Is the process by which raw materials and other inputs are converted into finished goods

Is the process by which raw materials and other inputs are converted into finished goods

Is the process by which raw materials and other inputs are converted into finished goods

  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Geography & Travel
  • Health & Medicine
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Literature
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • Science
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Technology
  • Visual Arts
  • World History
  • On This Day in History
  • Quizzes
  • Podcasts
  • Dictionary
  • Biographies
  • Summaries
  • Top Questions
  • Week In Review
  • Infographics
  • Demystified
  • Lists
  • #WTFact
  • Companions
  • Image Galleries
  • Spotlight
  • The Forum
  • One Good Fact
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Geography & Travel
  • Health & Medicine
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Literature
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • Science
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Technology
  • Visual Arts
  • World History
  • Britannica Classics
    Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
  • Britannica Explains
    In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.
  • Demystified Videos
    In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.
  • #WTFact Videos
    In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.
  • This Time in History
    In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.
  • Student Portal
    Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.
  • COVID-19 Portal
    While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.
  • 100 Women
    Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.
  • Britannica Beyond
    We’ve created a new place where questions are at the center of learning. Go ahead. Ask. We won’t mind.
  • Saving Earth
    Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century. Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them!
  • SpaceNext50
    Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!

About Us

McqMate.com is an educational platform, Which is developed BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS, The only objective of our platform is to assist fellow students in preparing for exams and in their Studies throughout their Academic career.

what we offer ?

» We provide you study material i.e. PDF's for offline use.
» We take free online Practice/Mock test for exam preparation.
» Each MCQ is open for further discussion on discussion page.
» All the services offered by McqMate are free.

About Us

McqMate.com is an educational platform, Which is developed BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS, The only objective of our platform is to assist fellow students in preparing for exams and in their Studies throughout their Academic career.

what we offer ?

» We provide you study material i.e. PDF's for offline use.
» We take free online Practice/Mock test for exam preparation.
» Each MCQ is open for further discussion on discussion page.
» All the services offered by McqMate are free.

  1. What types of production processes do manufacturers and service firms use?

In production planning, the first decision involves which type of production process—the way a good or service is created—best fits with company goals and customer demand. An important consideration is the type of good or service being produced, because different goods may require different production processes. In general, there are three types of production: mass production, mass customization, and customization. In addition to production type, operations managers also classify production processes in two ways: (1) how inputs are converted into outputs and (2) the timing of the process.

One for All: Mass Production

Mass production, manufacturing many identical goods at once, was a product of the Industrial Revolution. Henry Ford’s Model-T automobile is a good example of early mass production. Each car turned out by Ford’s factory was identical, right down to its color. If you wanted a car in any color except black, you were out of luck. Canned goods, over-the-counter drugs, and household appliances are other examples of goods that are mass-produced. The emphasis in mass production is on keeping manufacturing costs low by producing uniform products using repetitive and standardized processes. As products became more complicated to produce, mass production also became more complex. Automobile manufacturers, for example, must now incorporate more sophisticated electronics into their car designs. As a result, the number of assembly stations in most automobile manufacturing plants has increased.

Just for You: Customizing Goods

In mass customization, goods are produced using mass-production techniques, but only up to a point. At that point, the product or service is custom-tailored to the needs or desires of individual customers. For example, American Leather, a Dallas-based furniture manufacturer, uses mass customization to produce couches and chairs to customer specifications within 30 days. The basic frames in the furniture are the same, but automated cutting machinery precuts the color and type of leather ordered by each customer. Using mass-production techniques, they are then added to each frame.

Customization is the opposite of mass production. In customization, the firm produces goods or services one at a time according to the specific needs or wants of individual customers. Unlike mass customization, each product or service produced is unique. For example, a print shop may handle a variety of projects, including newsletters, brochures, stationery, and reports. Each print job varies in quantity, type of printing process, binding, color of ink, and type of paper. A manufacturing firm that produces goods in response to customer orders is called a job shop.

Is the process by which raw materials and other inputs are converted into finished goods

Exhibit 10.5 Classification of Production Types (Attribution: Copyright Rice University, OpenStax, under CC BY 4.0 license.)

Mass ProductionMass CustomizationCustomization
Highly uniform products or services

Many products made sequentially

Uniform standardized production to a point, then unique features added to each product Each product or service produced according to individual customer requirements
Examples: Breakfast cereals, soft drinks, and computer keyboards Examples: Dell Computers, tract homes, and Taylor Made golf clubs Examples: Custom homes, legal services, and haircuts

Some types of service businesses also deliver customized services. Doctors, for instance, must consider the illnesses and circumstances of each individual patient before developing a customized treatment plan. Real estate agents may develop a customized service plan for each customer based on the type of house the person is selling or wants to buy. The differences between mass production, mass customization, and customization are summarized in (Figure).

