waste, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable organizational environment.

An Assessment

Upon successful completion of this unit, learners undergo a comprehensive evaluation process to gauge their understanding and proficiency in both theoretical and practical aspects of the concepts covered. This evaluation employs written assessments as a key tool to assess the mastery of the theoretical knowledge acquired throughout the unit. The written assessments aim to measure the learners’ comprehension and application of the taught concepts in various scenarios.

In addition to written assessments, simulated exercises are also employed as an evaluative method. These exercises serve to assess the learners’ ability to practically apply the acquired content in simulated or real-world settings. Through these simulations, learners demonstrate their capacity to translate theoretical knowledge into practical actions, showcasing their competency in real-life scenarios relevant to the unit’s subject matter.

In essence, the evaluation process is multifaceted, combining written assessments to assess theoretical understanding with simulated exercises to evaluate the learners’ practical application of the concepts. This approach ensures a holistic assessment that reflects the learners’ overall grasp of the material in both theoretical and real-world contexts.

Books:

• Lean Manufacturing: The Art of Waste Elimination by James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones
• The Toyota Production System: Beyond Waste Elimination by Taiichi Ohno
• The Supply Chain Handbook by David Simchi-Levi, Philip Kaminsky, and Don Jacobs
• Principles of Operations Management by Jay Heizer and Barry Render
• Inventory Management by Stephen Disney and Donald Lambert

Journal Articles:

• “The Impact of Efficient Materials Management on Organizational Performance” by Michael A. Cohen and David C. Bower (Journal of Supply Chain Management, 2010)
• “The Role of Equipment Management in Achieving Operational Excellence” by John T. Evans (International Journal of Production Research, 2006)
• “Waste Reduction Strategies for Sustainable Manufacturing” by Maria A. Chiarini, et al. (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012)
• “The Impact of Stock Control Practices on Inventory Costs” by William J. Stevenson (Production and Inventory Management Journal, 2009)
• “The Importance of Effective Equipment Maintenance for Improved Productivity” by John D. Blackburn (Journal of Manufacturing Engineering, 2007)

Websites:

• The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM): https://leadership.global/
• The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS): https://www.cips.org/
• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): https://www.asme.org/
• The Association for Operations Management (APICS): https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/workers/skills-certifications/association-for-operations-management-apics/

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