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Title: A2 Level AQA Business Studies
Description: Chapter 15 - Operational Strategies - Lean Production
Description: Chapter 15 - Operational Strategies - Lean Production
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Chapter 15: Operational Strategies: Lean Production
The effective management of time
Time-based management
- In some organisations, time is used as a selling point – the ability of the firm to respond to a
customer request can give firms a competitive advantage
...
Reduced lead times
- The lead time is the time taken between an order being received and the final product or service
being delivered to or provided for the customer
...
Shorter product development times
- Constant changes in customer demands and the high failure rate of new products mean that
companies which can produce new products quickly are able to stay competitive
...
- Flexible production methods can also allow firms to modify their products quickly in response to
the market
...
Critical path analysis
Features of critical path analysis
- Nodes
- Activities
- Duration
- Prerequisite
- Dummies
Float times
- The float times can be derived from the network
...
- The first step in compiling a real network is to work out the logic behind the project in order to
identify sequences of events
...
- Lets a business know precisely when activities are scheduled to take place
...
- Can be used to help control and review
...
- Relationships with customers can be improved
...
- Helps a firm to estimate the minimum time within which it is possible to complete a project
...
- Helps organisation to calculate the extent to which other activities can be delayed
...
This means that the firm can avoid holding
unnecessary stock
...
- Can lead to greater inefficiency if a crucial activity is delayed as every activity is strictly timetabled
...
- Relies on estimates of the expected duration of activities
...
Lean production
Just-in-time
Purposes of just-in-time
- Reduce waste by eliminating the need for high levels of stock
...
- Aims to provide flexibility for customers
...
- Reliable and flexible employees
...
- Suitable equipment
...
- Flexibility is also key
...
Workers at the organisation must react quickly to sudden changes in the requirements of their
customers
...
- It is considered to be a cost-effective means of steady improvement because all employees of an
organisation support its aims
...
- Uses everyday ideas from ordinary workers rather than major technological or dramatic
innovative changes
...
- Employs the talents of the workforce rather than requiring expensive equipment, and
encourages staff to use their talents to seek improvements
...
- A more motivated workforce as a result of their greater skills and more interesting jobs, with
greater chances of recognition and responsibility
...
- Reduced waste and stockholding costs, improving firms’ cash-flow positions
...
Why do some firms use traditional methods?
- Lean production does not always guarantee benefits
...
- If demand is predictable, they will know how much to produce and may not need any flexibility
...
Title: A2 Level AQA Business Studies
Description: Chapter 15 - Operational Strategies - Lean Production
Description: Chapter 15 - Operational Strategies - Lean Production