Managing Operations: Week 2

Operations Input resources and Ouputs 

• In process = start input resources.
• Transforming resources in process forever + not change.

Operation Examples (in terms of their processes)

Airline Inputs:

• Aircraft
• Pilots + air crew

Airline Processes:

• Check passengers in
• Board passengers

Airline Ouputs:

• Transported passengers + freight

Department Store Inputs:

• Products for sale
• Sales staff

Department Store Processes:

• Source + store products
• Display products

Department Store Output:

• Served customers + products 'assembled' together

How Processes work

• Every process + every person organisation has customers (external + internal customers)
• Every process + every person organisation relies suppliers (external + internal suppliers)

4 Key Process Elements 

• Inputs: Utilised, consumed/transformed by actviity.
• Outputs: Produced by, results from activity.
• Guides: Provides knowledge/direction how/when activity occurs.
• Enablers: Someone/something utilised perform activity (e.g. human resources, equipment, systems).
• Guides + enablers not consumed/destroyed.

Volume

• Level/rate output from process.
• Example: Number units produced by factory per week.
• High volume associated repeatability.

Variety

• Range different products/services produced.
• More flexible + costly resources required deliver greater product/service variety.

Variation

• Degree which level output varies overtime.
• Output level = normally related variation demand.

Visibility

• Amount value-added activity occurs presence of customer.