OPERATIONS

Question 1

(syllabus) role of operations management

Answer 1

• Strategic role of operations management - cost leadership, good/service differentiation
• goods and/or services in different industries
• interdependence with other key business functions

Question 2

(syllabus) Influences on operations management

Answer 2

• Globalisation, technology, quality expectations, cost-based competition, government policies, legal regulation, environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility
• difference between legal compliance and ethical responsibility
• environmental sustainability and social responsibility

Question 3

(syllabus) operations processes INPUTS

Answer 3

• transformed resources (materials, information, customers)

- transforming resources (human resources, facilities)

Question 4

(syllabus) operations processes TRANSFORMATION

Answer 4

• the influence of volume, variety, variation in demand and visibility (customer contact)
• sequencing and scheduling - Gantt charts and critical path analysis
• technology, task design, process layout
• monitoring, control and improvement

Question 5

(syllabus) operations processes OUTPUTS

Answer 5

• customer service

- warranties

Question 6

(syllabus) operations strategies

Answer 6

• supply chain management (logistics, e-commerce, global sourcing)
• technology (leading edge, established)
• outsourcing (adv and dis)
• overcoming resistance to change (financial costs, purchasing new equipment, redundancy payments, retraining, reorganising plant layout, inertia)
• performance objectives (flexibility, speed, quality, dependability, customisation, cost)
• inventory management (adv and dis of holding stock, LIFO FIFO JIT)
• new product or service design and development
• global factors (global sourcing, economies of scale, scanning and learning, research and development)
• quality management (control, assurance, improvement)