Operations

Question 1

What are key activities of ops managers?

Answer 1

Capacity management , process technologies, optimising operations processes, quality control.

Question 2

Demand management

Answer 2

Dependent demand - where demand is known.
Independent demand - where demand is estimated.
(Galloway et al)

Question 3

What are the strategies to match demand and capacity?

Answer 3

Level capacity - capacity is same and manage demand fluctuations .
Chase demand - adjust capacity to meet demand.
Demand management - change demand to match capacity.

Question 4

What is four stage model?

Answer 4

It is a matrix which provides a matrix view of how operations can contribute to competitiveness:

Internally Neutral : minimise negative impact of operations .
Externally Neutral: Help the business maintain competitive parity.

Internally Supportive : provide credible support to business strategy
Externally Supportive : provides competitive advantage to the business.
(Neeley)

Question 5

Four stage model of purchasing

Answer 5

Passive
Independent
Supportive
Integrative

(Reck and Long)

Question 6

What is Kralijic matrix

Answer 6

Tells about the strategic importance of the products/suppliers in a matrix.

Bottlenecks- high risk, low cost
Critical- high cost , high risk
Leverage- High cost, low risk
Routine - Low cost, low risk.

Question 7

Performance importance matrix

Answer 7

How org is performing vs what matters to customers.

Excess? Appropriate Appropriate
Appropriate Improve Improve
Improve urgent Acton urgent action

(Slack et al)

Question 8

What is Globalisation

Answer 8

IMF defines globalisation as integration of economies across the world by movement of goods , services and capital.

This has resulted in organisations moving operations to different countries in the works

Question 9

Offshoring and outsourcing

Answer 9

Offshoring - organisation moves some of its operational activities abroad.
Outsourcing- organisation moves hands over the control to another provider.

Question 10

Hidden costs for out sourcing

Answer 10

Slack et al

Transportation costs, tax and tariffs, supply and operational risks, inventory carrying costs, supply performance, purchase price.

Question 11

Considerations when setting up globalisation operations

Answer 11

Productive/service design

Layout of facilities

Process technologies

Capacity planning and control

Inventory planning and control

Supply chain planning and control

TQM
(Slack et al)