Instructions to candidates
- Answer FOUR questions in total
- Answer at least ONE question from SECTION A
- Answer at least THREE more questions from either SECTION A or SECTION B
- All questions are equally weighted
- Calculators are permitted
- Each answer must be in a separate booklet
- FOUR A4 sheets of paper with notes on both sides may be brought into the exam room
Materials provided
- Answer booklets
- Graph paper
SECTION B
ANSWER AT LEAST ONE QUESTION FROM SECTION A
ANSWER AT LEAST THREE MORE QUESTIONS FROM EITHER SECTION A OR SECTION B
QUESTION 1
What factors should be considered when generating an operations strategy, and why? Make detailed reference to particular theories, models and examples that help set an organisation in its wider business environment.
QUESTION 2
(a) Explain the principles of good supplier relationship management
(b) State how product and service design can influence lean and agile practice? Use theories with examples in your answer.
(c) Explain why the ‘Bullwhip Effect’ occurs and what organizations can do to reduce it? Use theories and examples in your answer.
QUESTION 3
(a) Explain the typical stages in a product and or service design. Use the following examples to illustrate your answer:
- an economical city car
- a professional training service
(b) Explain approaches for effectively combining product and service delivery which may create higher value for customer and provider. Give practical examples to illustrate your answer.
QUESTION 4
(a) Use ‘volume’ and ‘variety’ demand characteristics to explain how process types are designed and managed.
(b) Also explain how different process types are suited to different types of orders and layouts?
(c) State how and why product and service design are inter-related to process design.
Give examples to illustrate your answer.
QUESTION 5
(a) State the philosophical principles behind quality management, giving examples and citing key people in the area
(b) Explain how quality improvement methodologies are used and their intended effects on the total cost of quality?
QUESTION 6
Describe and detail differences between the Material Requirements Planning (MRP) approach and the JIT / Kanban approach for planning and scheduling of production.
Give examples.
QUESTION 7
Describe and outline the differences between the Material Requirements Planning (MRP) approach and the JIT / Kanban approach to the planning and scheduling of material movement..
Give examples.
