operations management

Question 1

what is operation management?

Answer 1

operations management is all the activities in which managers engage to produce goods or services

Question 2

what is a business objective?

Answer 2

a business objective is a goal/aim a business wishes/desires to achieve

Question 3

what is the relationship between operation management and business objectives?

Answer 3

The core objective of all businesses is to maximise profit. This aim, therefore, requires businesses to efficiently use resources to produce goods or services at the lowest possible cost. Operations management is responsible for achieving this objective.

Question 4

list the key elements

Answer 4

inputs ,process , outputs

Question 5

what are inputs?

Answer 5

Inputs are resources used in the process of production

Question 6

what are processes/transformation?

Answer 6

transformation/processes are the conversion of inputs (resources) into outputs (goods or services)

Question 7

what are outputs?

Answer 7

outputs are the end result of a business’s efforts. the service or product that is delivered or provided to the consumer

Question 8

what is a manufacturing business?

what are the three characteristics of a manufacturing business?

Answer 8

A manufacturing business is any business that uses raw materials, parts, and components to assemble finished goods.

Question 9

what is a service business?

Answer 9

a service business is an enterprise composed of a professional or team of experts that deliver work in completing a task for the benefit of its customers.

Question 10

list strategies that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations related to technological developments

Answer 10

the strategies that operation managers use to improve effectiveness and efficiency is :

• automated production lines
• computer-aided designs
• computer-aided manufacturing techniques
• website development

Question 11

what is efficiency?

Answer 11

Efficiency →how well a business uses resources to achieve objectives

Question 12

what is effectiveness?

Answer 12

aEffectiveness→ the degree to which a business has achieved its stated objectives

Question 13

what is an automated production line?

Answer 13

automated production line comprises machinery and equipment arranged in a sequence with components added to a good as it proceeds through each step, with the process controlled by computers

Question 14

what is a computer-aided design?

Answer 14

Computer-aided design a computerised design tool that allows a business to create product possibilities from a series of input parameters

Question 15

what is computer-aided manufacturing techniques

Answer 15

Computer-aided manufacturing the use of software to direct and control manufacturing processes

Question 16

what is website development?

Answer 16

Website development is the creation and improvement of a connected group of pages on the internet that will be maintained by a business to promote and sell its products

Question 17

list the strategies that improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations related to materials

Answer 17

the four strategies related to materials include

• forecasting
• master production plan
• materials requirement planning
• just in time

Question 18

what is forecasting?

Answer 18

forecasting is a materials planning tool that relies on data from the past and present and analysis of trends to attempt to determine future events

Question 19

what is a master plan production?

Answer 19

a plan that details what is to be produced and when

Question 20

what is materials requirement planning?

Answer 20

involves developing an itemised list of all materials involved in production to meet the specified orders

Question 21

what is just in time?

Answer 21

just in time is a materials management strategy that ensures that the right amount of material inputs will arrive only as they are needed in the operations process

Question 22

list the strategies that improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations related to quality

Answer 22

• quality control
• quality assurance
• and total quaity management

Question 23

what is quality control?

Answer 23

quality control is the use of inspections at various points in the production process to check for problems and defects

Question 24

what is quality assurance?

Answer 24

quality assurance is the use of a system so that a business achieves set standards in production

Question 25

what is total quality management?

Answer 25

total quality management is an ongoing, business-wide commitment to excellence that is applied to every aspect of the business’s operation

Question 26

list the strategies that improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations related waste minimisation in the production process

Answer 26

one strategy for waste minimisation is lean management

Question 27

what is the process of lean management?

Answer 27

lean management is an approach that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of operations by eliminating waste and improving quality

Question 28

what are some CSR considerations in an operation system?

Answer 28

Operations managers must be aware of corporate social responsibility when pursuing business objectives. Businesses that do so will benefit from improved performance.

An operations manager needs to consider the use of environmentally sustainable inputs and the amount of waste that is generated by the business’s operations.

Question 29

what are some global considerations in operations management

Answer 29

some Businesses may need to contend with global issues in operations management including global sourcing of inputs, overseas manufacture, outsourcing and supply chain management.

Question 30

what is supply chain management?

Answer 30

the range of suppliers from which the business purchases materials and resources

Question 31

list some differences between manufacturing businesses and service business

Answer 31

the differences between manufacotoring business and service businesses include:

• manufacotroing businesses deals with goods that are tangible whereas service businesses deal with services tat are intangible
• manufacotring output can be stores whereas service output cannot be stored
• manufacturing has minimal customer contact where as services have a high degree if customer contact and are highly labourintensive

Question 32

what is lean management?

Answer 32

an approach that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of operations by eliminating waste and improving quality

Question 33

what is global sourcing?

Answer 33

global sourcing is the practice of seeking the most cost-efficient materials and other inputs, including from countries overseas

Question 34

what is overseas manufacture

Answer 34

Overseas manufacture is the production of a good in a country that is different to the location of the business’s headquarters

Question 35

what is the environmental sustainability of outputs?

Answer 35

environmental sustainability of outputs is when a business makes decisions that will allow it, and the rest of society, to continue to interact with the environment

Question 36

what is global outsourcing?

Answer 36

Global outsourcing the contracting of a specific business operation to an external person or business in another country

Question 37

define corporate social responsibility

Answer 37

corporate social responsibility is when the obligations of a business have over and above its legal responsibilities to the wellbeing of employees and customers, shareholders and the community as well as the environment