IB Unit 5: Operations Management

What is job production?

• The output of a standardized good or service

• The output of a customized good or service

• The output of mass-produced goods

• The output of automated production lines

Which of the following is an example of job production?

• Manufacturing cars

• Producing smartphones

• Construction of roads, schools, and hospitals

• Assembling furniture

What is a key characteristic of job production?

• Produces large quantities of identical products

• Involves the output of unique or one-off orders

• Uses automated production lines

• Focuses on cost reduction through economies of scale

Which of the following is a pro of job production?

• Economies of scale

• Shorter production times

• Flexibility to adapt to specific environments

• Lower labor costs

What is a con of job production?

• High economies of scale

• Lower production costs

• Expensive due to highly skilled labor

• Shorter production times

What is batch production?

• A method of production that involves producing a set of identical products with work on each batch being fully completed before production switches to another batch.

• A method of production that involves producing unique, customized products one at a time.

• A method of production that involves continuous production without any breaks.

• A method of production that involves producing products only when there is an order.

Which of the following is a pro of batch production?

• There is less flexibility for customers.

• There is a greater need for capital expenditure.

• Average costs of production are lower than if job production is used.

• There is idle time the machinery needs to be cleaned.

Which of the following is a con of batch production?

• It reduces the risks associated with concentrating on the output of a single product.

• It is suitable for making products when the level of demand for them is not enough to justify using mass production.

• There is less flexibility for customers compared with job production.

• It enables firms to make a variety of different products, thereby spreading risks.

Why might batch production be used?

• When the level of demand for a product is infrequent and unsteady.

• When the level of demand for a product is frequent and steady.

• When the level of demand for a product is unknown.

• When the level of demand for a product is very high.

What is one of the disadvantages of batch production related to machinery?

• There is no need for machinery in batch production.

• Machinery needs to be cleaned and/or changed (reconfigured) in order to produce another batch of products.

• Machinery is only used for a single product in batch production.

• Machinery is always in use without any idle time.