Operation/Information Technology Flashcards
What is mass production?
Mass production is a system for manufacturing products in large quantities through effective combinations of employees with specialized skills, mechanization, and standardization.
What is the difference between flexible production and customer-driven production?
Flexible production generally involves using technology to receive and fulfill orders and skilled people to carry out tasks needed to fill a particular order. Customer-driven production evaluates buyer demands in order to make the connection between products manufactured and products purchased.
What are the two main production systems?
The two systems are analytic production and synthetic production.
What are the two time-related production processes?
The two time-related production processes are the continuous production process and the intermittent production process.
List some of the reasons businesses invest in robots.
Businesses use robots to free people from boring, sometimes dangerous assignments and to perform tasks that require repeated manipulation of materials and tools
What is a flexible manufacturing system (FMS)?
An FMS is a production facility that can be quickly modified to manufacture different products.
What are the major benefits of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM)?
The main benefits are increased productivity, decreased design costs, increased equipment utilization, and improved quality.
How does an environmental impact study influence the location decision?
An environmental impact study influences the location decision because it outlines how transportation, energy use, water and sewer treatment needs, and other factors will affect plants, wildlife, water, air, and other elements of the natural environment.
What human factors are relevant to the location decision?
Human factors include an area’s labor supply, labor costs, local regulations, taxes, and living conditions.
List the four major tasks of production and operations managers.
- planning the overall production processed
- determining the best layout for the firm’s facilities
- implementing the production plan
- controlling manufacturing to maintain the highest quality.
What is the difference between a traditional manufacturing structure and a team-based structure?
In the traditional structure, each manager is given a specific area of authority. In a team-based structure, all workers are responsible for their output.
What factors affect the make, buy, or lease decision?
The costs of leasing or purchasing parts from vendors, versus producing them in-house, the availability of dependable outside suppliers, and the need for confidentiality affect this decision
What five steps are involved in controlling the production process?
The five steps are planning, routing, scheduling, dispatching, and follow-up.
What is the difference between a Gantt chart and a PERT chart?
Gantt charts, which track projected and actual work progress over time, are used for scheduling relatively simple projects.
PERT charts, which seek to minimize delays by coordinating all aspects of the production process, are used for more complex projects
What are some ways in which a company can monitor the quality level of its output?
Benchmarking, quality control, Six Sigma, and ISO standards are ways of monitoring quality.
List some of the benefits of acquiring ISO 9000-certification.
These standards define how a company should ensure that its products meet customers’ requirements. Business partners, customers, suppliers, and consumers may prefer to deal with or buy products from a certified organization.
A bakery customizes cakes for clients as well as accepts budgets within which they should be made. This is an example of a _____ production system.
Customer-Driven
Which items are combined to result in mass production?
Mechanization, Specialized Skills, Standardization
A luxury car manufacturer produces cars in large numbers but allows clients to pick their choice of materials for the upholstery and paneling and the exterior paint work. Which of the following best describes this process?
Flexible Production
Engineers at Ford Motor Company use computers to build new car models in the virtual world before they are ever built in automobile plants. These engineers are using _____.
Computer-aided Design
Yusted’s company uses a computer to control its production process. The computer transmits signals to machines for performing the appropriate steps in the correct order. This is an example of _____.
Computer Aided Manufacturing
Boca Bearing Company produces 30 basic types of ball bearings. Its manufacturing system uses computer-controlled machining centers, robots, and remote-controlled carts to deliver materials. In addition, the system can be modified quickly to produce the different ball bearings. The manufacturing system that is described is a _____ system.
Flexible manufacturing
Juan is a production manager. Which of the following tasks would Juan complete first?
Planning the production process
Sakura is a production manager and has decided that grouping machinery and equipment according to their functions works best at her company. What layout would be her company be using?
Process
Hospital rooms are typically set up with what kind of layout?
Customer-oriented
The production facility for a space shuttle would probably be organized according to what kind of layout?
Fixed Position
The goal of which organization is for companies to eliminate virtually all defects in output, processes, and transactions.
Six Sigma
Which type of production carries the highest inventory?
Mass
Which type of production has little to no finished inventory?
Customer-driven
Which type of production utilizes the most information technology (automation)?
Flexible
What are two advantages to computer aided manufacturing?
Accuracy & Speed
What do we call a facility that can utilize computer-integrated manufacturing to produce a product from start to finish?
Lights out facility
The computer based planning system used by production managers to ensure parts and materials are on hand.
Materials Requirement Planning (MRP)
This type of process lay-out is used when we have an assembly line.
Product
What is the outcome of good production management?
High Quality, Decreased Cost
No more than 3.4 defects per 1 million opportunities is the best outcome of which quality methodology?
Six Sigma
What is an information system?
An information system is an organized method for collecting, storing, and communicating past, present, and projected information on internal operations and external intelligence.
