Work Design and Measurement in Operations Management

<p>Access to a skilled labor force and advanced supply chain ecosystem (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Political, cultural, and logistical factors (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Enhanced profitability and competitiveness (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Market access (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Location of a manufacturing plant (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tax incentives and favorable policies (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cost-Volume Analysis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Labor availability and costs (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Profitability against costs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Proximity to highways, railroads, ports, or airports (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To estimate times for task elements (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Work Sampling (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Political instability affecting operations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By ensuring even workload distribution to prevent bottlenecks (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Employee resistance due to fears of job insecurity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Infrastructure quality (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Delphi method (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Accurate and fair work measurement (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Access to emerging markets (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Enriched roles and ergonomic improvements (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To decide on optimal facility locations for cost minimization (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Shipping delays and disruptions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Simplified entry and risk mitigation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increasing employee turnover (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Product failure in the market (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It minimizes transportation and handling costs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Prioritizing high productivity through standardization (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Employee satisfaction (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Limited career growth for employees (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By incorporating skill variety and autonomy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It determines the time required for job completion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Employee perceptions of their well-being in the workplace (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Efficiency approach (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>High output and reduced costs (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increases employee productivity and reduces back pain (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Compensation Systems (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Documenting current methods with tools like flowcharts (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Process Mapping (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased worker confidence and reduced hazards (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Breaking down tasks to find bottlenecks (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Using noise-reducing measures (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Regularly assess the effectiveness of those changes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The design and measurement of work are critical for efficient operations and employee well-being. It involves structuring jobs effectively, optimizing work methods, and analyzing work time to achieve productivity goals.

Job design focuses on the structure and content of jobs, including the tasks, responsibilities, and expectations assigned to employees. It aims to create enjoyable and productive work environments.

This approach to job design emphasizes efficiency and productivity through standardization and specialization. It aims to minimize variation by simplifying tasks, leading to faster and more predictable work processes.

This approach prioritizes employee satisfaction and motivation, incorporating job enrichment and enlargement techniques. It aims to create engaging workplaces where employees feel valued and contribute meaningfully.

Specialization involves narrowing job scope so that employees can focus on specific aspects of a product or service. Although it can improve efficiency and reduce costs, it can also lead to employee dissatisfaction and high turnover.

Quality of Work Life (QWL) refers to the employees' perceptions of their well-being within the workplace. High QWL means employees are satisfied, motivated, and productive, contributing to a positive work environment.

Measurement in work design involves determining the time required to complete jobs efficiently. This information is essential for process improvement, cost estimation, and capacity planning.

Work design and measurement are essential for organizations to achieve their goals while maintaining worker satisfaction and motivation. By optimizing jobs and ensuring worker well-being, organizations can improve productivity and efficiency.

Ensuring a safe and healthy workplace environment by adhering to safety regulations and promoting safe practices.

Analyzing how work is done to identify inefficiencies and propose improvements. It involves documenting, analyzing, redesigning, implementing, and following up on changes.

The systematic study of workflows to identify inefficiencies and propose improvements.

Breaking down tasks into smaller components to identify bottlenecks or redundant activities.

Redesigning processes for better efficiency and worker satisfaction.

Gaining buy-in from management and workers by demonstrating the benefits of the proposed methods.

Regularly assessing whether the changes yield desired improvements and adjusting as necessary.

Uses pre-established data to quickly estimate times for different task elements. Makes work more predictable.

Observing random intervals to estimate how often a task is performed, or how much time is spent on it.

Uses historical data to estimate task times, especially in organizations with stable processes.

Improving efficiency and reducing costs by identifying inefficiencies and streamlining operations.

Using accurate work times to create budgets and price goods or services.

Designing workplaces that are safe, comfortable, and fulfilling to reduce fatigue and burnout.

The challenge of persuading workers to accept changes to their workflow, even if it's for improvement.

Building trust and transparency in work measurement systems to ensure fairness and accuracy.

The process of choosing the best location for a business considering factors like proximity to customers, availability of resources, transportation costs, and government regulations.

The analysis of fixed and variable costs associated with different locations to identify the most cost-effective option.

A method used to identify the optimal location by considering the weighted average of distances to demand points.

Assessing profitability by comparing costs of operating at various sites against expected revenue. It helps understand how much you need to sell to make a profit.

Access to a skilled workforce and affordable labor can significantly impact your operations.

Ease of transport, proximity to highways, railroads, ports, and airports contribute to efficient supply chain management.

Government policies, tax breaks, subsidies or incentives can make certain locations attractive for businesses.

Positioning your business near your customers is crucial to ensure efficient deliveries and low transportation costs.

A scoring model where decision-makers assign scores to factors like infrastructure, labor quality, and community support, weighting each factor based on its importance.

A method where expert panels provide insights and recommendations based on subjective factors like local culture or political climate.

Establishing facilities in developing economies to reach new customers in growing markets. Example: McDonald's expanding into Asia and Africa.

Relocating labor-intensive industries to countries with lower wages to reduce production costs. Example: Apparel manufacturers in Southeast Asia.

Collaborating with local firms to simplify market entry and mitigate risks. Example: Starbucks partnering with local businesses in new markets.

Unstable government policies or conflicts can disrupt business operations in a new location.

Misunderstanding local customs or consumer preferences can lead to business failure. Example: Global retailers offering large-sized products in India conflicting with local demand for smaller packages.

Longer supply chains increase costs and risks, especially during disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Placing facilities near suppliers or customers to ensure smooth material flow and faster deliveries. This can reduce lead times and transportation costs.

Having facilities in central locations allows for quick adaptation to changing customer needs. This enables companies to respond to demand fluctuations and offer services like same-day delivery.

Amazon strategically places warehouses in major cities to achieve fast delivery times, fulfilling its Prime shipping promises.

Toyota's approach minimizes inventory costs by placing manufacturing plants near suppliers to ensure a steady supply of parts.

Apple leverages China's advanced supply chain and skilled labor to produce its products cost-effectively.