Unit 9: Operations Management Flashcards
what is operations management
How companies create goods/services for customers through effective management of resources and processes
what are the questions being asked about the operations management of a product? of a service?
- For a product, are they manufactured efficiently while meeting specific quality standards?
- For a service, are quality experiences provided at a reasonable cost?
what does operational management look at
- how effectively the whole experience of a service is managed
- Best practices for operations management require proper planning and management of resources
- Common theme in operations management is how to enhance productivity
why is operations a big area to disrupt
Always research and experiments with digitization, robotics, and AI to change operations
when has disruptions in operations management begin
since the 1900s when people found ways to increase productivity in the manufacturing industry
when was the moving assembly line introduced and by who
In the early 1900s, Henry Ford
what did Henry ford do to the manufacturing industry
- transformed it allowing companies to mass produce much more efficiently
- Standardizing the production process with common steps and parts lead to lower costs, high quality, and more reliable products
- The assembly line went from being used only for cars to much more consumer goods like vacuums, fridges, etc.
- Transforming the way to manufacture not only increased productivity, but also transformed society
- As more is being produced, companies are earning more, meaning they can pay their employees more, allowing for a growing middle class
what other change happened to the manufacturing industry
- Because many workers were doing repetitive, low-skilled jobs, there was more change bound to happen
- People found ways to automate processes, introducing the just-in-time processes, and focus more on customers by providing them with products that met their exact needs
what is assembly lines and standardization like today
- We are seeing even more automation and the use of technology, with people making it happen behind the scenes
- As more is being invested in technological innovations to be more efficient in product and quality control, more employees can focus on how to improve the actual products for customers and focus more on critical thinking tasks
- Just shows how important people still are
what can be used as a competitive advantage for a country
productivity & innovation
how much of working canadians are in the service sector & what does it mean
80%, means that success can be done both at home and internationally
what is the heart of the economy still driven by
- Primary industry (ex. Mining natural resources, forestry, agriculture)
- Secondary industry (ex. manufacturing)
what is the impact of the economy being driven by these two industries
Since the economy is dependent on these industries, if there are challenges in these sectors, the economy will suffer
where was canada ranked in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s ranking in 2019
Canada placed 14th, where factors like economic performance, infrastructure, health, education, technological readiness, and innovation were evaluated
Canada used to be in the top 10, so what can be done to regain its position & strengthen the competitive position in the world?
- Driving innovation in Canada through strategic partnerships between business, academia, and the government
- The government can support innovations in manufacturing and technology through their policies or funding
what does the health of the economy depend on
entrepreneurship
what was a new innovation a waterloo startup performed
first ever robotic intramuscular injection (robot giving you a needle-less injection (shot))
what are the implications for future work with the robotic intramuscular injection
- Allows healthcare professionals to focus their expertise/time on other tasks that add value to patient care
- Can help in remote areas or address labour shortages
- Consider where people are still needed (not going to replace all jobs)
where was canada’s competitiveness ranked in 2023
13th
what could make it hard for a company to innovate?
- Company leadership — Does a tone from the top embrace and champion innovation? If leaders don’t publicly embrace innovation, employees may not have pathways to be creative or understand its importance. Some companies are now establishing roles such as Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) to champion innovative thought and practices within companies.
- Established cultures and procedures — In older companies, structured processes may not support risk taking which is required to innovate. And where organizations have become large and bureaucratic, decision-making processes may be too slow or lack the flexibility to adapt.
- Short term focus on success — Company leaders or shareholders may focus on short term successes (e.g., profits), where innovation requires a long-term view. Upfront, dedicated investments in research and development (without any guarantee or proof of success) and time have to be planned for.
why would some companies be more successful at innovating than others?
- Companies that can instill an entrepreneurial mindset, providing the time, coaching, and tools to support innovative thinking and actions
- Smaller, more flexible organizations can quickly adapt to changes in the marketplace, connecting with customers, learn their evolving needs, and cater to them immediately
- Risk taking is rewarded — companies that support both successes and failures (as learning opportunities) support an environment of innovation
what is productivity
Examines efficiency of operations to transformation inputs into outputs
- Inputs are the various resources used to make a product or deliver a service
- Outputs are what is created
when are productivity improvements made
- Use fewer inputs (resources) to make the same level of outputs
- Use same level of inputs to make more outputs
how does improve efficiency of production process improve productivity
Activity Based Management (ABM): Aims to remove non-value adding activities to save time and money
Activities that add value = those that enhance a product offering (what customers are willing to pay for)
what are ways to improve productivity
- Improve efficiency of production process
- Waste reduction
- Improving quality
how does waste reduction improve productivity
- Effectively use inputs by not using more than needed
- Find opportunities to reuse/recycle where possible
how does improving quality improve productivity
- Sourcing more quality inputs
- Enhancing the quality of outputs so there are fewer defect
what does operations planning involve
- Looking at where you operate
- How facilities are laid out
- Deciding to produce or outsource
what is facility location
Companies have a lot to consider when deciding where to locate their headquarters or additional facilities
what does companies consider when deciding their facility location
- proximity to customers
- proximity to resources
- government support
what are companies considering when they are looking at the proximity to customers
- Do they want to be close to their customers?
- Being closer to customers can allow for quick production and delivery to customers around that area
- Can lower costs (ex. from shipping)
- Can reduce time to market if a company is close to highways, waterways, and airports
what are companies considering when they are looking at the proximity to resources
- May want access to talent (area where there is a large educated labour pool)
- May want access to suppliers for their raw materials
- May locate based on the costs and access to utilities (ex. Water, electricity, IT)
what are companies considering when they are looking at government support
- May look at available incentives before deciding where to locate (ex. Tax credits or financial ad)
- Can also consider laws & regulations for the area & how it can impact current & future operations
what is facility layout
Physical arrangement of resources that impact production of a good/service
what are companies doing in regards to facility layout
- what kind of layout would have the optimal workflow
- Things like where to put offices, machines, and storage in the best places for employees to work effectively