What is big data?
Big data can be defined as the massive amounts of data available to companies today, which is available in a structured or unstructured format. Big data changes on an ongoing basis, due mainly to the many sources from which it originates, including social media, mobile devices, online sales, and customer service feedback. Big data can lead a company to see trends, providing greater insight to make better, more informed decisions
List the four components of a computer-based information system:
- computer hardware
- computer software
- a network
- a database
What is a database?
A database is a centralized, integrated collection of data resources.
What are the two general types of information systems?
Operational Support System & Management Support System
What are the two operational support systems?
- transactions processing
2. process control systems
What are the 4 management support systems?
- management information
- decision support
- executive support
- expert systems
What are 2 input devices?
keyboard and mouse
What are 2 output devices?
monitor and printer
What is software? List the two categories of software.
Computer software provides the instructions that tell the hardware what to do. The software that controls the basic workings of the computer is its operating system. Other programs, called application software, perform specific tasks that users want to complete
What is a LAN?
A local area network (LAN) is a computer network that connects machines within a limited area, such as a building or several nearby buildings.
What is a virtual network?
A virtual network is a common type of computer network that partly or in whole consists of virtual network links that are not physical connections
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing involves powerful servers that store applications software and databases for users to access via the web using anything from a PC to a smart phone.
What is cybercrime?
Cybercrime is stealing or altering data in several ways.
What is computer hacking?
Computer hacking is a breach of a computer system by unauthorized users. Sometimes the hackers’ motive is just to see if they can get in. Other times, hackers have more sinister motives, including stealing or altering data.
What is cyberterrorism?
Cyberterrorism, a new generation of terrorism, can involve deliberate threats to information systems and can be associated with terrorist activities.
What is malware?
Malware is any malicious software program designed to infect computer systems.
How does a computer virus work?
A virus is a computer program that secretly attaches itself to another program (called a host). The virus then changes the host, destroys data, or even makes the computer system inoperable.
What are the ethical issues with the use of information technology?
It is not uncommon for organizations to have specific ethical standards and policies regarding the use of information systems by employees and vendors. Ethical issues also involve organizational use of information systems to protect the privacy and confidentiality of employee and customer data and records. Another ethical issue is the use of computer technology to monitor employees while they are working.
What is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things refers to a move beyond stand-alone devices and greater connectivity between items. It consists of an entire Internet-connected ecosystem, including TVs, cars, household appliances, and wearable tech devices.
The CEO of WalktheTalk.com, a fashion start-up, is looking to establish the company as foremost in the online retail marketplace. To do so, the CEO must use data-driven decision making to manipulate, analyze, evaluate, and format data from multiple sources such as social media, mobile devices, online sales, and customer service feedback. Which of the following would help the CEO carry out the tasks ahead?
Big Data
Ron is a salesperson and is visiting one of his largest clients. Before the visit, he reviewed the client’s past purchases. Ron used the company’s ________ system.
Decision-support system
Brandon is trying to close a particularly difficult sale. He uses his PDA (personal digital assistant) and a special program to access information within his company’s database on pricing. Brandon is using an ________.
Executive Support System
Jose’s company has installed a system to make data transmission secure. Therefore, he can use the Internet to send and receive sensitive data. Jose’s company has installed a(n) ________.
Virtual Private Network
Beverly works as a software engineer at Teloxel Ltd., a medium-sized company. While evaluating her company’s information systems infrastructure, she finds that the current systems do not have the ability to process the company’s growing information and data infrastructure. Beverly plans to suggest the use of powerful servers that will store applications, software, and databases for all employees to access via the web using either a laptop or a smart phone. Which of the following is Beverly most likely to suggest?
Cloud Computing
What do we use a management support system for?
Decisions
Which of the information systems are operational support systems?
Transaction Process System
Process Control System
When two or more users connect using Ethernet or WiFi to the same server to share printers or other information.
Local Area Network (LAN)
What are advantages to WiFi?
Expansion of LAN & Mobility
Information systems for activities fall under which support system?
Operational Support System
A decision support systems (DSS) belongs to which support system?
Management
Which three tasks are key responsibilities of operations managers?
- Planning the overall production process
- Determining the best layout for the firm’s facilities
- Implementing the production plan
Which two characteristics does a Just-In-Time (JIT) System have?
- Production using JIT reduces a firm’s inventory costs
- A JIT system seeks to eliminate anything that does not add value in operations activities
Which aspect of operations management do the ISO 9000 standards address?
Establishment of effective quality systems
Which manufacturing model uses technology to produce small runs of customized products cost effectively?
Flexible
Which two of the following distribution channels would take title of the products they handle?
- Limited-function merchant wholesaler
- Full-function merchant wholesaler
What is considered the heart of any information system?
