Unit 2 - Methods of Production (Man. of Op.)

Question 1

What are the methods of production?

Answer 1

Job Production
Batch Production
Flow Production

Question 2

Define Labour and Capital intensive production

Answer 2

Labour intensive - Mainly utilises human effort

Capital intensive - Mainly utilises capital (machinery, technology and equipment)

Question 3

What is automation?

Answer 3

When production solely involves capital (machinery, technology and equipment)

Question 4

What is Job production?

Answer 4

When one product is made from start to finish before the next is made.
It is labour intensive and often requires high skill

Question 5

Give three examples of Job-produced goods/services

Answer 5

Wedding dress
Electrician fixing lighting
Baking a (specialised) cake
Art/portraits

Question 6

What is batch production?

Answer 6

When a small group of identical products are made in batches. Each batch moves onto the next stage of production at the same time
It is both Labour and capital intensive.

Question 7

Give three examples of Batch-produced goods

Answer 7

Doughnuts & Croissants in a bakery
Food company making a variety of soups
Bread
Magazines

Question 8

What is flow production?

Answer 8

A.K.A continuous production. When parts are added to a product as it moves along a production/assembly line. Large numbers of the same goods can be produced

It is Capital intensive and sometimes uses automation

Question 9

Give three examples of flow-produced goods

Answer 9

Cars/Vans
Lightbulbs
Computers & electrical items
Bottles
Mathsticks
Bikes

Question 10

Give an advantage of Job production

Answer 10

• Customer gets what they want
• Higher price can be charged (product is unique)
• Can be changed/edited during design to suit customer requiremnts

Question 11

Give a disadvantage of Job production

Answer 11

• Specialist equipment needed may be expensive
• May miss out on cost saving from bulk purchases
• Process is long; may reduce motvation

Question 12

Give an advantages of Batch production

Answer 12

• Can be changed to suit customer requirements
• Bulk buying available for raw materials (reduced costs
• No need to pay high skill workers

Question 13

Give a disadvantage of Batch production

Answer 13

• Capital & Labour wasted between batches (waste of finance)
• Mistakes may cause whole batch be ruined, which is costly
• Small batch may cause higher price per item - too costly & it may not sell

Question 14

Give an advantage of Flow production

Answer 14

• Large amounts can be made
• Cost savings from bulk purchasing is an option
• Capital intensive - can work for ages nonstop

Question 15

Give a disadvantage of Flow production

Answer 15

• Fault in production can cause whole line to stop
• Individual requirements cannot be fulfilled
• Large demand needed due to large production quantity

Question 16

Give an advantage of Labour intensive Production

Answer 16

• Employees can add their own knacks
• Labour is easily accessible & available
• Save costs on machinery/equipmentt
• Easy to make unique, one-off products

Question 17

Give a disadvantage of Labour intensive Production

Answer 17

• Recruitment and selection expensive, as well as training
• Specialist skills require training/learning that takes time
• Quality can vary by worker

Question 18

Give an advantage of Capital intensive Production

Answer 18

• Can work 24/7 nonstop
• Standard quality level
• Fewer employees so money saved on wages
• Fewer skills needed to work machinery

Question 19

Give a disadvantage of Capital intensive Production

Answer 19

• Expensive to buy capital
• individual requirements can’t be met
• Breakdowns can stop production & are costly.

Question 20

What factors should be considered when choosing a production method?

Answer 20

• Nature of Product
• Demand of Product
• Availability of labour that is adequately skilled
• Technology available
• Size of production premises