Mind Over Mass Media critique free essay sample

In the article, â€Å"Mind Over Mass Media†, published in 2010 in The New York Times, Steven Pinker, a Psychology professor at Harvard, discusses how new technologies can impact our brain. He also replies to the common critics about them. According to Pinker, new technologies have always scared people and this fear seems to be recurrent in the history. However, the author points out that despite those fears, the world is still running and great developments have been made, particularly in the scientific field. According to him, new technologies change the way we think as every experience we encounter in our life and we should not be afraid of them because they are not changing our brain fundamentally. People should also learn how to prevent themselves from the addictive drift of social media. Although Pinker provides interesting ideas and developments, he seems to only fly over the effects of new technologies in our societies and his paper is lacking credible studies and logical arguments. We will write a custom essay sample on Mind Over Mass Media critique or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In his article, Pinker develops some interesting points. One of those points demonstrates that people have been scared by technologies since for a long time only to after later use them daily and realize how useful they were. Indeed, even the â€Å"technologies† that we today consider as normal tools were suspicious for many people in the old time. For example, Plato (-V °c before J-C) was afraid of the writing in the Antique Greece, assuming that people won’t make the effort to remember facts. In the same way, Pinker cites examples of comic books and video games fears, new media that are today completely and normally integrated in our way of life. Pinker is demonstrating insightfully that despite those fears, people did not stop thinking. This argument sounds logical and is interesting, supporting well his ‘pro-technologies’ position. However, some points of this paper seem to be based only on opinions and lack of credible source or even logic. When Pinker says â€Å"cognitive neuroscientists roll their eyes when Internet’s critics cite researches showing how â€Å"experience can change the brain†, he forgets to give to the readers a proper name or study supporting this idea. The anecdote with Woody Allen about War and Peace is devoid of logic and brings more confusion than support to Pinker’s ideas. Finally, when Pinker provides a credible source, the book of the psychologists Chabris and Simons, he reads it inconsistently. This book shows how training in one field help to be better in it, but only in it. Pinker assumes that it will be the same for technologies. Yet, new technologies and particularly Internet are not another medium, or science. Internet is more powerful than the latters, Internet is creating a completely new dimension of relations between human and is impacting all the area of society in a way that has never be seen before. Finally, studies show that Internet is changing our brain abilities, unlike what Pinker writes. Sparrow (2011) demonstrates that Internet attenuates and weakens our memory capacities. Cash (2012) explains that Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), coming from a considerable use of Internet, cause  « neurological complications, psychological disturbances, and social problems.  » Those studies prove that Internet is completely changing the way we use our brain and when Pinker simply suggests to turn-off our phone to get rid of addiction, it is difficult not to smile as we all know how difficult it is a human being to change a process when it is already implemented in our behavior. Despite some ideas that Pinker puts well in perspective, hehis writing lacks of logic and supportive points to really prove that new technologies are not doing any harm to our societies. More decisive arguments could have helped his ideas. One can also point out that it is difficult to have a precise opinion on new technologies as they are always renewing and changing. Perhaps in a few years, it will be easier to look at them accurately with more data and studies.

Movie Summary - Shakespeare in Love essays

Movie Summary - Shakespeare in Love essays Shakespeare In Love is a romantic comedy that traces the year in the life of William Shakespeare. The film's screenplay was co-written by Mac Norman and Tom Stoppard who created the film by taking actual facts of Shakespeare's life and experiences and entwining them with pieces, ideas, and words from Shakespeare's plays, specifically Romeo and Juliet. Regarding the formulation of Shakespeare in Love scriptwriter Tom Stoppard stated: "As with all fiction involving historical characters the story is taking place in a parallel world. One is making a fairy tale out of the life of a genius who lived. It's rather helpful to the people who are telling the story that so little is known about William Shakespeare because it means that you can use quite a lot without contradicting other things that might have been known about him. So this fiction which exists in the parallel world of the filmmaker's imagination coalesces with the historical Shakespeare without contradicting him." As most of us have learned, we know very few facts about Shakespeare as a person and thus building an image of his life is rather difficult in the making. As a result, Shakespeare In Love is a story brought to life, not as a true story of Shakespeare's life, but as a fun tale that plays with facts from his life and links them together creating a tale about love and the making of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. The relationship of Viola de Lesseps and Will Shakespeare parallels the writing of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. There is significant parallel in the world of the lovers in both Shakespeare In Love and Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare uses memories of real events in his relationship with Viola when writing scenes for his play Romeo and Juliet. In one scene during Shakespeare In Love, dawn is breaking, and the nurse has fallen asleep in her rocking chair outside Viola's bedroom. A rooster then crows in the distance and Viola, and Will are shown in bed t...

