1. Practice Questions - Operations 1. 1. Wedding cake designers mainly use job production system. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this type of production. (4) 2. 2. Companies is work towards gaining a quality standards. (a) Describe the advantages to organisations of holding such quality awards. (2) (b) Describe other measures organisations can take to ensure their products are of a high quality. (6) 3. 3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the batch method of production used by organisations like a bakery. (4) 4. 4. Describe methods it may use to ensure quality. (6) 5. 5. Explain the importance of an organisation ensuring that they set appropriate stock levels. (4) 6. 6. Describe and justify the factors a business would consider when thinking about their choice of supplier. (6)

2. Question 1 Organisations can produce products tailored to the needs of the customer. Job specifications can be altered even if production has started. Workers involved in the entire production process and see the job through which can be motivating. Expensive process due to high skill of workforce or few economies of scale. A wide variety of tools and equipment is required. Production time may be longer.

3. Question 2a Proves the organisation has met the agreed quality/safety standards. Gives consumers confidence in the product because it has reached the standard.

4. Question 2b Checking the product at all stages in the production, making sure flaws are found early on and rectified or the product is scrapped. Checking the product at the end of the process meaning faulty products do not reach the customer as they are identified and scrapped or reworked. Quality circles where groups of staff meeting on a regular basis to solve problems and make recommendations for improvement. Benchmarking − where the best method of production, often that of another business in the industry, is adopted as standard. They may provide regular quality training for staff. They may select quality staff when making appointments. They ensure they always use quality materials and equipment. Providing quality after-sales/customer services.

5. Question 3 Batches can be changed to meet specific customer needs. Reduced need for highly skilled and expensive staff (compared with job). Machinery can be standardised which reduces costs. Resources may be idle between stages. Expensive machinery may be required instead of staff. Repetitive work leads to poor motivation of staff.

6. Question 4 Quality assurance where the product is checked at all stages in the production process making sure flaws are found early on and rectified or the product is scrapped reducing the cost of wastage at the final stage. Quality control where the product is checked at the end of the process meaning that faulty products do not reach the customer as they are identified and scrapped or reworked. Quality circles where groups of staff meeting on a regular basis to solve problems and make recommendations for improvement. Benchmarking where the best method of production, often that of another business in the industry, is adopted as standard. They may provide regular quality training for staff. They may select quality staff when appointing staff. They ensure they always use quality materials and equipment. Provide high quality after-sales service.

7. Question 5 Having a minimum stock level ensures there is always stock for production and therefore labour and machinery will not be idle. Having a maximum stock level ensures that money and storage space is not taken up unnecessarily therefore easing cashflow. A reorder stock level has to be set so that the organisation knows to reorder more stock at this point so they do not run out. A reorder quantity should be set so that the stock level is brought back to an appropriate level once it is delivered.

8. Question 6 the quality of materials they require as the quality of materials used affect the price of the final goods the desired quality consistently as an organisation want every batch of an item to be of the same quality as this is expected by the customer the desired quantity because organiations require to be stocked at an appropriate level Delivery on or before the required date because the shops have to be stocked and late deliveries may mean that their goods are out of season at a price which is acceptable to the firm so that the firm can make profits out of the goods Reliability – can the supplier be depended on to deliver and provide exactly what the organisation wants