Processes of Operations Management Flashcards
What are the core aspects of operations processes
- Inputs
- Transformation processes
- Outputs
What are the two main inputs
- Transformed resources
- Transforming resources
What are transformed resources
Transformed resources are those resources which will be transformed or changed into finishing products by operations processes
What are the main transformed resources
- Materials
- Information
- Customers
How does the transformation process add value to transformed resources
This involves giving a product greater usefulness or utility to consumers
What are the two main types of materials
- Raw materials/direct materials
- Intermediate goods
What is information as a transformed resource
Knowledge gained from investigation and instruction, which results in an increase in understanding
What are the 2 main sources of information
- External sources
- Internal sources
What are examples of Internal sources of info
Financial reports, quality reports and customer feedback Goods (Clothing)
What are examples of external sources of info
How do customers become transformed resources
The customer acts as an input and their desires and preferences act as a transformed resource
What is customer relationhsip management
Any system that businesses use to maintain customer contact to assist them to identify changes in tastes and preferences
What are the two main transforming resources
- Human resources
- Facilities
What are transforming resources
These are inputs that carry out the transformation process, they enable the change and value adding to occur
What are examples of HR used as transforming resources for a good (clothing)
Managers, admin staff, sewing machine operators
What are facilities
Plant (office or factory) and machinery used in the operations
What are the main decisions surrounding facilities
- The design layout of the facilities
- The number of facilities to be used
- Their location
- Their capacity
How does Apple use inputs
- Production of iPhones involves assembly of many parts and components such as touch screens and memory chips
- Information such as new and existing technology contribute to the design and development of the iPhone
- Since design of iPhone 6 and 6s in 2015 customer preferences have contributed to design of iPhone through customer demands for larger screen sizes
- Workers in Foxconn factory influence speed and quality of production
- Facilities such as large Foxconn factories allows Apple to achieve economies of scale
What is the transformation process
Transformation is defined as the conversion of inputs (resources) into outputs (goods or services) by adding value.
What are the revelant operations processes outlined under transformation processes
- 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
What is volume
How much of a product is made
What is volume flexibility
How quickly the transformation process can adjust to increases or decreases in demand which means they must manage their lead times
What are lead times
The amount of time it takes for a manufacturer to create a product from order to delivery
Why must businesses have volume flexibility
- A business must be able to adjust to decreases in market demand, or it will over produce (and increase inventory costs).
- Alternatively, if demand increases and they cannot respond quickly by producing more, this will lead to lost sales.
What type of product are businesses with high volume more likely to produce
A standardised product
What is variety
What range of outputs should be made in the process of transformation
What is mix flexibility
Mix flexibility is product range or variety of choice offered by a business
What does variation in demand refer to
How much demand changes over time, the operations processes must respond to such changes
What will increase in demand require
- Suppliers of materials must be able to respond quickly
- Labour must be available
- Machinery must be able to adjust and increase capacity quickly
- Increased energy/power must be available
What are examples of predictable variations in demand
- Christmas will see increased demand for toys
- Seasonal factors can cause predictable increases in demand for air-conditioners in summer and winter clothes in winter
What does visibility (customer contact) refer to
How much of the operations process is actually experienced and influenced by the customer
What are two forms of customer contact
- Direct feedback
- Indirect feedback