The database
Which type of information system should be accessed by the vice president of sales for a national department store chain who wants to see the previous day’s sales receipts?
A transaction process system
How does a virtual private network contribute to a firm’s workforce productivity?
Employees are enabled to work remotely with secure connectivity to the corporate network via the internet
What are three ways cloud computing services enhance company productivity?
- Through more efficient application updates
- Through better resource utilization
- Through greater application availability for remote workers
Which intent of spyware creates a company security issue?
The intent to report on a user’s Internet activity
system for manufacturing products in large quantities through effective combinations of employees with specialized skills, mechanization, and standardization.
mass production
voluntary certification program administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, aimed at promoting the most sustainable construction processes available
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
process that allows engineers to design components as well as entire products on computer screens faster and with fewer mistakes than they could achieve working with traditional drafting systems.
computer-aided design (CAD)
computer tools to analyze CAD output and enable a manufacturer to analyze the steps that a machine must take to produce a needed product or part
computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
production facility that can be quickly modified to manufacture different products.
flexible manufacturing system (FMS)
production system in which computers help workers design products, control machines, handle materials, and control the production function in an integrated fashion.
computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM)
system that continuously monitors the amount and location of a company’s stocks.
perpetual inventory system
computer-based production planning system that lets a company ensure that it has all the parts and materials it needs to produce its output at the right time and place and in the right amounts
materials requirement planning (MRP)
sequence of operations that requires the longest time for completion.
Critical path
chart that seeks to minimize delays by coordinating all aspects of the production process.
PERT (program evaluation and review technique) chart
organization whose mission is to develop and promote international standards for business, government, and society to facilitate global trade and cooperation.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
process of determining how well other companies perform business functions or tasks
benchmarking
analyzes how a proposed plant would affect the quality of life in the surrounding area.
environmental impact study
choosing whether to manufacture a needed product or component in-house, purchase it from an outside supplier, or lease it.
make, buy, or lease decision
phase of production control that determines the sequence of work throughout the facility and specifies who will perform each aspect of production at what location.
routing phase
development of timetables that specify how long each operation in the production process takes and when workers should perform it.
scheduling phase
Used on a manufacturing line- use a computer to speed up or slow down conveyor belts or increase/decrease temperature in the oven
Process Control system (operational)
What system is this? Cashier ringing up sales
Transaction System (operational)
What system is this? Operational decisions
Engagement information system (management)
Advantages of cloud computing
- Cost- it’s cheaper
- Flexibility- you have access to your material any time you need it
- Security- you have someone monitoring the security of it for you
information collected in massive amounts and at unprecedented speed from both traditional and digital sources that is used in business decision making; complex structured or unstructured sets of information that traditional processing applications are unable to analyze.
big data
a network of PCs that have been infected with one or more data-stealing viruses.
botnet
standard tools and procedures designed to search and analyze the amount of complex data a business gathers.
business analytics
executive responsible for managing a company’s information system and related computer technologies.
chief information officer (CIO)
powerful servers store applications software and databases for users to access via the web using anything from a PC to a smart phone
cloud computing
information systems that rely on computer and related technologies to store information electronically in an organized, accessible manner.
computer-based information systems
gives direct support to business-people during the decision-making process.
decision support system (DSS)
lets senior executives access the company’s primary databases, often by touching the computer screen, pointing and clicking a mouse, or using voice recognition.
executive support system (ESS)
computer program that imitates human thinking through complicated sets of if-then rules.
expert system
limits data transfers to certain locations and log system use so that managers can identify attempts to log on with invalid passwords and other threats to a system’s security.
firewall
organized method for collecting, storing, and communicating past, present, and projected information on internal operations and external intelligence.
information system
computer network that is similar to the Internet but limits access to authorized users
intranet
computer networks that connect machines within limited areas, such as a building or several nearby buildings.
local area networks (LANs)
any malicious software program designed to infect computer systems.
malware
information system that is designed to produce reports for managers and others within the organization
management information system (MIS)
information systems that are designed to provide support for effective decision making.
management support systems
information systems designed to produce a variety of information on an organization’s activities for both internal and external users.
operational support systems
software that secretly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes.
spyware
program that claims to do one thing but in reality does something else, usually something malicious.
trojan horse
common type of technology infrastructure, which consists of links that are not wired connections.
virtual network
secure connections between two points on the Internet.
virtual private networks
programs that secretly attach themselves to other programs (called hosts) and change them or destroy data.
viruses
alternative to traditional telecommunication services provided by companies such as Verizon and Qwest.
VoIP
tie larger geographical regions together by using telephone lines and microwave and satellite transmission.
wide area networks (WAN)
wireless network that connects various devices and allows them to communicate with one another through radio waves.
wifi
small piece of software that exploits a security hole in a network to replicate itself.
worm
