Knowledge Management and Employees

DIRT BIKES INC.

Radio Frequency Identification, as the name suggests, is used for the purpose of identification through silicon chips. Small chips are inserted in a product and it can then be remotely identified. This can be used for identifying parts or components of vehicles as well including Dirt Bikes.

The use of RFID can reduce the risk of inventory errors. Since chips like bar codes allow each product to bear a separate identification number, it is easier to count them and tally the record with physical records. The use of these tags can also help in overall business operations and purposes such as reduction in labor costs.

Costs for RFID are not low. You need to invest in many things such as tags, printer/encoders, readers, middleware, and other services etc. This applies if you are already using a barcode system. If not, then you will have to invest additionally in back-office, manufacturing, or WMS systems.

Dirt Bikes do not need to worry about massive computer related problems since it has no e-commerce system implemented and it is only using its computers for some regular activities. However it is important to be prepared in case of sudden loss of important financial or accounts data. This is called a disaster recovery plan and it helps a firm retrieve crucial data in case of any serious problem.

The firm must understand that its use of computers is still minimal so there are no serious risks involved. However in case a system is down, the firm can survive for a day or two since its suppliers will have the information about orders etc. And that's usually the only information required by the people. Sending or reading emails is something that can be done using any computer from any other place as well.

For a small firm like Dirt Bikes, there are some important steps that need to be taken to ensure timely recovery of data.

Backup system must be checked regularly to make sure that it is actually backing up all the data.

The media that is used for backup should also be checked. For example tapes are usually good for a one-year period but if read after three or four years, they might be useless.

It is important to keep your backup media at a safe place.

Supply-chain management (SCM) software is used to make this business process more efficient and less time consuming. This software must only be used keeping in mind the fact that it requires consistent monitoring and must contain correct information. The system is complex and is composed of many fractured tasks and for this reason, why the software can reduce costs and help in streamlining supply process, it can be also be cumbersome and require great deal of attention.

The most important knowledge assets at the firm are employees. It is important to manage knowledge properly by using the workers in any efficient manner and making sure that information flows smoothly to the right people through the right channel and is not duplicated. This means that employees need to be properly grouped, they need to know which information is required and where to access it, access must be provided to all the relevant information at a centralized place and then it must be shared with relevant personnel in an easy fashion.

The firm needs to be aware of the changes occurring in trends and demands of the customers. It is usually important to have a small research group at the firm that would conduct regular surveys and telephonic interviews with customers to find out what people need and how to offer them better solutions.