Philosophy of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Philosophy of Education - Essay Example It should also teach to students general knowledge and skills that they will be able to broaden later in their higher education as well as apply in everyday life. School should also develop problem-solving and decision-making skills, and educate physical, emotional and social needs. The Purpose of Education Herbert Spencer once said: â€Å"Education has for its object the formation of the character† and â€Å"The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action†. These two quotes reflect my beliefs about education. The purpose of education is to prepare young generations to be able to fully function in the society, to teach them morals and skills to be able to make right decisions that will benefit them and society overall. Another purpose of education is to teach young generations to act upon those decisions and contribute to personal growth and society overall. I believe that education starts with family, in particular parents. They are responsible for raising a ch ild into a rightful citizen. They are the ones who help the child make first steps, say first words, and make first decisions. They provide the direction that determines the lives of their children. The saying goes â€Å"It takes a village to raise a child†. That is where the school community comes in. They help children grow academically, socially, and morally. The education should help reveal the potential of the child. As Jean Piaget believed, intellectual ability is not something that is taught to children, it is something that children develop naturally as they grow. So schools have to provide the framework for that growth. I think schools should provide basic education that is consistent across the country, but at the same time take an individual approach to adjust or add to the curriculum to meet the needs of children of various racial, ethnical, socioeconomic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. For example, children should be able to learn history and geography of t he world to be well-rounded individuals, but at the same time they should have an opportunity to study their cultural and ethnical heritage in more detail. This would help them appreciate their roots as well as respect people of other cultures and backgrounds. I think that currently the system of education is lacking the ability to provide a solid education for children and young people of various backgrounds. Unfortunately, the quality of education youngsters receive is still determined by the amount of money parents have. Even though President George Bush has made an attempt to give the equal opportunities to children of less privileged backgrounds through his landmark legislation â€Å"No Child Left Behind†, still this legislation has failed to achieve its goals in full. President Obama has recently raised the issue of quality of education and the very questions whether the education should be the same for everyone. He advocated for better schools and better education, esp ecially considering the fact that American schools lose to schools in most developed countries in the world. Educational Philosophers: The Power of Logic I believe in logic. I think people who think logically

Organizational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Organizational Behavior - Essay Example After the WWII, recycling was influenced by economic reasons and some countries continued to establish conservation programs, but recycling was not so popular within the United States. Landfills became a cheap way to dispose of trash and recycling efforts was not the main focus. It was not until the 1960’s that recycling and environmental awareness was public concern. By the 1970’s recycling was popular again and drop-off recycling centers were established (http://www.all-recycling-facts.com/history-of-recycling.html ) . The city of Woodbury, New Jersey was the first city to mandate recycling in the United States and soon after many towns and cities followed. â€Å"Recycling† trailers were towed behind waste management vehicles during trash collection routes. It was not till the late 1980’s and 1990’s that curbside collection was introduced. ... In the 1980s, Waste Management acquired Service Corporation of America (SCA) to become the largest waste hauler in the country.† As of 2010, Waste Management employs 45,000 employees that are dedicated to improving the environment and reported $12.52 billion in revenue. The business of collecting trash and disposing of it has evolved to a billion dollar business and all the problems that come with it. In 1993, Los Angeles Times wrote a article â€Å"Landfill Pact is Appalling† (http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/waste-management-inc) informed the public of the proposed contract between Waste Management, Inc and Weldon Canyon landfill and once the press heard of such a develop, it announced the high profit Waste Management would gain for such a contact. â€Å"Ventura Regional Sanitation District are appalled at the proposal that Waste Management Inc. be permitted a report 35% profit or over $156 million over the life of the contract. Adding insult to injury, the landown er will receive another $5.63 per ton, or over $67 million for renting out his goat pasture. Combined, these figures represent nearly 50%--$224 million--going directly into the pockets of Waste Management Inc. and the landowner.† (Landfill Pact is appalling, 1993). The stock price for Waste Management, Inc raised steadily in 2004, in the article â€Å"3 reasons to avoid Waste Management†, the country needs garbage service that is not question. Is the stock strong enough to profit from it success? On the surface, the company’s future remains positive. â€Å"The current dividend yield is 4.3%. A competing investment alternative, the 10 year Treasury Bond, yields 2.06%.† Waste Management reported an increase in revenue from $3.24 billion in 2010 to $2.52 billion in 2011. †Waste

Health and Socail P1 Essay Example for Free

