Operations

Question 1

Role of operations management S(CG)IG

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Influences of operations management GTLEGQC

Answer 2

GTLEGQCC

• 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 3

Operations process ITO

Answer 3

• Inputs
– transformed resources (materials, information, customers)
– transforming resources (human resources, facilities)
• Transformation processes 4
– 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 4

Operation strategies - S(LEG)P(QSDFCC)OONTIGQ(CAI)

Answer 4

• supply chain management – logistics, e-commerce, global sourcing
• performance objectives – quality, speed, dependability, flexibility, customisation, cost
• overcoming resistance to change – financial costs, purchasing new equipment, redundancy payments, retraining, reorganising plant layout, inertia
• outsourcing – advantages and disadvantages
• new product or service design and development
• 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)
• global factors – global sourcing, economies of scale, scanning and learning, research and development
• quality management
– control
– assurance
– improvement