Production, productivity and efficiency

Question 1

Production def

Answer 1

Is the transformation of resources into goods or services

Question 2

Factors affecting choice of method of production

Answer 2

• target market
• technology
• resources
• standards

Question 3

Job production def

Answer 3

This involves making individual goods either by a single workers or a group of workers that meet the specific requirements of the customers

Question 4

Features of job production

Answer 4

• these items are one off and unique eg wedding dress maker

- usually made to customer specifications , premium prices

Question 5

Job production advantages

Answer 5

• product usually high quality
• producer meets individual needs of customer
• greater job satisfactions - involved in all stages of productions

Question 6

Job production disadvantages

Answer 6

• cost of producing one unit of job is higher
• labour intensive
• requires investment skills and training

Question 7

Batch production def

Answer 7

Is where many similar items are produced toegether. Each batch goes through one stage of the production process before moving into the next stage

Question 8

Batch production advantages

Answer 8

• making in batches reduces unit costs
• can still address specific customer needs
• use of specialist mshcinary and skills can increase output and productivity

Question 9

Disadvantages of batch production

Answer 9

• time lost between switching batches ge if machinery needs to be reset
• need to keep stocks of raw materials, cash investment in work in progress
• potentially demotivating

Question 10

What is production in action

Answer 10

When a business uses a combination of all three types of production at different times depending on the product or customer needs

Question 11

Flow/ mass production def

Answer 11

Is producing as many as possible of an identical product continuously on an assemble line

Question 12

Features of flow/mass production

Answer 12

• used for mass market products
• usually highly automated
• product moved continuously through production processes with no stoppages

Question 13

Advantages of flow/mass production

Answer 13

• capital intensive meaning high proportion of machinery in relation to workers, low costs, 24hrs
• can gain economies of scale which should further lower the cost per unit of production

Question 14

Disadvantages of flow/mass production

Answer 14

• so much machinery is difficult to a,yer in the production process making production inflexible
• work can be boring for employees involved keeping staff motivated

Question 15

Specialisation def

Answer 15

When work is divided into separate tasks or jobs that allow workers to become skilled at one of them

Question 16

Cell production def

Answer 16

When the production of items are organised into teams/cells. Each cell is responsible for making different parts of the products. Team remember rotate

Question 17

Lean production def

Answer 17

Japanese approach to production focused on eliminating all forms of waste. Cell production is a way a company can become lean focusing on eliminating waste

Question 18

Advantages of cell production

Answer 18

• closeness of cell members should improve communication, decrease confusions
• workers become multi skilled fjord adaptable for future needs of business
• greater work motivation arising form variety of work
• quality Imprbemejts as each cell has owner ship

Question 19

Cell production disadvantages

Answer 19

• company culture has to encourage trust and participation, workers feel they’re constantly being pushed for more
• company may have to invest unto new materials
• some small scale production lines may not yield enough savings to make a switch cell production economically worthwhile