MNO3701 ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 1 2024
1. Introduction to Operations Management
Q1: What is the role of operations management in an organization?
A1: Operations management is responsible for overseeing, designing, and controlling the process
of production and redesigning business operations in the production of goods or services. It ensures that an organization’s operations are efficient in using as few resources as needed and effective in meeting customer requirements.
2. Process Design
Q2: Describe the difference between a product-focused and a process-focused operation.
A2: A product-focused operation is designed to produce a specific product efficiently, with specialized equipment and processes tailored to that product. It often involves high-volume production. In contrast, a process-focused operation is designed to handle a variety of products or
services, emphasizing flexibility and customization. It typically involves lower volume but higher variety.
3. Quality Management
Q3: What are the main principles of Total Quality Management (TQM)?
A3: The main principles of Total Quality Management include:
Customer focus: Meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
Continuous improvement: Constantly seeking ways to improve processes and products.
Employee involvement: Encouraging all employees to participate in quality improvement
efforts.
Process approach: Managing processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
4. Supply Chain Management
Q4: What are the key components of a supply chain?
A4: Key components of a supply chain include:
Suppliers: Provide raw materials or components.
Manufacturers: Convert raw materials into finished products.
Distributors: Facilitate the movement of products from manufacturers to retailers.
Retailers: Sell products to end customers.
Customers: The final recipients of products and services.
5. Inventory Management Q5: Explain the concept of Economic Order Quantity (EOQ).
A5: Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) is the ideal order quantity a company should purchase to minimize inventory costs, including ordering costs and holding costs. The EOQ formula helps determine the optimal order size to ensure that inventory is replenished efficiently.
6. Forecasting
Q6: What is the purpose of forecasting in operations management?
A6: Forecasting is used to predict future demand for products or services. Accurate forecasting helps organizations plan their production schedules, manage inventory levels, and allocate resources effectively to meet anticipated demand.
7. Project Management
Q7: What is the difference between a Gantt chart and a PERT chart?
A7: A Gantt chart is a visual timeline that shows the start and finish dates of different elements of a project, allowing for easy tracking of progress. A PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) chart is a network diagram that shows the sequence of project activities and the dependencies between them, helping in project scheduling and identifying critical paths.
8. Lean Operations
Q8: What are the principles of lean manufacturing?
A8: Principles of lean manufacturing include:
Eliminating waste: Reducing non-value-added activities.
Continuous improvement: Regularly enhancing processes and products.
Respect for people: Involving employees in improvement efforts.
Just-in-time production: Producing only what is needed, when it is needed.
9. Capacity Planning
Q9: What is capacity planning and why is it important?
A9: Capacity planning involves determining the production capacity needed by an organization to meet the expected demand for its products or services. It is important because it helps ensure that resources are used efficiently, production targets are met, and customer demands are satisfied without overburdening the system.
10. Operations Strategy
Q10: How does operations strategy align with business strategy? A10: Operations strategy supports and aligns with business strategy by defining how operations will contribute to achieving business objectives. It involves decisions related to process design, quality management, and resource allocation to ensure that operations contribute effectively to the overall goals of the organization.
11. Service Operations
Q11: What are the main differences between manufacturing operations and service operations?
A11: Key differences include:
Tangibility: Manufacturing produces tangible goods, while services are intangible.
Production and Consumption: Manufacturing is typically separate from consumption, while services are produced and consumed simultaneously.
Inventory: Manufacturing can hold inventory, whereas services generally cannot.
Customer Involvement: Services often involve higher customer interaction and customization.
12. Project Management Tools
Q12: What is a Critical Path Method (CPM) and how is it used in project management?
A12: The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project management technique used to determine the longest path through a project, which dictates the shortest time to complete it. It identifies critical
tasks that directly impact the project’s completion time and helps project managers prioritize these tasks to avoid delays.
13. Workforce Management
Q13: How do job enrichment and job enlargement differ, and what are their benefits?
A13:
Job Enrichment: Involves adding more meaningful tasks and responsibilities to a job to enhance employee satisfaction and motivation. It typically includes increased autonomy and skill variety.
Job Enlargement: Involves increasing the number of tasks performed by an employee, often to reduce monotony and increase job variety.
Benefits: Both approaches can lead to higher employee motivation, job satisfaction, and productivity.
14. Operations Strategy
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