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SingaporeBusiness Management

Operations Management

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How much can a business produce, and how does it cope when demand and capacity do not match?

Explain capacity, capacity utilisation and the management of demand-capacity mismatches, and evaluate strategies for adjusting capacity
A focused answer to the H2 Management of Business outcome on capacity. How capacity and capacity utilisation are measured, the link to unit costs, the problems of under- and over-utilisation, and strategies for matching capacity to demand - with worked calculations.
9 min answer →

How can a business systematically cut waste and keep improving the way it works?

Explain lean production and methods of operational improvement, including waste reduction, kaizen and the link to efficiency and quality, and evaluate their adoption
A focused answer to the H2 Management of Business outcome on lean production. The principle of waste reduction, kaizen continuous improvement, the links to productivity, quality and inventory, and how to evaluate adopting lean methods.
8 min answer →

How does a business measure and raise how much output it gets from its inputs?

Explain productivity and efficiency, including labour and capital productivity and unit costs, and evaluate methods of improving them
A focused answer to the H2 Management of Business outcome on productivity and efficiency. How labour and capital productivity are measured, the link to unit costs and competitiveness, methods of raising productivity, and the trade-offs involved - with worked calculations.
9 min answer →

How does a business ensure its products meet standards, and is it better to inspect for defects or prevent them?

Explain approaches to quality, including quality control, quality assurance and total quality management, and evaluate methods of managing and improving quality
A focused answer to the H2 Management of Business outcome on quality. Quality control versus quality assurance, total quality management and continuous improvement, the costs of poor quality, and how to evaluate which approach suits a firm.
8 min answer →

How does a business manage the flow of materials from supplier to customer, and how much stock should it hold?

Explain supply chain and inventory management, including supplier selection, stock control and just-in-time, and evaluate approaches to managing the supply chain
A focused answer to the H2 Management of Business outcome on supply chain and inventory. Supplier selection, stock control and buffer stock, just-in-time versus just-in-case, supply-chain resilience, and how to evaluate inventory and sourcing decisions.
9 min answer →