efficiency and competitiveness using lean production

Question 1

what is meant by efficiency

Answer 1

means organising production so that waste is minimised and costs are lowest possible

Question 2

what is lean production

Answer 2

any system of production that tries to minimise waste and cut costs at every stage of production and distribution

Question 3

what is quality control

Answer 3

refers to the traditional method of checking that products are of an adequate standard
inspection takes place at the end of production

Question 4

drawback of quality control

Answer 4

doesn’t identify the cause of the defect or find every faulty product
it’s expensive bcs of wastage
does not add value

Question 5

what is quality assurance

Answer 5

means ensuring that quality standards are agreed and met throughout the organisation
much more thorough
involves working together and improving quality and reliability at each stage

Question 6

what is total quality management TQM

Answer 6

employees are all involved in quality control and take responsibility for the quality of their and their teams work
not only helps reduce wastage but also reinforces employee motivation
each department focuses on the needs of the next department in line and strives to improve quality

Question 7

for TQM to work want components need to be in place

Answer 7

committed leadership
employee empowerment, all must be involved
increased training
closer relationships with customers to meet needs
closer relationship with suppliers to raise quality

Question 8

benefits of TQM

Answer 8

improved products and services
reduced costs
increased customer satisfaction
improved profitability
repeat purchases and brand loyalty
motivated workforce
competitive advantage

Question 9

drawbacks of TQM

Answer 9

implementation of costs
takes time to set up
retraining of employees
increased pressure on management
may be difficult to involve staff
doesn’t suit all businesses

Question 10

what is kaizen

Answer 10

it’s the japanese word for continuous improvement
everyone is involved in the search for improvement go both the product and the process of production
requires good teamwork

Question 11

what does kaizen involve

Answer 11

everyone in the business takes it upon themselves to monitor and improve quality
improvements are small and may seem pointless but spread throughout the business
customers benefit from a better quality product

Question 12

what is just in time

Answer 12

stock control system that doesn’t hold large qualities of stock or raw materials
small deliveries only when needed
involves having close relationships with suppliers to ensure supplies arrive in time
lower average cost which increases competitiveness

Question 13

advantages of JIT

Answer 13

less need for storage space, lower fixed costs
greater flexibility responding to changes in demand
reduced costs in terms of buffer stock and handling

Question 14

disadvantages of JIT

Answer 14

will not benefit from reduced unit costs for bulk buying
if there’s a break in supply, production will be lost
heavy reliance on supplier delivering on time

Question 15

advantages of JIT

Answer 15

less need for storage space, lower fixed costs
greater flexibility responding to changes in demand
reduced costs in terms of buffer stock and handling

Question 16

competitive advantage from lean production

Answer 16

improved quality means that more customers will be satisfied
reduced production costs lead to the possibility of reduced prices or increased profit margins
ensures that business isn’t left with any unwanted stock which can reduce costs

Question 17

advantages of lean production

Answer 17

reduces wastage
reduces cost of storage
improves quality
customers more satisfied with quality
greater flexibility
shorter lead times
more motivated staff, less labour turnover

Question 18

disadvantages of lean production

Answer 18

does not suit all production processes
if one supplier fails can pause the whole production process
some employees may not want more responsibility
may not be able to meet unexpected orders

Question 19

disadvantages of lean production

Answer 19

does not suit all production processes
if one supplier fails can pause the whole production process
some employees may not want more responsibility
may not be able to meet unexpected orders