Examination of the Dynamics of Materials Management Lifecycle and How It Supports the Assets Life Cycle

Introduction

The proposed title of the dissertation will be an examination of the dynamics of materials management lifecycle and how it supports the assets life cycle. The researchers want to understand how the dynamics of materials management lifecycle support the assets life cycle. Major, the subject of investigation will be reviewing the relationship between the materials management lifecycle and the assets life cycle.

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Client Organization

The proposed client organization for the research is the Toyota Company in Japan. The choice of this organization is important for this study as Toyota is a business that deals with different operations associated with supply chain management. The production process of the Toyota Company associates with the two fundamental elements of this research including the materials management lifecycle and asset management lifecycle. The choice of this organization will help the researcher in exploring different areas of knowledge in the field of supply chain management.

Rationale

The topic of interest covers crucial areas in the field of supply chain management. The dynamics of materials management lifecycle and asset lifecycle are two subjects relating to supply chain management. There has been a challenge for organizations and people in understanding whether the materials management lifecycle impacts on the asset management lifecycle. Exploring the relationship between the two aspects is important in learning the best practices in material management lifecycle that support the asset management lifecycle. Materials management lifecycle can change at times depending on the production process of the company and that is why the dynamics must be identified and ways in which they support the asset management lifecycle. The exploration of the proposed topic helps the researcher in understanding the benefits of identifying the material management lifecycle at a particular instance and sees the difference at a different time. The dynamics or changes occurring to the material management lifecycle should predict the asset management lifecycle. In that case, the best practices in material management will determine the suitable lifecycle that will reduce inventory and the proper management of assets in the store.

The objective of the research will be to examine the dynamics of materials management lifecycle and how it supports the asset's lifecycle in a company. The topic is of great importance to the manufacturing industry or companies such as Toyota Company Inc. in Japan. The description of the materials management lifecycle lies within the company's definition of effective management of inventory. Therefore, the approaches with which the company changes the materials management lifecycle is determined by the process of production. The topic is also relevant to organizations in the supply chain management sector, their management and specifically in the Toyota Company Inc. Japan.

Proposed Research Questions

Based on the objective of the study, the research will be addressing the following primary and secondary research questions:

Primary Research Question

To what extent do the dynamics of the material management lifecycle support the asset management lifecycle in manufacturing companies?

Secondary Research Questions

What are the dynamics of the materials management lifecycle?

What is the relationship between the dynamics of material management lifecycle and the asset management lifecycle?

How do the dynamics of the material management lifecycle affect the asset management lifecycle in manufacturing companies?

Proposed Literature Review

There are two sources that were identified for use in the literature review and the theoretical framework underpinning the research. The first journal article talks about an "approach to sustainable product lifecycle management" written by Vila, Abellan-Nebot, and Hernandez (2015, p.585). the second source talks about "Asset life cycle management: Towards improving physical asset performance in the process industry" and written by Schuman and Brent (2007).

Comparing the Research Approaches

Management and Theoretical Assumption

The theoretical assumption used by Vila et al. (2015) is that material management lifecycle changes affect the initiatives of achieving sustainable development in a company by limiting the resources. The asset management lifecycle is effective when the materials are properly managed. Recycling of materials influences the material management lifecycle by shortening it and also impacting on the number of assets needed during the manufacturing process. There is a better management of the asset life cycle when the material management life cycle takes into account the entire product development process from start to recycling.

Schuman and Brent (2007) applied an asset lifecycle management (ALCM) model that predicts the proper use of materials in the production process. The assumption is that the present asset management models do not reveal the inefficiencies that add to the costs in the supply chain. The researchers assumed that effective management of the material lifecycle leads to efficient management of the asset lifecycle and the vice versa is true. The asset lifecycle management model applies generic project management frameworks to address inefficiencies that occur from poor management of materials life cycle.

Philosophical View

Vila et al. (2015) used both ontology and epistemology approach that there is truth in green manufacturing and businesses should strive to manage their assets through material recycling. The viewpoint that material management lifecycle is enhanced through recycling supports the asset lifecycle management. The approach to the research was both true and the use of different methods in establishing the truth.

Schuman and Brent (2007) can be identified with the epistemology approach whereby the researchers have perceived the relationship with the knowledge that they are trying to discover. Schuman and Brent (2007) were examining the particular subject to identify their findings based on their research. Therefore, they framed their interaction with the research and came up with a subjective conclusion regarding the ALCM model.

Methodological Approach

Vila et al. (2015) utilized a mixed method research to obtain and analyze data of the study. Qualitative data was collected using the theoretical works while the quantitative data were collected using the applied works in the study. Schuman and Brent (2007) conducted a case study in approaching the phenomenon under investigation. The methodological approach was a qualitative case study method that helped them in evaluating the experiences of the scenario in a South African Company in discussing the different elements of the ALCM model.

Theoretical Paradigm

Vila et al. (2015) used a post-positivism philosophical view to undertake the research. Both theoretical and applied frameworks were applied in coming up with the findings of the study. In post-positivism perspective, the researchers use both qualitative and quantitative approach to research. The research question was properly asked and addressed through research. The post-positivism theoretical view used by the researchers was appropriate for answering the research question. A different paradigm would not be applicable since the study employed mixed method research.

Schuman and Brent (2007) used an interpretivism/constructivism philosophical paradigm that supports the creation of construction of reality by an individual based on different interpretations from research. The interpretive approach to the research was effective for the researchers in coming up with the results. They addressed the subject of study and the research questions directly. In my opinion, the question in the article was not asked appropriately since the reader cannot identify it directly. However, the focus of the article was answering the purpose of the study. In this case, the researchers could have set the research question as is the ALCM model more effective in reducing lifecycle costs and other aspects of sustainable development in the company when compared to the current asset management models. The methodologies employed were helpful in answering the question. However, taking a dialectic approach to the question could have answered the question better than the case study. In a dialectic approach, the researcher can compare and contrast different the different points of view and constructs established from research to personal opinions.

Intended Methodology

The intended method to be used in this research is a quantitative research that employs numerical data in establishing the relationship between the two elements. The qualitative methodology may be applicable to the current study. However, the results will limit the researcher in making accurate conclusions based on the particular organization used in the examination of the topic. Therefore, the quantitative approach will be most suitable.

The ontology position is that there is a positive correlation between material management lifecycle and asset management lifecycle. The epistemological position is that the quantitative case study research method is suitable in establishing the correlation between the two variables.

The quantitative research methodology will utilize questionnaires in collecting data from identified participants in the organization. Quantitative methods usually focus on objective measurements of numerical data through the use of statistical analysis. Regression analysis will be run on the collected data to identify the correlation between the two main elements of research.

Expected Outcomes

It is anticipated that the results of the research will demonstrate different ways in which material management life cycle supports the asset management lifecycle. It is also anticipated that the research will demonstrate a two-way influence of the core variables in the study. I think the outcomes will influence the client organization by realizing that the ability to identify the material management lifecycle to follow at different instances of the production process is critical in supporting the proper management of the asset lifecycle. The study assumes that all the selected participants in the organization will participate in answering the questionnaire questions. However, the limitation of the study will be that the results will not be generalized to other companies.

References

Schuman, C., and Brent, A. (2007). Asset life cycle management: Toward improving physical asset performance in the process industry. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, pp.1-17.

Vila, C., Abellan-Nebot, J., and Hernandez, A. (2015). An approach to sustainable product lifecycle management (Green PLM). Procedia Engineering, 132, pp.585-592.