Module 1 Introduction To Production and Operation Management
Module 1 Introduction To Production and Operation Management
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[Production and Operation Management: Introduction]
For over two century’s operations and production management has been recognized as an
important factor in a country’s economic growth. The traditional view of manufacturing
management began in eighteenth century when Adam Smith recognized the economic
benefits of specialization of labor. He recommended breaking of jobs down into subtasks
and recognizes workers to specialized tasks in which they would become highly skilled and
efficient. In the early twentieth century, F.W. Taylor implemented Smith’s theories and
developed scientific management. From then till 1930, many techniques were developed
prevailing the traditional view. Brief information about the contributions to manufacturing
management is shown in the Table 1.1.
Concept of Production
Production is defined as “the step-by-step conversion of one form of material into another
form through chemical or mechanical process to create or enhance the utility of the product
to the user.” Thus production is a value addition process. At each stage of processing, there
will be value addition. Edwood Buffa defines production as „a process by which goods and
services are created‟. Some examples of production are: manufacturing custom-made
products like, boilers with a specific capacity, constructing flats, some structural fabrication
[Production and Operation Management]
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[Production and Operation Management: Introduction]
works for selected customers, etc., and manufacturing standardized products like, car, bus,
motor cycle, radio, television, etc.
Production System
The production system of an organization is that part, which produces products of an
organization. It is that activity whereby resources, flowing within a defined system, are
combined and transformed in a controlled manner to add value in accordance with the
policies communicated by management. A simplified production system is shown above.
The production system has the following characteristics:
1. Production is an organized activity, so every production system has an objective.
2. The system transforms the various inputs to useful outputs.
3. It does not operate in isolation from the other organization system.
4. There exists a feedback about the activities, which is essential to control and
improve system performance.
Batch Production
Batch production is defined by American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
“as a form of manufacturing in which the job passes through the functional departments in
lots or batches and each lot may have a different routing.” It is characterised by the
manufacture of limited number of products produced at regular intervals and stocked
awaiting sales.
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[Production and Operation Management: Introduction]
Mass Production
Manufacture of discrete parts or assemblies using a continuous process are called mass
production. This production system is justified by very large volume of production. The machines
are arranged in a line or product layout. Product and process standardization exists and all
outputs follow the same path.
Continuous Production
Production facilities are arranged as per the sequence of production operations from the first operations
to the finished product. The items are made to flow through the sequence of operations through material
handling devices such as conveyors, transfer devices, etc.
Characteristics
Continuous production is used under the following circumstances: 1. Dedicated plant and
equipment with zero flexibility. 2. Material handling is fully automated. 3. Process follows a
Production Management
E.S. Buffa defines production management as, “Production management deals with decision
making related to production processes so that the resulting goods or services are
produced according to specifications, in the amount and by the schedule demanded and out
of minimum cost.”
Operating System
Operating system converts inputs in order to provide outputs which are required by a customer. It
converts physical resources into outputs, the function of which is to satisfy customer wants i.e., to provide
some utility for the customer. In some of the organization the product is a physical good (hotels) while in
others it is a service (hospitals). Bus and taxi services, tailors, hospital and builders are the examples of
an operating system. Everett E. Adam & Ronald J. Ebert define operating system as, “An operating system
(function) of an organization is the part of an organization that produces the organization’s physical
goods and services.” Ray Wild defines operating system as, “An operating system is a configuration of
resources combined for the provision of goods or services.”