Operations methods

Question 1

What is job production?

Answer 1

producing a one-of item specially

designed for the customer.

Question 2

What is batch production?

Answer 2

producing a limited number of
identical products – each item in the batch passes through
one stage of production before passing on to the next stage.

Question 3

What is flow production?

Answer 3

producing items in a continually

moving process.

Question 4

What is mass customisation?

Answer 4

the use of flexible computer aided production systems to produce items to meet
individual customers’ requirements at mass-production
cost levels.

Question 5

Factors that decide which type of production?

Answer 5

Size of the market 
Amount of capital available 
Availability of other resources 
Market demand exists for products adapted to 
specific customer requirements:

Question 6

Pros and cons of Job production?

Answer 6

pros: 
able to undertake specialist projects or jobs, often with high value added
high levels of worker motivations
cons: unit production costs 
Time consuming 
Wide range of tools and equipment needed

Question 7

Pros and cons of batch

Answer 7

Pros:
Some economies of scale
Faster production with lower unit costs then job
Some flexibility in design of product in each batch
Cons: High levels of stocks at each production stage
Unit costs likely to be higher than with flow production

Question 8

Pros and cons of flow

Answer 8

Pros: Low unit costs due to constant working of machines
High labour productivity
Economies of scale
Expensive