Module 4 - Operations And Distribution Flashcards
What is a prototype?
A machine or device which is not yet ready to be made in large numbers and sold
What are the prototyping stages
- Determining prototype objectives and plan to meet those objectives
- Clarity on product features and functionality it wishes to offer
- Build a test design
- Assess the design
- Conclude whether it worked or didn’t
- Launch
Possible criteria for evaluation of prototype
Functional suitability
Commercial suitability
Process efficiency
Sustainability
Manufacturing, what is it?
Process of converting raw materials, components or parts into finished goods that meet customers expectations or specifications
Automation vs Human Labour
Cost
Automation cheaper more reliable for consistency (maintenance costs)
Human - high variable costs, better with flexibility
Automation vs human labour
Quality
Good where consistency is key
Less cable of consistency - human error / fatigue BUT uniqueness
Automation vs human labour
Flexibility
Less flexibility
More flexibility
Do most production processes have a mixture of automated and human inputs?
Yes
What is outsourcing
Paying a specialist business to manufacture to a specification, under contract
What is offshoring
Moving a business activity to another country
Three factors (that we have to know) for Value Chain Analysis (Process Flow) and what are they?
Inbound logistics - raw materials, components etc. The form in which they are received, their storage and transit to the production area
Operations - the value adding activity, manufacturing process
Outbound logistics - movement out of production area
What is JIT?
JIT
Focuses on responsive, streamlined, small-batch production - ordering parts so they are available just in time for production
Quality Control (QC) definition
Checking goods for faults
What is continual improvement
Always looking for ways to improve
What is quality when talking about products
Fitness for use or conformance to requirements
Grade when talking about products
The intended features or technical specification of a product
What are the methods to promote continual improvement (CIP) and quality control (QC)?
ISO 9000 series
Lean production
Kaizen costing
Kanban
Catchball
Six Sigma (6)
The Five Whys
What is ISO 9000 series?
Leading quality standard in business
A set of quality control standard that help effectively document the elements of their own quality system
What is Lean Manufacturing?
A ways businesses identify areas of waste within the business and aims to steadily reduce this waste
It considers Value / Value Stream / Flow / Pull / Perfection
Seven forms of waste identified in Lean Production
Overproduction
Inventory
Motion
Defects
Over-processing
Waiting
Transporting
What is Kaizen costing?
Setting targets and budgets
Method of budgeting based on continual improvement in cost performance through small, incremental changes
What is Kanban?
Manager internal stock production
Notes that signal internally that new stock is required and should be produced (supporting idea stock should be “pulled” downstream)
Stock level triggers stock inflow
What is catchball?
Promotes shared ownership
Like the conch - thrown to one person at a time
What is six Sigma?
Aims to improve all processes within a business by identifying and removing the causes of defects
A sigma process is one where 99.99966% of goods are defect free
Requires experts to implement
