Introduction to Operations Management and Productivity

25 fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering definitions, system components, roles, objectives, characteristics of goods vs. services, inter-functional relationships, and productivity.

Operations management involves activities related to the creation of or by converting inputs into outputs.

goods; services

The four basic components of an operations system are input, __, output, and feedback.

transformation process

Alongside raw materials, financial support, human resources, and equipment, the fifth common input is __.

information

Reducing inputs while keeping outputs constant or increasing outputs while keeping inputs constant are two primary ways to improve __.

productivity

In an operations system, __ acts as the control mechanism measuring actual performance against planned performance.

feedback

Services are __ outputs; they cannot be seen or touched.

intangible

Goods are tangible products that can often be __ until customers need them.

stored

High customer interaction is a defining characteristic of __.

services

Capital-intensive production using high-technology machines is typical of __ production.

goods (manufacturing)

The five key functions of an operations manager are planning, __, staffing, leading, and controlling.

organizing

One reason to study operations management is that it is one of the three major functions in an organization along with marketing and __.

finance

Meeting expected demand and delivery dates is one of the __ of operations management.

objectives

__ management makes funds available to buy raw materials, machines, and pay salaries.

Finance

The marketing function communicates customer __ and wants to the operations function.

needs

Operations, finance, and marketing are interdependent __ within an organization.

subsystems (or functions)

Services are often __ intensive because delivery requires face-to-face interaction with customers.

labour

Quality for tangible products is generally __ to evaluate.

easier

In goods production, customer involvement in production is generally __.

low (limited)

An output that combines goods and services still relies on the same basic elements of inputs, the transformation process, and __.

outputs

Operations management aims to ensure customer __ by meeting cost and timing needs.

satisfaction

The transformation process refers to activities related to the __ of inputs into outputs.

conversion

Services are produced and __ simultaneously.

consumed

One key objective of operations management is using __ efficiently.

resources

Operations management enables flexibility, helping organizations adapt for future __.

survival

__ is the ratio of outputs divided by inputs.

Productivity