Lecture 1: Basic concepts

Question 1

Describe the four stages of Operations COntribution

Answer 1

Stage 1: Internally neutral
- Operations are seen as a weakness, correcting the worst mistakes within the firm

Stage 2: Externally neutral
- adopting best practices, helping the organization reach comparison with competitors.Use other companies strategies

Stage 3: Internally supportive
- Operations start to align closely with the company’s strategy, becoming a supportive element to achieving strategic goals.

Stage 4: Externally Supportive - Operations look to be long term. Proactive and creative “One step ahead”. Highly competitive

Question 2

Define stakeholder

Answer 2

An actor who may be influence or may influence the operation’s activities

Question 3

Name the 5 basic performance objectives that can be applied to all types of operations

Answer 3

1. Quality
2. Speed
3. Dependability
4. Flexibility
5. Cost

Question 4

What happens during a production system?

Answer 4

Raw material is transformed into a product or a service or a
combination of them.

Question 5

WHat are the 5 best practices to apply when optimizing manufacturing activities?

Answer 5

1. Simultaneous improve cost, quality and delivery
2. Closer contact with cusotmers and suppliers
3. Efficient use of technology y to achieve strategic advantages
4. functional organisations and less hierarchical levels to
   achieve higher flexibility
5. Good Personnel policies

Question 6

What is an open system?

Answer 6

Depends on its environment.

For e.g. components are bought from an external supplier when assembling a car

Question 7

What is an closed system?

Answer 7

Doesnt depend on its environment.

For e.g. Bottled water factory that reuses water and materials within the system, with little interaction with the outside environment

Question 8

How is productivity calculated at a certain point of time?

Answer 8

How much is produced from the given output.

Output/Input, but also Q/t

Question 9

How can efficiency be described in terms of a production system?

Answer 9

Measures how well resources are used to achieve the output, minimizing waste and maximizing output from inputs.

Question 10

What is the differene between effectiveness?

Answer 10

Efficiency is to do things right and Effectiveness is to do the right things

Question 11

Express productivity as 3 different types and their tillhörande formulas

Answer 11

P(Labor)= Volume produced/Amount of work performed

P(Machinery)= Volume produced/Production capacity installed

P(Materials)=Volume produced/Amount of materials used