4.1 Production of goods and services

WMH is a business which operates in the secondary sector. It makes furniture including tables and chairs. WMH’s employees are all members of a trade union. The Managing Director knows the business is likely to remain small. She is considering introducing new technology into WMH’s factory. She also knows it is important for a manufacturing business to choose a suitable location for a factory.

d) Explain two possible effects of WMH introducing new technology.
Effect 1:
Explanation:

Effect 2:
Explanation:

NSL is a business based in country X. It manufactures food products including bread and breakfast cereals. NSL uses lean production in its factory. Maintaining quality is important. NSL imports 15% of its raw materials. Changes in country X’s exchange rate can affect businesses which import raw materials. NSL’s Marketing Manager knows the business should respond to changes in consumer spending patterns. She is aware that market research can be used to help make business decisions.

d) Explain two benefits to NSL of using lean production. [6]
Benefit 1:
Explanation:

Benefit 2:
Explanation:

TJK manufactures candles. Contributing to sustainable development is important to TJK. The business uses batch production in its factory in country X. The target market for TJK’s products is females between 20 and 50 years of age. The Managing Director is reviewing TJK’s financial data. An extract is shown in Table 3.1. He is also considering the benefits to a business of becoming multination company.

(e) Do you think batch production is the best method of production for a business to use? Justify your answer. [6]

BPT manufactures bicycles in country A. It uses batch production. The Operations Director is preparing a break-even chart for one of BPT’s bicycles, as shown in Fig. 1.1. The directors are considering ways to lower BPT’s break-even level of output. BPT imports 60% of its raw materials and exports its bicycles to 8 countries. The Managing Director wants to know how a depreciation in country A’s exchange rate and the introduction of import tariffs might affect BPT.

((e) Do you think batch production is the best method of production for a business to use? Justify your answer.[6]

RSL manufactures paint using flow production. Last year it produced 10 million litres of paint. RSL has 6 managers and 80 employees working in its factory. The managers use different leadership styles. RSL uses email and telephone calls as its methods of internal communication. The Operations Manager wants to understand why some manufacturing businesses are relocating their operations to other countries.

a) Identify two benefits to a business of using flow production. [2]
Benefit 1:
Benefit 2:

FBM is a boat building business. It has 100 skilled employees. The Operations Director is concerned that FBM holds a high level of inventory. She is also concerned that the business is starting to experience diseconomies of scale. The Finance Director has been asked to analyse FBM’s cost and output data. An extract is shown in Table 1.1.

d) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage to FBM of holding a high level of inventory. [6]
Advantage:
Explanation:

Disadvantage:
Explanation:

WFH produces hats and sells them to a mass market. It holds a high level of inventory. The Managing Director is concerned about the liquidity of the business and has been analysing WFH’s financial statements. An extract is shown in Table 2.1. The Managing Director thinks that the business might fail. Other stakeholder groups might also be interested in WFH’s financial statements.

c) Identify four reasons why businesses hold inventory. [4]
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:
Reason 4:

KCL manufactures paper which is used in the production of newspapers and books. KCL holds a high level of inventory and buys all its raw materials, including wood, from local suppliers. Quality control is important. The Operations Director is considering ways to increase efficiency in the factory. Pressure groups are trying to influence KCL’s decisions to ensure that the business does not create more external costs than external benefits.

c) State four benefits to a business of increasing efficiency. [4]
Benefit 1:
Benefit 2:
Benefit 3:
Benefit 4:

(e) Explain two factors a manufacturing business should consider when deciding how much inventory to hold. Which factor is likely to be the most important? Justify your answer. [6]

HCB manufactures cars in country X. It has 200 employees working in its factory. The business has changed its method of production due to new technology. HCB’s Managing Director is considering ways to become more ethical. She is aware that other businesses in country X have started to import cars. The interest rate in country X has increased due to rising inflation.

b) Identify two ways technology could change production methods. [2]
Way 1:

Way 2:

CTF is a public limited company. It manufactures beds using batch production. The Operations Director is using break-even analysis to calculate the margin of safety for children’s beds. An extract from CTF’s output data is shown in Table 2.1. The Operations Director wants to know how an increase in inflation might affect CTF. She knows there are many environmental pressures that a manufacturing business could respond to.

d) Explain two possible advantages to CTF of using batch production. [6]
Advantage 1:
Explanation:

Advantage 2:
Explanation:

CTF is a public limited company. It manufactures beds using batch production. The Operations Director is using break-even analysis to calculate the margin of safety for children’s beds. An extract from CTF’s output data is shown in Table 2.1. The Operations Director wants to know how an increase in inflation might affect CTF. She knows there are many environmental pressures that a manufacturing business could respond to.

b) Calculate the margin of safety for CTF’s children’s beds. Show your working. [2]

SNT is an ethical business. It manufactures a range of soft drinks using batch production. In 2023 SNT produced 300 000 bottles of soft drinks each week. There are many factors which affect how much inventory the business should hold. SNT’s directors are planning to expand the business into new markets in other countries by forming a joint venture. They are considering licensing as another way to help overcome the potential problems of entering these new markets.

b) Identify two factors which might affect how much inventory a business should hold. [2]
Factor 1:
Factor 2:

c) Outline two benefits to SNT of using batch production.
Benefit 1:
Benefit 2: