3.4.4 Making operational decisions to improve performance : improving quality

Question 1

Lean production

Answer 1

-Reduce waste
-Reduce costs
-Increase in production
-Maintain/increase quality

Question 2

Lean production techniques include

Answer 2

-Kaizen= small constant improvements
-Just in time (JIT)= minimise inventory holdings at each stage of the production process

Question 3

Just in time

Answer 3

-Held in 3 forms (raw materials, work in progress, finished goods)

Question 4

Just in time benefits

Answer 4

-Reduce waste
-Reduce costs (storage costs, security costs etc)
-Increase production
-Less cash tied up in stock
-Less obsolete/ruined inventory

Question 5

Just in time drawbacks

Answer 5

-May not be able to order/meet demand
-Might not arrive in time
-Difficult to manage/set up
-Need good relationship with supplier
-Time and cost to set up

Question 6

Kaizen

Answer 6

-Small but frequent improvements
-All employees need to be onboard
-Improvements take place at any level of hierarchy
-TQM –> total quality management

Question 7

Technology

Answer 7

-The use of tools, machinery and computers to help produce a good or service
-Can be used to improve operational efficiency in a number of ways

Question 8

Robotics

Answer 8

The programming of robots to carry out tasks more traditionally completed by humans
(production processes, logistics, quality assurance

Question 9

Robotics advantages

Answer 9

-No human error
-Don’t have to pay them (decrease costs)
-Cheaper in the long term
-Time efficient

Question 10

Robotics disadvantages

Answer 10

-Costly in the short term
-Not all jobs can be done by robots
-Takes time
-Unethical

Question 11

Quality

Answer 11

Low defects

Question 12

Quality control

Answer 12

-Defect identification—> reactive to an issue, for when an issue occurs
-Check products
Drawback- Cost of identifying (labour costs), other employees unmotivated

Question 13

Quality assurance

Answer 13

-Defect prevention—> about being proactive, issue should never occur
-Less waste, less cost, more motivation= productivity
Drawbacks: takes time and more (training, need the right culture

Question 14

Automation

Answer 14

-The use of machines to control a process (.e.g stock control)
-Retailers use barcodes and links to stock control

Question 15

Internal communication

Answer 15

-Interdepartmental
-Order processing
-Quality data

Question 16

External communication

Answer 16

-Working with suppliers
-Securing supplies
-Tracking of supply chain

Question 17

Design technology

Answer 17

-Use of computers in the design stage of developing a product (CAD- computer aided design, architecture, car manufacturing)

Question 18

3D simulation

Answer 18

-Allows for greater degrees of manipulation prior to investment in prototypes
-Designs can easily be altered to provide a range of options