Chapter 3 - Definitions

Question 1

What are tangibles and intangibles?

Answer 1

tangibles - goods which can be touched

intangibles - good which cannot be touched

Question 2

What are inputs? plus one example

Answer 2

resources used in the process of production . e.g. meat offcuts from abattoir

Question 3

What is an operations management?

Answer 3

Responsible for all the activities undertaken to produce goods and services

Question 4

What is a process? (transformation) plus one example

Answer 4

Processes refer to the transformation of inputs (resources) into outputs (goods or services)
eg: mars takes offcuts of meat and transforms them (through manufacturing and assembly) into a can of dog food

Question 5

What are outputs?

Answer 5

refer to the end result of organisations efforts - the service or product that is provided to the consumer
(the can of dog food)

Question 6

What is productivity?

Answer 6

a measure of efficiency - the amount of output produced compared to the amount of input required in production

Question 7

What is a fixed position layout?

Answer 7

deals with large scale processes, such as the construction of bridges and aircrafts

Question 8

What is the product layout?

Answer 8

Deals with the manufacturing of goods in mass volume using an assembly line

Question 9

What is the process layout?

Answer 9

deals with high varieties of products by grouping activities, equipment and machinery of similar function together. Products move from cell to cell as each stage of production is completed

Question 10

what is materials management?

Answer 10

the strategy that manages the use, storage and delivery of materials to ensure the right amount of inputs is available when required

Question 11

What is just in time?

Answer 11

a materials management strategy that ensures that the exact amount of material inputs will arrive only as they are needed in the operations process

Question 12

What is quality?

Answer 12

refers to the degree of excellence of goods or services and their fitness for a stated purpose

Question 13

what is quality control?

Answer 13

involves the use of inspections at various points in the production process to check for problems and defects

Question 14

What is quality assurance?

Answer 14

involves the use of a system so that an organisation achieves set standards in production

Question 15

what is total quality management (TQM)

Answer 15

is an ongoing, organisation-wide commitment to excellence that is applied to every aspect of the organisations operation

Question 16

What is ethical management?

Answer 16

refers to the process of abiding by moral standards and doing the ‘right’ thing in the interests of all stakeholders

Question 17

What social responsibility?

Answer 17

the obligations a business has over and above its legal responsibilities to the wellbeing of employees, stakeholders, the community as well as the environment

Question 18

What is retail layout?

Answer 18

All about the placement of products and how it can increase sales

Question 19

What is office layout?

Answer 19

Efficient movement of information and proximity to resources (such as the printer)

Question 20

What is inventory control?

Answer 20

Ensures that costs are minimised and that the operations system has access to the right amounts of inputs when required

Question 21

What is supply chain?

Answer 21

Is the range of suppliers from which the organisation purchases materials and resources

Question 22

What are quality circles?

Answer 22

groups of workers who meet to solve problems relating to quality

Question 23

What is continuous improvement?

Answer 23

involves the ongoing commitment to achieving perfection

Question 24

What are robotics?

Answer 24

highly specialised forms of technology capable of complex tasks

Question 25

What is business competitiveness?

Answer 25

Refers to the ability of an organisation to sell products at market