Research Paper on:
Operations Management and the Saturn Corporation

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
represents a transformation process (Slack, 1995). It is also about developing value-adding processes (Jarvis, 2002). Resources may be raw materials, information or other things but at the end of the  operations process, a final product will be ready for the consumer (Slack, 1995). For example, a cabinet maker uses wood, nails, other materials and skills and tools to produce a  cabinet or a travel agent will provide the needed information an reservations services for the customer to take a trip (Slack, 1995). Jarvis notes there are a number of functions  involved in operations management (2002). Jarvis reports there are four types of process transformations in operations management, which are: 1. Those that transform raw materials and components into products (Jarvis,  2002). 2. Suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers who change the ownership of the product (Jarvis, 2002). 3. Those that transform a place, such as postal carriers, telephone services and haulers  (Jarvis, 2002). 4. Those that provide security, insurance and so on that improve physical well-being (Jarvis, 2002). Some companies do all four of these processes. For example, Saturn Corporation designs,  builds, sells, delivers and even finances cars as well as providing after-sales support. Introduction to Saturn Corporation Saturn Corporation, established in 1991, is a subsidiary of General  Motors Corporation (Saturn Corporation, About, 2002). GM actually introduced the brand in the 1980s but Saturn reports it was 11 years old in 2002 (Saturn Corporation, About, 2002). Saturn "was  created with one simple idea: to put people first"; it is advertised as "a different kind of company . . . . dedicated to finding better ways for people to  work together to design, build and sell cars. . . does what it promises and delivers solid value at a fair price" (Saturn Corporation, About, 2002). The first plant and