OP MANAGEMENT

Question 1

How does operations management relate to business objectives?

Answer 1

To produce goods or provide services efficiently is a core objective of all organisations. Operations management is the control of the strategies used to achieve this objective. Therefore an organisation needs to have good operations management in order to reach the objective of efficiency in production and provision.

Question 2

What are characteristics of operations management within large-scale manufacturing and service organisations?

Answer 2

MANUFACTURING:
> Operations management will oversee the transformation of inputs into tangible outputs that can be handled and stored before and after purchase. There is little or no customer involvement in production.
SERVICE:
> Operations management will oversee the transformation of inputs into services by performing tasks that involve the customer. Services are intangible therefore they cannot be handled or stored but do provide benefits to the customer after purchase.

Question 3

What are the key elements of an operations system?

Answer 3

The key elements of an operation system include the inputs, processes and outputs. Inputs are the resources that go through processes to turn into outputs which are the final gods or services. In order for a good to be produced or a service provided, they need to go through the key elements of the operations system.

Question 4

What are inputs?
Name types of inputs for Rip Curl
Name types of inputs for Qantas

Answer 4

Inputs are resources such as; raw materials, time, labour and money etc, that are used in the process of production to form outputs. Some resources may be owned by the organisation while others may come from suppliers.
In terms of rip curl, some inputs they use are;
-Fabric
-Threads
-Sewing machines
In terms of Qantas, the use inputs such as;
-Planes
-Food
-Flight attendants

Question 5

What is the operations management function?

Answer 5

Operations management is the function that consists of all the activities and responsibilities that managers engage to produce or provide goods or services. It concerns managers with the creating, operating and controlling of a process that transforms inputs into outputs to satisfy customer demand and ultimately increase productivity and efficiency. Operations management is carried out by senior level management.

Question 6

What are processes?
Name some processes for Rip Curl
Name some processes for Qantas

Answer 6

Processes are the conversion of inputs to outputs for the organisation to sell. Processes refers to the activities or actions used to make the transformation of inputs into outputs
In terms of Rip Curl, some processes might be;
-Cutting
-Sewing
-Packaging
In terms of Qantas, processes might be;
-Check in
-Boarding
-Flying

Question 7

What are outputs?
Name some outputs for Rip Curl
Name some outputs for Qantas

Answer 7

Outputs are the end result of the operation system. Output refers to the final goods or services that have been produced or provided for the customer.
In terms of rip curl, some outputs are;
-T shirt
-Jumper
-Hat
In terms of Qantas, outputs are;
-Customers landed safely at the destination after a comfortable flight.

Question 8

Why is the operations management important?

Answer 8

Operations management is ultimately responsible for the product or services that are offered on sale to the customer. LSOs rely on sales to customers to satisfy shareholders, key objectives, make profit, increase market share and return on the owners investment. Therefore operations needs to be well controlled and productivity needs to be optimised so that operations are running at its best so that an organisation CAN create good quality goods or services efficiently to satisfy customer demand and hence raise competitiveness.

Question 9

What are the strategies that can be used to optimise operations?

Answer 9

Facilities design and layout
Materials management
Quality management
Extent of the use of technology