Prison

Students are required to report the operations of the Fremantle Prison based primarily on their observations and the information provided in the speakers’ talks during the field trip, citing secondary source information where required to support their discussions. Some of the key areas to consider whilst attending the field trip can be summarised by examining the critical decisions within the operations management field (see discussion p.17 and Table 1.2, Samson & Singh, 2008, p.18). Some of these key areas of operations include decisions relating to:

▪ size and location of premise,

▪ plant layout and design, processes and systems

▪ quality and excellence,

▪ production scheduling and control,

▪ equipment/resource selection, outsourcing, offshoring

▪ maintenance,

▪ logistics and materials handling, supply chain management

▪ inventory,

▪ work methods,

▪ innovation, technology and knowledge management,

▪ risk management

▪ sustainability.

The Fremantle Prison would probably be considered as a service sector industry – however ask whilst at the field trip to see how management at the Prison thinks and manages their business. Your discussion may include any relevant operations information that pertains to the nature of the Fremantle Prison business.

As this is a work integrated learning assessment, you will need to investigate the ‘real’ organisation (that is, not one found just in a text book or on a website), so that when visiting the organisation you are able to observe their operations and discuss the operations with relevant staff. Hence, when writing your assessment, provide evidence to support your discussions; for example: direct citation of oral communication, interview/question responses, site visit observations, photos. Remember there is a lot of information on their website, Strategic plans etc. By all means read these prior to your visit and then see how the actual operation plans are...