chapter 7: process strategy
an organization's process strategy
will have long-run impact on efficiency and flexibility of production, is the same as its transformation strategy, must meet various constraints including cost, is concerned with how resources are transformed into goods and services e. all of the above are true
which of the following statements regarding ethical and environmentally friendly processes is true?
C. operations managers can be environmentally sensitive and still follow a low cost strategy
process X has fixed costs of $10,000 and variable costs of $2.40 perunit. process y has fixed costs of $9,000 and variable costs of $2.25 per unit. which of the following statements is true?
C. process Y is cheaper than process X at all volumes; there is no crossover point
3 types of processes are
C. process focus, repetitive focus, and product focus
which of the following transformations generally has the high equipment utilization?
C. product-focused process
an assembly line is an example of a
C. repetitive process
one fundamental difference b/t a process chart and a process map is that
C. the process chart is more like a table, while the process map is more like a schematic diagram
harley davidson
D. uses work cells to feed its assembly line
product focused processes
C. are processes that are specialized for relatively few products or customer groups
making environmentally sound products through efficient processes
C. can still be profitable
a system using an automated work cell controlled by electronic signals from a common centralized computer facility is called a
C. flexible manufacturing system
"operators simply loan new programs, as necessary, to product different products" describes
C. flexible manufacturing systems
a product-focused process is commonly used to product
C. high-volume, low-variety products
which one of the following technologies is used only for material handling, not actual production or assembly?
D. AGVs
"automatic placement and withdrawal of parts and products into and from designated places in a warehouse" describes
D. ASRS
advances in tech
D. have had dramatic impact on customer interaction with services and with products
which of the following phrases best describes product focus?
D. high fixed costs, low variable costs
in mass service and professional service, the operations manager should focus on
D. human resources
the crossover point is that production quantity where
D. total costs for one process = total costs for another process
which of the following is true regarding vision systems?
they are consistently accurate, they are modest in cost, they do not become bored d. all of the above are ture
which of the following are typical process control systems?
they have snesors, the digitized data are analyzed by computer which generates feedback, their sensors take measurements ona periodic basis, the sensors' measurements are digitized e. all of the above
a firm's process strategy is its approach to transforming resources into goods and services
true
automated storage and retrieval systems are commonly used in distribution facilities of retailers
true
flexibility is important in reptitive focus plants and product focus plants
true
flexible manufacturing systems, because of easily changed control programs, are able to perform such tasks as manufacturing one of a kind parts economically
true
in process-focused facilities, equipment utilization is low
true
in selecting new equipment and technology, decision-makers look for flexibility- the ability to respond with little penalty in time, cost, or customer value
true
intermittent processes are organized around processes
true
one essential ingredient of mass customization is modular design
true
one use of camera-and-computer-based vision systems is to replace humans doing tedious and error-prone visual inspection activities
true
optical checkout scanners and ATMs are examples of technology's impact on services
true
process control is the use of info technology to monitor and control a physical process
true
processes can be environmentally friendly and socially responsible while still contributing to profitable strategies
true
service blueprinting is a process analysis technique that focuses on the customer and the provider's interaction with the customer
true
the assembly line is a classic example of a repetitive process
true
the term 'focused processes' refers to the quest for increased efficiency, whether in goods or services, that results from specialization
true
the tool that calculates which process has the lowest cost at any specified production volume is a crossover chart
true
time-function mapping is a flow diagram with time added to the horizontal axis
true
when done correctly, mass customization
increases pressure on supply chain perforamnce, helps elimate the guesswork that comes with sales forecasting, drives down inventories, increases pressure on scheduing E. all of the above
a quasi-custom product
gets its apparent customization from the combinations available from a small number of modules, is often the output of repetitive focus facilities, is a valid description of a fast food sandwich e. all but d are true
flexibility can be achieved with
movable equip, inexpensive equip., sophisticated electronic equip, modular equip e. all of the above
harley davidson, because it has so many possible combination of products, utilizes the process strategy of mass customization
false
process maps use distance, but not time, to show the movement of material, product, or people through a process
false
production technology has had a major impact on services, but as yet there has been little reduction in service labor requirements
false
professional services typically require low levels of labor intensity
false
process A has fixed costs of $1000 and variable costs of $5 per unit. process B has fixed costs of $500 and variable costs of $15 per unit. the crossover point b/t A and B is
A. 50 units
examples of the impact of tech on services include all but which of the following?
A. credit cards
which of the following phrases best describes process focus?
A. low volume, high variety
the use of info tech. to monitor and control a physical process is known as
A. process control
strategies for improving productivity in services are
A. separation, self-service, automation, and scheduling
utilization in proces-oriented facilities is frequently low bc
d. excess capacity for peak demands is desirable
which of following statements regarding Dell computers is false?
B. Dell builds its computers overseas in order to gain a low-cost advantage
standard register
B. groups people and machines into departments that perform specific activities
which of the following best describes repetitive focus?
B. its output is a standardized product produced form modules
which of the following products is most likely made in a job shop environment?
B. paper forms
which of the following is false regarding repetitive processes?
B. they allow easy switching from one product to the other
which of the following is true regarding opportunities to improve service processes?
E none of the above is true
which of the following industries is likely to have low equipment utilization?
E. restaurants
a drawing of the movement of material, product, or people is a
a. flow diagram
computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) includes manufacturing systems that have
a. computer-aided design, a flexible manufacturing system, inventory control, warehousing and shipping integrated
which of the following products is likely to be assembled on a repetitive process line?
automobiles, pcs, dishwashers, tv sets e. all of the above
which of the following statements regarding automated guided vehicles is false?
b. they are used to move workers from one side of the plant to the other
service blueprinting
d. focuses on the provider's interaction with the customer
a job shop is an example of a
d. intermittent process
ethical and environmentall friendly processes include which of teh following?
emission controls, recycling, efficient use of resources, reduction of waste by-products, e. all of the above
in mass service and service factory quadrants of the service process matrix, the operations manager could focus on all of the following except
e. customization
a process map with the addition of a time axis becomes a process chart
false
an example of postponement strategy for improving service productivity is having the customer wait until you have sufficient time to serve the customer
false
dell's approach to personal computer manufacturing is to use a product focus, which gives the company its low-cost competitive advantage
false
successful process redesign focuses on departmental areas where small, continuous improvements can be made
false
the typical full-service restaurant uses a product-focused process
false
value stream mapping is the analysis of where value is added in the production process within a facility
false
value stream mapping
is a variation on time function mapping, examines the supply chain to determine where value is added, extends time function mapping back to the supplier, starts with the customer and works backwards E. all of the above are true
process redesign
is the fundamental rethinking of business processes, can focus on any process, tries to bring about dramatic improvements in performance, focuses on acitivities that cross functional lines E. all of the above
which of the following is true regarding the concept of flexibility?
it is the ability to change production rates with little penalty in time, cost, or customer value; it can be accomplished with sophisticated electronic equip; it may involve modular, movable, and even cheap equip d. all of the above are true