Operations management

Worked examples (6)

• 1Define 'productivity' (2 marks)
• 2Explain methods of production (4 marks)
• 3Calculate productivity and ways to improve it (6 marks)
• 4Explain benefits of lean production, applied (8 marks)
• 5Evaluation: should the furniture maker switch to batch production? (12 marks)
• 6Evaluation: is automation always a good decision? (12 marks)

Model answers (6)

• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (a) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (b) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1 analysis style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (a) style — 8 marks (applied)
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer'
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer'

Worked examples (6)

• 1Define 'quality' (2 marks)
• 2Explain costs of poor quality (4 marks)
• 3Quality control vs quality assurance (6 marks)
• 4Explain benefits of high quality, applied (8 marks)
• 5Evaluation: quality control or quality assurance for a food maker? (12 marks)
• 6Evaluation: is spending on quality always worthwhile? (12 marks)

Model answers (6)

• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (a) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (b) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1 analysis style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (a) style — 8 marks (applied)
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer'
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer'

Worked examples (6)

• 1Define 'break-even point' (2 marks)
• 2Distinguish fixed and variable costs (4 marks)
• 3Calculate contribution and break-even output (6 marks)
• 4Explain economies of scale, applied (8 marks)
• 5Evaluation: should the café raise its price? (12 marks)
• 6Evaluation: does growing larger always cut average costs? (12 marks)

Model answers (6)

• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (a) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (b) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1 / Paper 2 data response with calculation
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (a) style — 8 marks (applied)
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer'
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer' (with calculation)

Worked examples (6)

• 1Define 'relocation' (2 marks)
• 2Explain factors influencing location (4 marks)
• 3Location factors for a retailer vs a service business (6 marks)
• 4Explain factors for a factory location, applied (8 marks)
• 5Evaluation: should the manufacturer relocate abroad? (12 marks)
• 6Evaluation: is low rent the most important location factor for a shop? (12 marks)

Model answers (6)

• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (a) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1, part (b) style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 1 analysis style
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (a) style — 8 marks (applied)
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer'
• ✓Model answer — Paper 2, part (b) style — 12 marks, 'Justify your answer'