3.4 Decision Making For Operational Perforamnce

Question 1

What are operational objectives and internal and external influences?

Answer 1

Internal
- availability of resources
- overall objectives
- other departments

External
- market conditions
- customer demand
- competitors performance

• Quality
• Costs
• efficiency
  -flexibility
• innovation

Question 2

What is Lean & JIT production?

Answer 2

Lean production is an efficient method of production that keeps waste to a minimum.

JIT production aims to reduce waste by having as little stock as possible and ordering only when needed.

Question 3

What is the difference between quality assurance and control?

Answer 3

Quality control is carried out by specialists that check goods as you make them / when they arrive

Quality Assurance is carried out by the employees as they check their own work which improves motivation as it’s a form of job empowerment and enrichment.

Question 4

What is total quality management?

Answer 4

When the entire business focuses on improving the quality including all departments.

Question 5

What are methods of matching supply to demand?

Answer 5

• “Peripheral workers” (zero hour contracts & part time)
• outsourcing activities
• mass customisation (producing once the order has been made)