Operations

Question 1

Topic 1

Answer 1

Role of operations management

Question 2

Topic 2

Answer 2

Influences

Question 3

Topic 3

Answer 3

Operations processes

Question 4

Topic 4

Answer 4

Operations strategies

Question 5

Role of operation management

Answer 5

Strategic role of operation management- cost leadership, good/ service differentiation
Goods and/ or services in different industries
Interdependence with other key business functions

Question 6

Influences

Answer 6

Globalisation, technology, quality expectations, cost-based competition, government policies, legal regulation, environmental sustainability
Corporate social responsibility
- the difference between legal compliance and ethical responsibility
- environmental sustainability and social responsibility

Question 7

Operations processes

Answer 7

Inputs
- transformed resources (materials, information, customers)
- transforming resources (human resources, facilities)
Transformation processes
- the influence of volume, variety, variation in demand and visibility (customer contact)
- sequencing and scheduling- Gantt charts, critical path analysis
- technology, task design and process layout
- monitoring, control and improvement
Outputs
- customer service
- warranties

Question 8

Operations strategies

Answer 8

Performance objectives- quality, speed, dependability, flexibility, customisation, cost
New product or service design and development
Supply chain management- logistics, e-commerce, global sourcing
Outsourcing- advantages and disadvantages
Technology- leading edge, established
Inventory management- advantages and disadvantages of holding stock, LIFO (last-in-first-out), FIFO (first-in-first-out), JIT (just-in-time)
Quality management
- control
- assurance
- improvement
Overcoming resistance to change- financial costs, purchasing new equipment, redundancy payments, retraining, reorganising plant layout, inertia
Global factors- global sourcing, economies of scale, scanning and learning, research
and development