Health and Socail P1 Essay P1 Explain potential hazards and the harm that may arise from each in a health or social care setting Relating to the physical environment The physical environment is everything that is around you, this includes; 1. The building 2. The air 3. The temperature 4. Objects 5. People 6. Pets The physical environment has a huge impact on the staffs and individuals well-being. The spread of Airborne infections are increased when the ventilation is poor, airborne infections such as colds and influenza, so it is important to have fresh air circulating at all times in a health and social care setting, especially in elderly homes as older people tend to catch things more easily as do younger children. Individuals should never be in a draught and should always be warm enough. Older people, babies and people with disabilities find it harder to keep their body at an adequate temperature; you should always cater to their needs. Fumes and smoke shouldn’t contaminate the air that should be clean. The ventilation should remove stale air and provide air movement. All the rooms in the environment should have central heating; each should be able to be controlled to the specific temperature the individual wants. The lighting in each room should be bright enough and in a position for the individuals in the environment to read and participate in other activities. Emergency lighting should also be in place in case a light breaks or electrical problems occur; it should come on if there is a power failure. When the lighting is poor is can cause numerous problems and is hazardous to those who are in that setting, it will affect those with a vision impairment, with people that have limited vision you should make sure that they are in a well-lit area. Equipment Hazards from equipment could include * Untidiness e.g. toys, equipment left in corridors on stairs or blocking fire exits. * Poor maintenance, e.g. frayed wiring or broken equipment * Unsafe practice, e.g. overload sockets or trailing flexes * Lack of awareness of hazards, e.g. hot surfaces or moving parts All equipment must work and function correctly; it must be full maintained at all times. This could include fire fighting equipment, hoists and medical diagnostic equipment such as ECG or x-ray machines, it is very important that these are checked on a regular basis for any faults because the individual could be wrongly diagnosed. Computers and laptops now play as an important role in the care industry as they do in any other aspect of work. If they are positioned in an awkward place the individual can suffer from strain injuries, they can strain their vision if they have too much exposure to the screen, and incorrect sitting can lead to neck strain and back pains. Anything they need should be in reach or this can cau se them to overstretch and this could cause a fall. Infections You should always follow policies and procedures that are put in place; they are they to keep you and others around you safe. If you do not follow them you could cause unnecessary harm to you, your colleagues or individuals in your work place. Babies and older people are at a much greater risk of complications if they catch food borne infections, the incidence of MRSA in hospitals has highlighted the potentially devastating outcomes and effects of poor personal hygiene practices and over-prescription of antibiotics. On the national statistics website it shows that the number of deaths linked to MRSA in the UK from 1993 to 2006 rose to 1,625. But on the death certificates that mentioned it declined, and then in 2008 there was a fall of 23%. If the bacteria are on the skin then they can spread by touch, if it is in the nose or lungs then it can be passed on by droplet spread, by breathing or coughing over someone. But if the person is healthy then when they leave hospital it can just d isappear, this applies for people living with them; if they are healthy special precautions don’t need to be out in place. If it gets into the bloodstream through a wound then it can cause serious illness such as 1. Bone marrow infection 2. Blood poisoning 3. Septic shock 4. Septic arthritis 5. Meningitis 6. Abscesses anywhere within the body 7. Infection of the heart lining 8. Pneumonia Substances The hazardous waste does not stop after disposing of it as if his disposal of hazardous waste is not correct it could damage the health of all in the environment if not disposed of at all it can lead to infection and a spread of infection also. So when dealing with waste especially hazardous you has to make sure you depose of it correctly. Type of waste | Risk| How to dispose of the waste | Sharps (needles or syringes) | Risk of getting an infection off a dirty needle | All dirty needles must be out in a yellow box it can be small or large, it must be shut once it’s at its limit and it will not open once it has been closed. | Clinical dressings | Infection can occur | Must be placed in a yellow box which must be sealed with arrangements of the collection.| Body fluid (blood, urine, faeces, vomit. | A risk of infection | When cleaning up any of the waste you have to ensure gloves are worn it must be flushed down the toilet and then the toilet must be disinfected and if it was on the floor, disinfect where the waste was.| Soiled linen| Another risk of infection | They must be out in the special laundry bags which disintegrate when being washed.