5.2 Operations methods

Question 1

operations methods

Answer 1

refer to the specific methods by which production takes place
-job production
-batch production
-mass/flow production
-mass customisation

Question 2

job production

Answer 2

customizing an individual project from start to finish, tailor-made to meet the specific requirements of the client.
- Wedding dress
- Painting
- Haircut

a single worker or a group of workers handle the complete job. can range from low technology to high technology

Question 3

pros and cons of job production

Answer 3

pros
-quality of production because skilled labour is used
-motivation
-flexibility
-uniqueness

cons
-time consuming
-labour intensive
-long time lag between order and payment
-few economies of scale
-irregularities of orders

Question 4

Batch Production

Answer 4

Involves producing number of identical products. Work on each batch is fully completed before production switches to another batch, using same team and machinery.
-highly suited to businesses that make a range of products, clothing retailers like H&M and Gap have their garments produced in batches of different sizes and colours.

advantages
-economies of scale
-specialisation can lead to increased productivity
-a variety of products are made
-variety can reduce risks of producing a single product with little sales potential

Cons
-Storage is important as batch production can result in a high amount of stock. However this increases costs and insurance against damage
-boredom
-inflexibility
-high production costs

Question 5

Mass production

Answer 5

manufacturing of large amounts of a standardised product. involves the assembly of individual components, bought from other suppliers.
-tends to be capital intensive, meaning the manufacturing or provision of a product relies heavily on machinery and equipment, such as automated production systems. Hence, the cost of capital accounts for the largest proportion of a capital-intensive firm’s overall production costs

-uses specialisation, using dedicated capital equipment and skilled labour resulting in higher levels of productivity. thus avg costs of production are low.
- standardised products are produced on a large scale.

e.g buttons, lego, motor cars, pills

Question 6

Flow production

Answer 6

Is a form of mass production that uses continuous and progressive processes, carried out in a sequence. when one task is completed the next stage of production starts immediately.
-assembly lines that are kept running, 24 hours a day, every day to maximise output and to elimate waste.

-relies entirely on automated systems, with few workers required.
Cocacola uses flow production to make 10,000 bottles in s dingle factory every minute of the day.
eg. bottles, beer, toothpicks, screws

Question 7

pros and cons of mass/flow production

Answer 7

pros
-large volumes of output
-cost-effective operations method
-use of dedicated machinery and equipment (low defect rate)
-low labour costs

cons
-monotonous work
-limited choice
-expensive installation and running costs, also fixing costs.
-inflexible systems

Question 8

Mass customisation

Answer 8

us of flexible manufacturing systems to mass produce products that meet individual consumer need and wants.