Continuous Operations is a manufacturing methodology which is driven by forecasted customer numbers and has a low level of work-in-progress inventory. Is this true?
A.
yes- in continuous operations there is a low level of automation
B.
yes- in continuous operations there is a high level of standardisation
C.
no- in continuous operations actual customer numbers are used
D.
no- in continuous operations there is a high level of work-in-progress inventory
Continuous operations favour stable, standardised processes and often use high levels of automation and dedicated plant. Demand forecasts inform operating plans where repeated stopping and restarting would be costly. Materials may flow consistently through stages, reducing some types of work-in-progress accumulation, although actual inventory varies with process design. Intermittent operations change configurations for batches or jobs. High standardisation is therefore the characteristic directly distinguishing the continuous approach from low-volume flexible production. Applied effectively, this distinction supports better allocation of people, facilities and materials. Operations managers should match process configuration to required output and make performance measurable through delivery, resource-use and conformance indicators. A sound arrangement also takes account of safety, maintenance and the consequences of interruption. The appropriate selection is yes- in continuous operations there is a high level of standardisation. This follows from the distinction between the concept described and the alternative activities or measures in the answer choices. This distinction supports practical management decisions by linking the selected concept to defined requirements, suitable performance indicators and corrective action when results diverge from expectations.
Study Guide Reference: CIPS L5M9 – Analyse the role and activities of operations management in organisations; the uploaded question bank cites study-guide page(s) 15.
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