| There are a number of substances used in health and social care settings that are hazardous if misused. Cleaning fluids, medications and x-rays are all examples of substances found in health and social care settings. Chemicals can cause burns to the throat and oesophagus if swallowed by accident. Care should be taken at all times when administrating medication as it could be given to the wrong person which could lead to them suffering, or something as simple as the wrong dose. This type of mistake can have a devastating result for example in 2005 2 nurses miscalculated the dose of a drug needed to slow down a baby boys heart rate. He was given 10x the dose and he died. Hazardous working conditions Working conditions are aspects of your job, the hours that you work, the staffing levels and the staff relations. Even though we have tried to improve in the quality of health and social care as a result of regular inspections there are still with staff turnover and staff shortages this can lead to the staff rushing what they are doing with results in them ignoring the policies and procedures, this can lead to a risk of injury or accidents. Pay rates are low for early years workers and health and social care assistants, they are often only paid the minimum wage this can make people feel undervalued and make them less likely to follow policies and procedures. When there are staff shortages it can cause staff to be expected to do overtime, being a care worker or being in care work is physically and mentally demanding and too much of it is likely to cause staff to not perform to the best of their abilities, the more tired the staff are the more likely they are to make mistakes like miscalculating medication does, they will be less alert which could lead to them missing a sign that someone is ill. Stress is another reason of staff shortages, stress can be shown in many different ways people suffer from anxiety, sleep problems, digestive disorders, high blood pressure, and mood swings. None of these are good for a member of staff to be suffering with, it can lead to all sorts of problems in the health and social care setting. The vacancy rates for health and social care are higher than any other employment sectors in England, many care homes cannot recruit sufficient staff, and the shortages of staff have an impact of the quality of care given to those in the environment. Hazardous working practices The jobs you do when caring for people are called working practices. They include: 1. Moving and handling 2. Preparing food 3. Changing nappies 4. Giving injections/supervising 5. Giving injections 6. Supervising individuals with challenging behaviour You should always follow the procedures correctly because if you do not you can out yourself and others at harm. Care workers still suffer injuries related to moving people they care for even despite the manual handling regulations 1992. It was reported in 2003 that 80,000 nurses sustain back injuries at work each year, one third of all reported accidents involve moving and handling. The main hazards with moving and handling are that the handler may slip or trip over, stand in an awkward position, twist and overstretch, this can cause the handler to have neck or back pain, it can cause strain, and sprain or they could fracture a bone this could happen to either the handler or individual. They could end up with a permanent disability. Hazardous security systems Security systems are to keep staff and individuals safe from intruders, security systems are fitted in most health and social care settings. Residential homes normally keep the main door locked and only the people there have special keys and there family, or you have to buzz to get in. although this is a good thing, it could also be a bad thing as in fires it could waste time that could possibly save lives. All confidential information about the residents is withheld on the computer system and should be password protected all the filing cabinets should also be kept locked at all times. Section 2. Residential care There are different types of residential care homes, those for the older generation, people with disabilities and children who are looked after. In each of these settings health and safety has to taken extremely seriously, the carers have to make sure that the residents can escape in a fire, they have to make sure they are not putting one another in danger and that infections do not spread. It is important that the residents are informed about keeping themselves and others safe. In some of the residential homes the residents can come and go as they please but in a place where there may be little children or people that are confused that would not be allowed. They could put themselves in danger of getting ran over or hurt themselves. In winter time or in the colder weather, if they cannot find their way back or they don’t want to go back they could develop hypothermia. Child minder Settings where there are children should be very safe. Little children are curious and want to see and touch everything, they put things into their mouths lie toys or objects, this can cause them to choke or if they swallow a liquid such as a cleaning detergent they could be poisoned. They could open a gate and go wandering, cupboards, drawers could be opened which have poisonous substances in them, and they could climb and get stuck or distressed. When working in a preschool setting you have to be constantly vigilant and always alert and on the lookout for anything dangerous. Staffs is responsible for all activities the children take part in and therefore have to ensure that they are safe and not hazardous. Public environment Most parks are away from busy roads but there are a few which aren’t, in his case there is a danger of the child opening the gate and running out into the road, you have to watch your child at all times to ensure the safety of him/her. You also have to be vigilant of those in the park also, as there could be bigger children which could run into the child. Also if there is a skate park where the older children and teenagers chill you have to be careful for any empty glass bottles, also if older people are unsteady on their feet this can create a hazard for them. Sometimes people like to vandalize the park equipment and leave it in a dangerous state if you are looking after a child you should always check the park equipment before allowing your child on, this can easily stop an accident which may have happened. You may also have to asses if the child is age appropriate, if not you shouldn’t let the child on it in case of an injury, parks do have an impact absorbing floor normally which cushions the child’s fall, but accidents can still happen and you should always keep a close eye on your child. Some parks are frequente