Yaulkt

Chapter 3: The operations management function

Name:      

School-assessed coursework

Outcome 3

Discuss and analyse strategies related to operations management.

ASSESSMENT task — case study

Time allowed: 50 minutes

Marks allocated: 40 marks (the marks for each question are indicated at the end of each question)

Conditions: closed book (no notes or textbooks may be used when completing this task)

|Yakult Australia Pty Ltd commenced production in 1994. In Australia, it manufactures and sells Yakult Original and Yakult LIGHT, |

|which are fermented milk drinks. Yakult contains probiotic bacteria known as the Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain, which can help |

|the digestive system to remain healthy. The factory now produces at least 250 000 bottles daily, supplying Yakult to Australian and |

|New Zealand markets. Yakult’s purpose-built factory and office complex in Dandenong was constructed in 1993, costing $30 million. |

|Inside the automated factory, raw ingredients (skim milk powder, sugar and dextrose) are mixed together with filtered water and |

|undergo sterilisation. Live Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain is added to the milk to begin the fermentation process. Citrus |

|flavour is added to the mixture. During fermentation, the bacteria rapidly multiply. The mixture is homogenised so that it has a |

|smooth consistency and then it is diluted with filtered water to produce the final product. |

|Yakult’s unique plastic bottles (they are very small — 65 ml) are created on-site and manufacturing staff monitor the quality of the|

|product to ensure it meets the highest standards. A filling machine which has the capacity to fill 36 000 bottles per hour fills the|

|bottles with Yakult. They are then capped with a foil lid, printed with a use-by date, sealed and transferred along the conveyor |

|belt to the packaging facility. Yakult needs to be stored and...