Unit 3-Business Operations Flashcards
What is efficiency?
How well a business uses its resources to produce products.
What is lean production?
It is a strategy used to make production more efficient, the business will aim to use as few resources as possible to reduce waste, involves workers to think about ways to improve their productivity.
What are some types of waste?
-Excess products, stock going out of date and transport.
What is Kaizen?
When a firm has implemented kaizen it introduces constant small improvements to its business processes. Employees are encouraged and are often best placed to suggest improvements, as they deal with the process on a daily basis.
Advantages of Kaizen?
-Improves quality and efficiency
-Easier to implement
-Improves motivation and productivity
-Improves staff retention
What does production mean?
Process of turning raw materials into goods and services that can be sold.
What is Job production?
A method of production where a product is produced that meets the specific customer requirements.
What are the benefits of Job production?
-Products are high quality
-Higher prices can be charged
-Business may find it easier to differentiate itself from rivals
What are some drawbacks of Job production?
-Unit costs are higher than using flow production
-Requires skilled employees, who may demand higher wages
What is flow production?
Method of production where all products are identical and the aim is to produce as many as possible.
Benefits of using Flow production?
-Businesses can produce on a large scale and use less labour
-Production can operate 24/7 and consistently
-Lower unit costs than job production
Drawbacks of using Flow production?
-Jobs are repetitive for employees and can lower motivation
-Initial purchase and set up costs can be high
-Product may be too similar to rivals so they will have to compete on price
-If machinery breaks down then they cannot make products
What are some factors that influence the type of production method?
-The level of demand of products-Flow production is most suitable for products that are sold to the mass market
-Target Market-Job production would be most suitable as customers may depend on high quality unique products.
What does procurement mean?
It means finding and buying the things that a firm needs from suppliers in order to produce the product.
What does Procurement involve?
-Managing logistics
-Deciding what goods/services need to be bought
-Finding suppliers
-Purchasing raw materials
What is stock management?
Involves ensuring the right quantity of stock is always available at the right time, quality and price.
Whay are the two types of Stock management?
-Just in Time
-Just in Case
What is Just in Time production (JIT)?
Minimum levels of stock are held by the business.
What are the benefits of using Just in Time production
-Less storage space required
-Less money is tied up in stock
-Stock is less likely to go out of date or be wasted
What are the problems of using Just in Time production?
-No spare stock is held if mistakes occur
-Reliant on suppliers delivering on time
-No economies of scale
What is Just in Case (JIC) production?
When a business holds buffer stocks of raw materials/goods in case their is a problem with deliveries of unexpected demand of product.
What are the benefits of using Just in Case production
-Stock is available for replacing faulty products or to meet high demand
-Business is less reliant on suppliers
-Spare products are available to meet unexpected orders
-Economies of Scale are possible
What are the problems of using Just in Case production?
-Need more storage space which increases rent
-Money is tied up in stock and unavailable for other purposes
-If there is a build up of unsold products it will lead to higher stockholding costs
What is a supplier?
A business or individual that provides a business with goods or equipment. It is important for a business to have a good relationship with them.