d by drug abusers; they may leave needles on the ground which would be extremely harmful to young children, so it would be a good idea to scan the ground. Dog owners tend to walk their dogs in the parks, dog faeces is a threat to children. There is such thing as toxicara which is a roundworm that can be present in dog faeces; this can potentially result in total blindness in one or both eyes. Parks are an idea place to take children to allow them to get some exercise and socialise with other children. Section 3 * Those receiving care, link to an older person and a young child: Young children are unable to recognize hazards themselves, their coordination is still developing. If substances are left lying around the child could get hold of them, this could lead to devastating consequences or even fatal, the child could be poisoned. You should always put locks on drawers and cupboards to ensure the children cannot get hold of hazardous substances. If things are left lying around such as toys a child could get hold of it and put it into their mouths if it too small or a toy is broken the child could choke. An older person could walk into things if they have limited vision or the lights are not bright enough. You should always make sure that the care setting is suitable and fits the residents needs. The main doors should always be locked in case there are residents who are confused, they may try to leave. An older person can be harmed if they need to be lifted into a bath or onto a bed, care should be taken when handling individuals and procedures should always be followed correctly. Workers in a setting: Workers sometimes come across Violent service users, this can put them at harm and they can be hurt. They could potentially fracture a bone. There may be faulty equipment which could be hazardous to the service provider as if they are lifting a service user and the equipment is broken the whole weight could be out on them and themselves and the individual could hurt themselves. If there is a shortage of staff and it is very busy the workers could feel stressed, stress can cause them to have anxiety and lack of sleep. If a member staff has had lack of sleep this will cause them to feel tired and they may not be als alert as they should be which can cause harm to themselves and the individual. If there are staff shortages tsome members of staff will be asked to work overtime, this can cause them to feel tired which again means that are not as vigilant as they would be. Support staff (eg caterers, cleaners, administrative), Cleaners are at a risk of being harmed by hazardous waste, if someone has soiled there bed sheets the cleaners have to take the sheets off the bed and put it into the wash, they come into contact with it which means germs can be passed. They also have to clean after someone has been sick again they can catch a bug or become unwell. Cleaners have to dispose of used dressing and needles they could catch an infection if they come into with them. * Visitors (eg relatives, friends, volunteers) Visitors need to be signed in and out in case of fires, if there was a fire and they are not signed in no one would know that they are there and they could at risk of being trapped in the building. Visitors are also at risk of catching infections or any bugs that are going around within the care setting. They should be informed of any infections before they visit. *

The Examination of the Residential School System in Canada Essay

Education is an essential aspect in our ever-changing societies. It is used as a means of transmitting concepts, knowledge, and values, often to younger generations (Ravelli & Webber, 2010). Education and schooling differ in all societies, varying based on the methods of teaching of different cultural groups. For instance, Canadian Aboriginal people were taught based on the needs of their individual families and class. This greatly differed from the European system of education, which stressed adequate involvement with all of society. Though the Aboriginal manner of education was efficient and effective, the Europeans wanted to bring a change to their previous practices. As seen in the film, Education As We See It, European missionaries established a form of formal education for Aboriginal children, which was to be governed at residential schools. However, this tradition did not last long due to rising conflicts. European missionaries believed Aboriginal children were in need of assistance to become more civilized, and wanted them to be integrated into their European culture (Ravelli & Webber, 2010). Once sent to residential schools, the children were prevented from seeing and speaking to their families, aside from very short periods during the year. They were also subject to harsh treatment, and on some occasions, physical and sexual abuse. Residential schools were later deemed immoral, and unethical, and are completely non-existent today. Nonetheless, sociologists still study the effects and methods used by residential schools, often through common theoretical perspectives and basic sociological concepts. One theoretical perspective that can be associated with residential schools is the conflict theory. In the eyes of confli... ...d. Through an understanding of theoretical perspectives, and basic sociological concepts, the residential school system can be understood. The conflict theory correctly describes the residential education system, and it presents an accurate understanding of the destruction of Aboriginal culture. Socialization, culture, social inequality, and modern social theories all further explain the residential school system, and the effects it has on both the Europeans and the Aboriginals. Recognized now as a mistake, the use and removal of residential schools will forever be noted as a changing point in the struggle faced by the Aboriginal people of Canada. References: Ravelli, B., & Webber, M. (2010). Exploring Sociology: A Canadian Perspective. Toronto: Pearson. Geraldine, B. (Director). (1993). Education As We See It [Documentary]. National Film Board of Canada.

