Operational Management of Kroger Company Operational management is essential to the survival and success of any organization. According to Heizer & Render (2011), operations management (OM) is the set of activities that create value in the form of goods and services by transforming inputs into outputs. Today's operations managers face competition, globalization, inflation, consumer demand and constant technological changes. Managers must focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of processes such as cost, reliability, distribution, flexibility and speed. The intent of this article is to discuss the processes and management of the Kroger Company's operations. History and background Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, The Kroger Company is one of the largest retail supermarkets in the United States. Founded in 1883, Barney Kroger invested his life savings of $372 to open his first grocery store at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati. (Kroger, 2011). Barney was quite proud. He was the first grocer ever to have a bakery, selling meat and other groceries in one store. From the beginning, Barney has run his business with a simple motto: “Be particular. Never sell anything you wouldn't want for yourself. (Kroger, 2011). Today, one hundred and twenty-eight years later, the Kroger Company still follows Barney's motto. With constant growth to accommodate more variety, more merchandise and the convenience of a one-stop shop, Mr. Kroger may not recognize the Kroger Company today. . With two dozen banners such as City Market, Dillon's, King Soopers, Kroger, Fry's and Ralphs, the Kroger Company operates 2,439 supermarkets in 31 states, 788 convenience stores with six banners in 18 states, a … paper medium. .....n Education, Inc. Gale, S. (2006). Common ground. PM Network, 20(7), 46-52.Heizer, J. & Render, B. (2011). Operations Management (10th Edition) Prentice HallThe Kroger Co. (2010). The Kroger Co. Fact Book 2010. Retrieved from http://www.thekrogerco.com/finance/documents/2010_KrogerFactBook.pdfThe Kroger Co. (2011). News and corporate information about The Kroger Co.: History. Retrieved from http://www/thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_history.htmThe Kroger Co. (2011). The Operations of the Kroger Co. Retrieved from http://www.thekrogerco.com/operazioni/operazioni.htm.Pearson, M. (2010). The three mantras of the masters of supply chain planning. Logistics Management, 49(1), 20-21. Retrieved August 13, 2011, from EBSCOhost.Simchi-Levi, D. & Simchi-Levi, E. (2003) Finding the right balance. Logistics Today, 16-19, 15.00 Retrieved on August 13, 2011 from EBSCOhost.