Automating VMI Operations: Balancing Productivity Gains and Worker Displacement

Abstract

To: Daniel Chinn From:  Subject: Managing VMI Actual Work Environment Positive effects of Automation for VMI Higher production rates and productivity/ Increased Employee Morale: Automation allows employees to produce more at minimal human labor. In such a case, the employee will remain motivated to work more and more since attaining the set task goals is practical. Since machine work is effective and efficient, a limited loss will be encountered as no increased faulty produce/services will be experienced. Workers’ Safety/Shorter workweeks: VMI is an organization whose industrial operations expose its workers' harms and risks. For this reason, automating such processes serves as a significant benefit concerning workers' safety against hazards associated with the meat industry environment. Automating operations will automatically limit the congestion of VMI workers as only a few workers will be needed to operate the machines and work for fewer hours than human labor. Reduces production cost: Having a completely paperless working environment is both eco-conscious and cost-saving. Such a benefit allows VMI to produce much at minimal costs and reach a wide range of target audiences since automation will also enhance communication and connectivity. Limited human labor defines the cost reductions in wages and the effectiveness of productions as machine work is more accurate than human labor. Cultivate collaboration/better product quality: Automated workplace allows workers to enjoy a collaborative culture in that all employees remain entitled to transparency concerning accessing their automated projects. Such clarity will allow the VMI workforce to understand and track their projects' progress with a common goal of achieving the set organizational goals. Thus, the quality of the anticipated product will remain on the truck, making the VMI organization realize quality products to become practical. Negative effects of Automation for VMI High investment cost: Automating VMI operations may cost this organization a great deal which may affect its financial position in a negative manner. Maintaining automated processes also proves to be demanding compared to manually operated machines and operations, which may negatively affect VMI profits. Such costs may take VMI a pretty long time to feel any financial benefit associated with the entire animation process. Workers displacement: Since automation comes with limited human labor, most VMI employees will face removal as most of their jobs will be taken by machines. Such an eviction may be a big blow for the workers and the organization since the displaced workers can portray a negative picture of VMI to the outside world, which may compromise its products’ acceptance in the market. Over-reliance on technology: Automation exposes workers to little concern on what to produce due to over-reliance on machine work competency. For this reason, workers become less cautious, assuming that machines will do everything to perfection and no harm is entitled to them as long as automation is concerned. Such a notion may result in faulty productions, damages, and health issues associated with compromised products, among other adverse outcomes. Automation limits workers to employ new ideas and creativity as no one will challenge the machine work. With such an effect, one can define animation as harmful to the success of VMI in the future. Increased training costs: Automation comes with the need for regular training to adjust to the demands f the advancing technology demands. The cost of maintaining such pieces of training may prove a challenge for VMI, affecting its attained revenues. More challenges may be experienced when the workers resist the regular training, affecting the anticipated machine outcomes due to limited knowledge to operate them. The organizational structure of future VMI (the types of jobs and the flow of power) Mechanistic structures: Since VMI aims at introducing automation change in the future, the need for a bureaucratic approach in task coordination is essential. Automation calls for formalization and centralization of powers to enhance the success and realization of the anticipated goals. In this organizational structure, VMI workers will be subject to specific job descriptions that define each employee's role and responsibility. Communication in this type of system tends to follow formal structures, which allows for maximized efficiency in task handling at minimal costs. Regardless of the vast adverse effects of a mechanistic structure like lower levels of intrinsic motivation on the job and resistance to change, VMI will enjoy the privilege of minimized costs, which will boost its financial position. Since machines will take most VMI operations, defined training on the embraced technology will allow workers to produce quality products and maintain the quality as the order to task management is strictly centralized. Uniformity in production will enhance VMI quality, which will positively impact its market acceptance. Actual Work Environment VMI is a company where one can define its work environment as physical. However, the automation change anticipated to take complete control of VMI operations in the future will define it as a virtual work environment. Physical Work Environment: A physical work environment is defined as a workplace that has a physical presence. For instance, VMI's physical existence is well illustrated by its offices within the United States, where its workers gather and perform their designated tasks within one physical location. A physical work environment is characterized by its size, location, and layout. Whether the workers conduct their operations indoors or outdoors, the working area's size excellently defines their job performance. Location serves as the major physical identifier of physical work environment where offices are situated and workers gather for their daily tasks. The layout element defines the design that the organization has employed in separating working spaces based on different departments handling different tasks within an organization. Virtual Work Environment: A virtual work environment is the type of workplace that exists virtually without any physical presence. Such a working environment is not tied by geographical boundaries like location, which serves as a potential characteristic of the physical work environment. In a virtual workplace, the management and employees are connected through private internet and interact electronically. Such a work environment is well defined through automation of operations which VMI meats aim at achieving in its future operations. Tele-working enhances employees' satisfaction as most of them work from areas that they feel delighted, improving the realization of the set organizational goals. A virtual work environment is more sustainable and minimizes overhead costs, which enhance profit maximization in...