Process Design for Riordan

Process Design for Riordan Manufacturing OPS/571 February 18, 2013 Robin Hundley-Solomon Process Design for Riordan Manufacturing Riordan Manufacturing, and its parent company Riordan Industries, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company (University of Phoenix, 2013). Riordan’s future is focused on remaining profitable while ensuring that financial and human capital is available for continue growth (University of Phoenix, 2013). Remaining financially viable and competitive in the global environment requires the manufacturing plant in China to evaluate current processes and address multiple aspects of the company’s design process.Primary in the process redesign is the Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), the supply chain, accurate forecasting, and a viable implementation process with quality management components. Removing bottlenecks, incorporating Just-in-Time (JIT) inventories, minimizing waste, and including global opportunities will preposition Riordan Manufacturing for cont inued success. Manufacturing Resource Planning Manufacturing resource planning systems are a common resource in almost all manufacturing plants, large and small.MRP systems provide an easily understood approach to determining number of parts, materials, and schedules for ordering and production of these components (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006). Because Riordan produces parts in batches using the same equipment, an MRP system will provide an avenue to optimize Riordan’s strategy for decreasing variance and waste in the supply and demand of their electric fans. The plant in China produces the plastic fan blades and fan housings.The electric fans are purchased from a local plant, shipped to Riordan and assembled to be sold as a finished product. The fan supplier has a 93% rate for on-time deliveries, delaying production if not available. Riordan keeps inventory and safety stock of easily obtained material, which incurs costs. Concern with scrap materials and a reduction in w aste is imperative for Riordan’s China plant as it moves to implement new processes. Managing these inefficient processes by the use of an MRP system will reduce raw materials and finished goods inventory costs.The implementation of the MRP system will meet the goals of providing a master schedule for production, manage inventory levels, automate the ordering process to reduce waste, and reduce variability in supply and demand. These components must be managed effectively if Riordan is to remain competitive in the global market. Process Design The current process of Riordan Manufacturing is not optimal and must be significantly modified to remain a global leader. Because the delivery and supply of electric fans is inconsistent, bottlenecks can occur, delaying production.Stocking easily obtained polymer products increases inventory costs. Selecting alternative suppliers for fans will enable Riordan to ensure delivery of fans to meet production requirements and customer orders. The use of multiple sources reduces the need to have an inventory of fans. This implementation of a Just-in-time (JIT) inventory management system reduces inventory and storage costs, reduces waste products and improves the manufacturing process. This lean production and process is â€Å"based on the logic that nothing will be produced until it is needed† (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006, p. 71). Optimization of strategic capacity planning, inventory management, and the production and scheduling of the products in the right place, at the right time, in the right amount increases revenue and efficiencies for the company (Shields, 1999). The use of flow management, which combines JIT and the capabilities of MRP produces a mix of products based on orders, and using the stream of parts supplied just-in-time (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006). Supply Chain Companies can gain competitive and strategic advantage with an efficient, streamlined supply chain process.To be cost-efficien t companies eliminate non-value-added activities, create the best capacity utilization in production and distribution, and pursue economies of scale (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006). Supply chain management performs the core function of product flow through the process of receiving raw materials to shipment of the final product. The China plant process is currently disjointed, without a central system to oversee receipt, inventory, production numbers, orders, and shipment.The implementation of a lean process with Just-in-Time inventory, automated accounting of raw materials, orders, invoices, and shipping schedules will minimize paperwork logjams, waste, and bottlenecks. Outsourcing and seeking global opportunities, such as assembly and shipping of the final product, in a location with less costs allows Riordan to focus only on the production of parts. Global product sourcing can help in lowering costs by purchasing the required material from other countries where it is available a t low price.Multi-sourcing of electric fans allows for consistent delivery and competition among providers, also decreasing costs. Production Forecast The plant’s production forecast is based on the theory of moving averages. China’s manufacturing unit takes care of plastic polymers and electric motors required for production of fans. To calculate demands for next year production Riordan averages sales for the last three years. This average is the projection for the coming year (Riordan, 2006). Riordan also