unit 4 Flashcards
what is operations management
the management of processes, activities and decisions relating to the way goods and services are produced and delivered
what is the transformation process
where value is added
what are the key types of operational objectives
profit
quality
efficiency+flexibility
environmental
equation for unit cost
total costs/total units
examples of cost and volume objectives
productivity and efficiency
units costs per item
contribution per unit
number of items to produce (per time period, or per machine)
what is a benefit of a business developing a reputation for high quality
creates an advantage over its competitors
what are some examples of possible business objectives
0 defect rates
reliability
customer loyalty
examples of efficiency and flexibility objectives
labour productivity
output per time period
capacity utilisation
order lead times
examples of environmental objectives
use of energy efficiency
proportion of production or packaging materials that are recycled
compliance with waste disposal regulation
what is the difference between invention and innovation
invention is the formulation of new ideas for products or processes where’s innovation is practical application of new inventions into marketable products or services
what are the types of innovation
product innovation- launching new or improved products on to the market
process innovation- finding better or more efficient ways of producing existing products, or delivering existing services.
what are the benefits of process innovation
reduced costs
improved quality
more responsive customer service
greater flexibility
higher profits
what are corporate objectives
the most important internal influence and should not conflict
what is finance
The financial position of the business directly affects the choices available
what is Human Resources
the quality and capacity of the workforce is a key factor in affecting operational objectives- the level of training provided
what are marketing issues in relation to operational objectives
The nature of the product determines the operational set-up. Regular changes to the marketing mix- particularly product-may place strains on operations, particularly if production is relatively inflexible
average cost per unit calc
total production cost in period/total output in period
why do economies of scale arise
when units costs fall as output increases
what is purchasing economies in internal economies of scale
Buying in greater quantities usually results in a lower price
what is technical internal economies of scale
Use of specialist equipment or precesses to boost productivity
what is marketing in relation to internal economies of scale
spreading a fixed marketing spread over a larger range of products, markets and customers
what is network in relation to internal economies of scale
Adding extra customers or users to a network that is already established
what is financial in relation to internal economies of scale
Larger firms benefit from access to more cheaper finance- as they pose less risk.
what are examples of external economies of scale
University research department helping to fund research
Transport networks lower logistics cost
What are diseconomies of scale
occurs when average costs rise when a business gets too big. Occurs due to coordination problems, communication problems and alienation and demotivation of staff.
what is labour intensive
Production relies on using labour resources e.g hairdressing
what is capital intensive
production relies on using capital resources e.g car manufacturing
benefits and drawbacks of capital intensity
+ greater opportunities for economies of scale
+ potential for significantly better productivity
+ better quality + speed
+lower labour cost
- significant investment
- potential for loss of competitiveness due to obsolescence
- May generate resistance to change from labour force
benefits and drawbacks of labour intensity
+ cost lower
+labour is a flexible resource- through multi-skilling and training
+ Labour at the heart of the production process- can help continuous improvement
- greater risk of problems
-potentially high cost of labour turnover
- Need for continuous investment in training
what is TQM
A core definition of total quality management (TQM) describes a management approach to long-term success through customer satisfaction. In a TQM effort, all members of an organization participate in improving processes, products, services, and the culture in which they work.
what is capacity
the capacity of a business is a measure of how much output it can achieve in a given period
is capacity dynamic and how
yes
capacity can change
e.g when a machine is having maintenance, capacity is reduced
capacity needs to take account of seasons.g chocolate factories- easter eggs in easter.
what is capacity utilisation
The proportion of a business’ capacity that is actually being used over a specific period
what is the capacity Utilisation Formula
actual level of output/potential possible output x 100
why does capacity utilisation matters
useful measure of productive efficiency
higher utilisation can reduce unit costs
what are the key costs of capacity
equipment
facilities
labour
why do most businesses operate below capacity
lower than expected market demand
a loss of market share
seasonal variations in demand
recent increase in capacity
what are the dangers of operating at low capacity utilisation
high unit costs- impact on competitiveness
less likely to reach break even output
capital tied up in under-utilized assets
what is sub contract
hiring another company to do work for you
what are the problems of working at high capacity
negative effect on quality
employees suffer- high pressure
loss of sales
What is labour productivity
The output per employee
formula: output per period/ no. of employees.
usually expressed as a quantity per employee
why is labour productivity important
significant cost of production
improvements in labour productivity helps to reduce unit costs.
may be a crucial source of competitive advantage where product are standardised- allowing lower prices.
what are the factors affecting labour productivity
working conditions
pay and incentives
leadership style, motivation
job design
skills of the workforce
equipment
what are the ways to improve labour productivity
offer incentives, bonuses
democratic leadership style- motivation
develop, acquire specialist equipment
training