Process Fundamentals
What is the term for transforming inputs into outputs in operations management?
What is a Process?
The maximum output rate that a process can achieve under ideal conditions
What is capacity?
What is the slowest step in a process called?
What is a bottleneck?
What kind of process is used for highly customized products (e.g., a tailor-made suit)?
What is a job shop?
A customer wants completely custom artwork. What process structure should you offer?
What is a job process or project process?
This concept views every task as part of a system
What is process thinking?
What is the difference between effective capacity and design capacity?
Effective capacity considers real-world conditions like maintenance, design capacity is theoretical maximum.
What happens to the overall process if you improve the capacity of a non-bottleneck step?
What is no significant improvement?
What structure is characterized by high volumes and low variety, like Coca-Cola production?
What is continuous flow?
In which type of process are economies of scale most important?
What is a continuous flow or assembly line?
Name one key input and one key output of a typical process
What are materials and finished goods? (Or similar)
If a process can produce 50 units per hour but only actually produces 30, what is the utilization rate?
What is 60%?
Increasing WIP inventory without fixing the bottleneck will mainly cause what?
What is longer flow time or waiting?
Which manufacturing process uses modules for some variety but maintains efficiency?
What is batch production or modular production?
A service company must react to very unpredictable customer needs. What is more important: flexibility or efficiency?
What is flexibility?
What are the three key performance measures in process analysis?
What are flow time, throughput rate, and inventory?
When demand exceeds capacity, what operational problem occurs?
What is a bottleneck?
In a five-step process, step 3 has the longest cycle time. What should you prioritize?
What is increasing the speed or capacity of step 3?
What structure would you find in a hospital Emergency Room, given variability in service needs?
What is a job shop (or project/functional structure)?
Amazon uses what kind of service model for its standard online shopping business?
What is low customization, low contact (mass service or batch process)?
State little‘s law in its formula form?
A pizza oven bakes 10 pizzas at once in 15 minutes. What is the throughput rate per hour?
What is 40 pizzas per hour?
Which formula can you use to determine if a process flow is balanced or unbalanced?
What is comparing the capacity of each step to identify gaps?
Which type of process has low customization, high customer interaction, and high labor intensity?
What is a mass service (like commercial banking)?
A luxury hotel offers completely personalized stays (custom menus, room setups, etc.). What process design does this imply?
What is high customization and high customer contact?