produces custom fans based on periodic orders from customers on a year to year basis.These forecast numbers are inaccurate and unpredictable and can lead to excess inventory and waste. The adoption of the lean process and Just-in-Time inventory is a best practice business strategy and concept to optimize capacity planning, inventory management, and production and scheduling of the products in the market at the optimal times and location. These processes plus the ana lysis of economic conditions will increase revenue for the company to meet corporate goals. Implementation Plan Adequate planning is necessary for success in the implementation of the new process.Evaluation at regular intervals with responsive and timely modifications enables Riordan to minimize resource utilization toward non-essential activities. Role definition and clear guidance are key in process design changes and Riordan must delineate carefully its implementation plan. For the JIT training project, it is best to divide the employees into two groups. Group one will start training with the education portion on Monday, February 18 through Wednesday, February 20. Group one can apply this learning in simulation training on the second half of the day on Wednesday, February 20 through Friday, February 22.The second week starting Monday, February 25 through Friday, March 1 Group one will apply learned knowledge and skills in an actual work setting. Supervisors will be on hand to hel p and employees can discuss any input, questions, and review any processes with the training supervisors. Group two will begin the education part of the training on Monday, February 25-Wednesday, February 27. Group two will apply this learning in simulation training on the second half of the day on Wednesday, February 27-Friday, March 1.The second week beginning Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8, Group two will apply learned knowledge and skills in the actual work setting. Group two will do the same as Group one regarding the provision of input, questions, and review any processes as well. Automation has been added for the JIT process because this is a continuous process. The entirety of the first day is required to go through the receiving and molding processes. This links to the next process of trimming and assembly processes for the next two days. This allows more time to carefully put the products together.On the fourth day, it links the process to review and check for any product defects and count the excess waste. On the final day, it links with the previous process for packaging, cleanup, and recycle processes. Excess waste can be checked to determine what can be recycled into the raw materials inventory or given to the Chinese partners to dispose of the excess waste. Table one has been added for an illustration of the processes. Table One Cover Letter February 18, 2013 Riordan Manufacturing One Riordan Plaza San Jose, California 95112 Dear CEO:Team A is honored with the opportunity to introduce the proposal for implementation of Lean production and Total Quality Management (TQM) for improving the Process Design of Riordan Manufacturing. There are various options to track the current operational process in the firm. The selection of the right tools for Lean Production and Quality Management can provide insight regarding the material requirement planning and strategic needs to meet the demands of intermittent orders in addition to the current forec asting based on yearly demand.The proposal will identify the bottlenecks in the process of forecast demand and production plan, which will achieve the balance needed to satisfy the quantity of Riordan electric fans for the demand. TQM will determine the materials and personnel needed to produce the electric fans according to forecasted demand and assure that Riordan is producing quality products in an efficient manner. This implementation consisting of incorporating TQM, Just-in-Time inventories, minimizing waste, and including global opportunities, helps to extract the results of the project and provides the ability to forecast demand in an optimal way.Any kind of feedback will be greatly appreciated and any member of our team will readily be available to respond to any questions. Do not hesitate to contact us either by phone or e-mail. The team will readily make any changes you suggest. We look forward to continue working together in the future as Riordan positions itself for cont inued global success. Sincerely, Learning Team A Conclusion To achieve the objectives of Riordan Industries, it is essential to identify processes requiring modification correctly and successfully implement a new process design.Optimizing operations require identifying bottlenecks, streamlining the supply chain, implementing JIT inventory management, and maximizing profits while increasing customer satisfaction is imperative. Aggregate planning and total quality management assists in keeping Riordan Industries China plant on track and positions Riordan for continued success as a global leader. References Chase, R. B. , Jacobs, F. R. , & Aquilano, N. J. (2006). Operations management for competitive advantage (11th ed. . New York, NY: McGraw Hill/Irwin. Retrieved from the University of Phoenix ebook Collection database. Shields, T. (1999). Tutorials-lean production/lean manufacturing. Defense Acquisition University. Retrieved from http://www. dau. mil/educdept/mm_dept_resources/navbar /lean/ 01rdg-lean. asp. University of Phoenix (2009). Riordan manufacturing virtual organization. Retrieved from Apollo Group, Inc. , OPS571- Operations Management.