Business Year 11 Flashcards
(147 cards)
What is Mechanisation
When machinery is used, but labour is still required to work the machinery.
Example of Mechanisation
A combine harvester requiring a driver
What is Automation
When machinery is used and is controlled by a computer.
Example of automation
Amazon warehouse robots
Advantages of using technology on a production line
- Large amounts can be made (economies of scale)
- Productivity (output) of the business increases
- Quality increases as there are less mistakes (more consistency), lowering costs and increasing customer satisfaction
- Better for repetitive or dangerous jobs
- Production can be flexible/varied
Disadvantages of using technology
- Redundancy may lead to problems with unions
- Staff need to be retrained for new skills or new staff are required
- Expensive initial costs
- Faults in systems can cause large disruptions
Job production definition
Involves producing each product individually
Examples of job production
Custom Bentley
Oscar dress
Bridge
Advantages of job production
- Higher quality as more time and money invested
- Workers more motivated as it is not repetitive
Disadvantages of job production
- cost of production is higher
- labour costs higher due to skilled workers
Batch production definition
When there are set stages of production. One process has to be completed before the next starts. Each batch goes through the same processes but batches slightly differ from one another.
Example of batch production
Bread
Advantages of batch production
- different demands can be met by making batches different
- can use machinery to save costs
- can produce large quantities
Disadvantages of batch production
- Demotivated workers due to repetitive tasks
- down time between stages/batches
- less economies of scale as materials change
Flow production definition
Continuous movement of items through the production processes
Advantages of flow production
- produce on mass
- economies of scale
Disadvantages of flow production
-whole production line stops if one thing breaks
Process production definition
Involves a series of automated processes, which when applied to a variety of raw materials results in a large quantity of finished product
Examples of process production
Turning crude oil into petrol
Example of flow production
Viennetta Ice-cream
Cars
Advantages of process production
- large amounts can be made
- most processes can be automated, keeping costs low
Disadvantages of process production
-expensive to set up an automated process system of production
Division of labour definition
To organisation of production into a number of specialised ‘simple’ repetitive processes
Specialisation definition
Occurs where workers specialise in carrying of simple production tasks.