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EnglandBusiness

Operations Management

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do businesses manage their capacity and control their stock?

Capacity and capacity utilisation; ways of managing capacity; stock control and the stock-control chart; just-in-time and just-in-case; lean production and waste reduction; and the link between operations control and cost.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Business statement on capacity and stock control. Covers capacity and capacity utilisation, managing capacity, stock control and the stock-control chart, just-in-time versus just-in-case, lean production and waste reduction, and the link to cost, with a worked capacity-utilisation calculation.
12 min answer →

What objectives do operations pursue, and how do firms manage their supply chain?

Operational objectives such as cost, quality, speed, dependability and flexibility; supply-chain management and choosing suppliers; outsourcing and make-or-buy decisions; the link between operations strategy and corporate objectives; and operational decision-making.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Business statement on operational objectives and strategy. Covers operational objectives (cost, quality, speed, dependability, flexibility), supply-chain management and choosing suppliers, outsourcing and make-or-buy decisions, the link to corporate objectives, and operational decision-making.
12 min answer →

How do businesses produce goods and services, and how is productivity measured?

Methods of production (job, batch, flow and cell); the choice of production method; productivity and efficiency; labour and capital intensity; economies and diseconomies of scale; and the link between operations and competitiveness.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Business statement on production methods and productivity. Covers job, batch, flow and cell production, the choice of method, productivity and efficiency, labour and capital intensity, economies and diseconomies of scale, and the link to competitiveness, with a worked productivity calculation.
12 min answer →

Why does quality matter, and how do businesses manage it?

The importance of quality; quality control versus quality assurance; total quality management and continuous improvement (kaizen); quality standards and benchmarking; the costs and benefits of improving quality; and the link between quality and competitiveness.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Business statement on quality management. Covers the importance of quality, quality control versus quality assurance, total quality management and kaizen, quality standards and benchmarking, the costs and benefits of improving quality, and the link to competitiveness.
12 min answer →

How do technology and innovation change operations and competitiveness?

The role of technology in operations; automation, robotics and information technology; research and development and innovation; product and process innovation; the costs, benefits and risks of adopting new technology; and the link to productivity and competitiveness.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Business statement on technology and innovation in operations. Covers the role of technology, automation, robotics and IT, research and development, product and process innovation, the costs, benefits and risks of new technology, and the link to productivity and competitiveness, with a worked productivity calculation.
12 min answer →