Converting Inputs to Outputs

As previously stated, production involves converting inputs (natural resources, raw materials, human resources, capital) into outputs (products or services). In a manufacturing company, the inputs, the production process, and the final outputs are usually obvious. Harley-Davidson, for instance, converts steel, rubber, paint, and other inputs into motorcycles. But the production process in a service company involves a less obvious conversion. For example, a hospital converts the knowledge and skills of its medical personnel, along with equipment and supplies from a variety of sources, into health care services for patients. (Figure) provides examples of the inputs and outputs used by various other businesses.

There are two basic processes for converting inputs into outputs. In process manufacturing, the basic inputs (natural resources, raw materials) are broken down into one or more outputs (products). For instance, bauxite (the input) is processed to extract aluminum (the output). The assembly process is just the opposite. The basic inputs, like natural resources, raw materials, or human resources, are either combined to create the output or transformed into the output. An airplane, for example, is created by assembling thousands of parts, which are its raw material inputs. Steel manufacturers use heat to transform iron and other materials into steel. In services, customers may play a role in the transformation process. For example, a tax preparation service combines the knowledge of the tax preparer with the client’s information about personal finances in order to complete the tax return.

Production Timing

A second consideration in choosing a production process is timing. A continuous process uses long production runs that may last days, weeks, or months without equipment shutdowns. This is best for high-volume, low-variety products with standardized parts, such as nails, glass, and paper. Some services also use a continuous process. Your local electric company is an example. Per-unit costs are low, and production is easy to schedule.

Table 10.1
Converting Inputs to Outputs
Type of OrganizationInputOutput
Airline Pilots, flight attendants, reservations system, ticketing agents, customers, airplanes, maintenance crews, ground facilities Movement of customers and freight
Grocery store Merchandise, building, clerks, supervisors, store fixtures, shopping carts, customers Groceries for customers
High school Faculty, curriculum, buildings, classrooms, library, auditorium, gymnasium, students, staff, supplies Graduates, public service
Manufacturer Machinery, raw materials, plant, workers, managers Finished products for consumers and other firms
Restaurant Food, cooking equipment, servers, chefs, dishwashers, host, patrons, furniture, fixtures Meals for patrons

In an intermittent process, short production runs are used to make batches of different products. Machines are shut down to change them to make different products at different times. This process is best for low-volume, high-variety products such as those produced by mass customization or customization. Job shops are examples of firms using an intermittent process.

Although some service companies use continuous processes, most service firms rely on intermittent processes. For instance, a restaurant preparing gourmet meals, a physician performing surgical procedures, and an advertising agency developing ad campaigns for business clients all customize their services to suit each customer. They use the intermittent process. Note that their “production runs” may be very short—one grilled salmon or one physical exam at a time.

Key Takeaways

  1. Describe the different types of production processes.
  2. How are inputs transformed into outputs in a variety of industries?

Summary of Learning Outcomes

  1. What types of production processes do manufacturers and service firms use?

Products are made using one of three types of production processes. In mass production, many identical goods are produced at once, keeping production costs low. Mass production, therefore, relies heavily on standardization, mechanization, and specialization. When mass customization is used, goods are produced using mass-production techniques up to a point, after which the product or service is custom-tailored to individual customers by adding special features. When a firm’s production process is built around customization, the firm makes many products one at a time according to the very specific needs or wants of individual customers.

Glossary

assembly processA production process in which the basic inputs are either combined to create the output or transformed into the output.continuous processA production process that uses long production runs lasting days, weeks, or months without equipment shutdowns; generally used for high-volume, low-variety products with standardized parts.customizationThe production of goods or services one at a time according to the specific needs or wants of individual customers.intermittent processA production process that uses short production runs to make batches of different products; generally used for low-volume, high-variety products.job shopA manufacturing firm that produces goods in response to customer orders.mass customizationA manufacturing process in which goods are mass-produced up to a point and then custom-tailored to the needs or desires of individual customers.mass productionThe manufacture of many identical goods at once.process manufacturingA production process in which the basic input is broken down into one or more outputs (products).production processThe way a good or service is created.

Is the process by which raw materials and other inputs are converted into finished goods a inventory B Logistics C production D supply chain?

Production is the correct answer because it deals with buying of raw material i.e. inflow and processing raw material or assembling various parts to produce final product i.e. finished goods.

What is refers to conversion of inputs into finished product?

Manufacturing is the process of transforming raw materials into ready goods, with the help of machinery.

Which management focuses on the transformation process of input and raw materials into finished products?

Operations management is the management of the processes that transform inputs into the goods and services that add value for the customer.

Which management is the process in which resources or inputs are converted into more useful products?

Production management is the process of managing the conversion of production inputs (raw materials, human resources, and capital) into production outputs (the goods that a company produces).