Question

Improving Efficiency

A major goal of operations management is to increase the efficiency of an organization's production system. The fewer the inputs required to produce a given output, the higher the efficiency of the production system. Managers try to increase efficiency by thoughtfully attending to factors that include facility layout, inventory control, and the use of self-managed work teams.

There are many methods managers can use to improve efficiency. This exercise will let you test your understanding of these methods.

Roll your cursor over each name and read about that individual’s activities. Then, drag the name under the most appropriate heading which are: Flexible Manufacturing, Facilities Layout, Jit, Self-Managed works teams, process re-engineering.

Lauren- Lauren works in a company that no longer warehouses a lot of inventory. They maintain only a small buffer amount of inventory in case of problems with the suppliers.

Cameron- Cameron works on a conveyor belt where is always in the same position doing his specific tasks over and over.

Joseph- Joseph is working to reduce the amount of items it takes to changes the machines used for one product to those used for another product.

Morgan- Morgan and her team members have all been cross-trained in each other's tasks so that they can cover for each other if needed.

Kelsey- Kelsey is a new employee who is pleased that she doesn't have to spend as much time waiting for machines to be set up as at her previous employer.

Tina- Tina works building jet planes. She positions seats that are manufactured elsewhere in the plant and transferred to her for installation.

Nancy- Nancy works in a plant where efficiency has increased by 75% since the teams were empowered to do tasks previously handled by supervisors.

Taylor- Taylor is on a team researching ways to improve the maintenance of customer data at her hotel chain.

Angie- Angie works at a company that just finished a six- month effort to change how Accounts Receivable processes checks, making it more efficient.

Hugo- Hugo has arranged with his company's suppliers to deliver raw materials only when they are needed.

Answer 1

Flexible manufacturing:

In simple, it is the flexibility in making changes completely or partially in the product manufacturing within short period of time

- Kelsey

Facilities layout:

It is the optimum utilization of the available resources and moreover, the effective flow of the goods are designed in order make time utilization also efficient

- Cameron, Tina

JIT:

As the name depicts, it is supply of raw materials or resources within no time i.e. just-in-time as per the requirement that too in a short period of time

- Hugo, Lauren

Self-managed works teams

In simple, it is the workforce with multi-tasking abilities and are capable of handling all the activities with knowledge over them

- Morgan, Nancy, Taylor

Process re-engineering:

As the name depict, it is upgrading or developing the existing process

- Joseph, Angie