Process: Technology, task design, and process layout Flashcards
What is technology?
Business technology involves the use of machinery and systems that enable businesses to undertake the transformation process more effectively and efficiently. Most technology impacts every aspect of business, assisting employees to work more productively. Technology can be purchased or leased, depending on the financial stability of a business. Technology is utilised in the manufacturing sector to speed up the operations process and in the service sector to increase trade and communication.
Examples of office technology
Computers, tablets, phones, USB, Printer, Mouse, Keyboard
Benefit: Efficient work and can possibly work from home
Examples of manufacturing technology
Robotics - Applied to highly specialised tech capable of complex tasks. Robots are used in engineering and specialised areas of research as well as assembly lines where a programmable machine capable of doing several different tasks is required. Robotics can shape the transformation process so they are very high quality and minimise waste. Degree of accuracy with robotics is unmatched and work without demands for wage from conditions that could be dangerous for people. However, robots are expensive than aren’t unforgettable to small and medium scale manufacturers
CAD - Computer-aided design is a tool that allows business to create products from a series of input parameters. Graphical design tool than generates three-dimensional diagrams from a set of input data.The design can be view
CAM - from multiple angles so the designer can visualise what will produced. Material usage can be calculated so if the cost is to high adaptions can be made. The client can be given a hard copy of the design and make any changes necessary.
Messina case study?
chocolate making machine. Imported and shipped from Italy and installed at Messina HQ in Marrickville (Sydney), this beast was custom designed for us to make all of our white, milk, dark and nut blended chocolate from scratch. We import cocoa butter and cocoa mass from Ecuador which is mixed with sugar, milk and nuts
starts with a melter- left side melts cocoa butter and the right side melts cocoa mass (two components that make the chocolate) Move to the refiner- ingredients added, spins ball bearings and pumps chocolate and circulates Last part is Conche - expel any acid in the chocolate
partnership with Australian fintech start-up and SaaS business LOKE to introduce mobile payments through gelato messina app which has loyal programs
What is task design?
Task design involves classifying job activities in ways that make it easy for an employee to successfully perform and complete the task. Task design overlaps the employment relations functions of job analysis, job description and person specification. A business may formalise the task design process while a job is already being done. If a business already has available staff they may wish to conduct a skills audit (determine the present level of skills already existing and decide where skill shortfalls may be).
Task Design → Job Description → Person specification → Recruitment → Selection
What is process layout?
(Workplace) Layout
Plant layout is the arrangement of equipment, machinery and staff within a facility. The design and layout of the plant has an impact on the efficiency of the operations function. Layout must have enough physical space, use of technology, adequate location of stock, conform with legal and Work health and safety legislation and links between processes or stages of production. There are a number of ways which a plant can be organised, and options include:
What are the layouts?
Definition: Process layout is the arrangement of machines which are grouped together by the function (or process they perform).
Process: deals with high-variety, low-volume production- each product has a different sequence of production, and the production moves from one department to another.The necessary machinery is arranged according to this sequence.
Example: in a hospital, all machinery and services related to pregnancy and birth are grouped together in the Maternity Ward.
Aim: allocate the tasks needed to transform the resources in the most efficient and effective way.
Mass product is characterised by the manufacturing of high value goods, an assembly line is the most the common layout because it aims to achieves the best possible combination of personnel and machine use - ‘assembly line balancing’.Work layout is arranged to meet the sequence and the flow, operation managers must set time for the assembly task, requires understanding of skill set and tools. emphasis on sequence
e.g. assembly of a motor vehicle
fixed position layout - oject production deals with layout requirements for large-scale, bulky activities such as the construction of bridges,ships,aircraft or buildings. With project production, it is more efficient to bring materials to the site, works and equipment come to the one work area. A fixed position layout is where a product remains in one location due to it’s weight or bulk Project production deals with the layout
e.g. construction site, bridges, ships
Office layout - Enable the work to be performed efficiently (with minimal unnecessary disruption and time wastage) in a safe office environment
Typically, an office space is organised around discrete workstations (e.g., service-based businesses)
It should also provide a space (lunchroom, games room) that enables employees to take a break from the work environment if required.
