Let us consider each of these differences. 1. Often, by its nature, service involves a much higher degree of customer contact than manufacturing. The performance of a service often occurs at the point of consumption. For example, repairing a leaky roof must take place where the roof is, and surgery re- quires the presence of the surgeon and the patient. On the other hand, manufacturing al- lows a separation between production and consumption, so that manufacturing may occur. away from the consumer. This permits a fair degree of latitude in selecting work methods, assigning jobs, scheduling work, and exercising control over operations. Service opera- tions, because of their contact with customers, can be much more limited in their range of options. Moreover, customers are sometimes a part of the system (e.g., self-service oper- ations such as gas stations, shopping), so tight control is impossible. In addition, product- oriented operations can build up inventories of finished goods (e.g., cars, refrigerators), CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT enabling them to absorb some of the shocks caused by varying demand. Service opera- tions, however, cannot build up inventories of time and are much more sensitive to de- mand variability banks and supermarkets alternate between lines of customers waiting for service and idle tellers or cashiers waiting for customers. 2. Service operations are subject to greater variability of inputs than typical manufac- turing operations. Each patient, each lawn, and each auto repair presents a specific prob- lem that often must be diagnosed before it can be remedied. Manufacturing operations often have the ability to carefully control the amount of variability of inputs and thus achieve low variability in outputs. Consequently, job requirements for manufacturing are generally more uniform than those for services. 3. Services often require a higher labor content whereas manufacturing, with excep- tions, can be more capital-intensive (i.e., mechanized). 4. Because high mechanization generates products with low variability, manufactur- ing tends to be smooth and efficient; service activities sometimes appear to be slow and awkward, and output is more variable. Automated services are an exception to this. 5. Measurement of productivity is more straightforward in manufacturing due to the high degree of uniformity of most manufactured items. In service operations, variations in demand intensity and in requirements from job to job make productivity measurement considerably more difficult. For example, compare the productivity of two doctors. One may have a large number of routine cases while the other does not, so their productivity appears to differ unless a very careful analysis is made. 6. In many instances customers receive the service as it is performed (e.g., haircut, dental care). 7. Quality assurance is more challenging in services when production and consump- tion occur at the same time. Moreover, the higher variability of input creates additional opportunity for the quality f output to suffer unless quality assurance is actively man- aged. Quality at the point of creation is typically more evident for services than for man- ufacturing, where errors Ca, le corrected before the customer receives the output. Service jobs are sometimes categorized as professional or nonprofessional. Whole- sale/retail and personal services generally fall into the nonprofessional category. Often these jobs tend to be on the low end of the pay scale, whereas professional services (e.g., surgery, consulting) tend to be on the high end of the pay scale. Manufacturing jobs, on the other hand, don't show this bimodal tendency, and few salaries fall in either the high or low range. Table 1-5 gives an overview of the differences between production of goods and ser- vice operations. Although it is convenient to think in terms of systems devoted exclusively to goods or services, most real systems are a blend of both. For instance, maintenance and repair of equipment services performed by virtually every manufacturing firm. Similarly, most service organizations typically sell goods that complement their services. Thus, a lawn care firm usually sells goods such as weed killers, fertilizers, and grass seed. Hospitals
Let us consider each of these differences. 1. Often, by its nature, service involves a much higher degree of customer contact than manufacturing. The performance of a service often occurs at the point of consumption. For example, repairing a leaky roof must take place where the roof is, and surgery re- quires the presence of the surgeon and the patient. On the other hand, manufacturing al- lows a separation between production and consumption, so that manufacturing may occur. away from the consumer. This permits a fair degree of latitude in selecting work methods, assigning jobs, scheduling work, and exercising control over operations. Service opera- tions, because of their contact with customers, can be much more limited in their range of options. Moreover, customers are sometimes a part of the system (e.g., self-service oper- ations such as gas stations, shopping), so tight control is impossible. In addition, product- oriented operations can build up inventories of finished goods (e.g., cars, refrigerators), CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT enabling them to absorb some of the shocks caused by varying demand. Service opera- tions, however, cannot build up inventories of time and are much more sensitive to de- mand variability banks and supermarkets alternate between lines of customers waiting for service and idle tellers or cashiers waiting for customers. 2. Service operations are subject to greater variability of inputs than typical manufac- turing operations. Each patient, each lawn, and each auto repair presents a specific prob- lem that often must be diagnosed before it can be remedied. Manufacturing operations often have the ability to carefully control the amount of variability of inputs and thus achieve low variability in outputs. Consequently, job requirements for manufacturing are generally more uniform than those for services. 3. Services often require a higher labor content whereas manufacturing, with excep- tions, can be more capital-intensive (i.e., mechanized). 4. Because high mechanization generates products with low variability, manufactur- ing tends to be smooth and efficient; service activities sometimes appear to be slow and awkward, and output is more variable. Automated services are an exception to this. 5. Measurement of productivity is more straightforward in manufacturing due to the high degree of uniformity of most manufactured items. In service operations, variations in demand intensity and in requirements from job to job make productivity measurement considerably more difficult. For example, compare the productivity of two doctors. One may have a large number of routine cases while the other does not, so their productivity appears to differ unless a very careful analysis is made. 6. In many instances customers receive the service as it is performed (e.g., haircut, dental care). 7. Quality assurance is more challenging in services when production and consump- tion occur at the same time. Moreover, the higher variability of input creates additional opportunity for the quality f output to suffer unless quality assurance is actively man- aged. Quality at the point of creation is typically more evident for services than for man- ufacturing, where errors Ca, le corrected before the customer receives the output. Service jobs are sometimes categorized as professional or nonprofessional. Whole- sale/retail and personal services generally fall into the nonprofessional category. Often these jobs tend to be on the low end of the pay scale, whereas professional services (e.g., surgery, consulting) tend to be on the high end of the pay scale. Manufacturing jobs, on the other hand, don't show this bimodal tendency, and few salaries fall in either the high or low range. Table 1-5 gives an overview of the differences between production of goods and ser- vice operations. Although it is convenient to think in terms of systems devoted exclusively to goods or services, most real systems are a blend of both. For instance, maintenance and repair of equipment services performed by virtually every manufacturing firm. Similarly, most service organizations typically sell goods that complement their services. Thus, a lawn care firm usually sells goods such as weed killers, fertilizers, and grass seed. Hospitals
Practical Management Science
6th Edition
ISBN:9781337406659
Author:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Chapter2: Introduction To Spreadsheet Modeling
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 20P: Julie James is opening a lemonade stand. She believes the fixed cost per week of running the stand...
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List five important differences between goods production and service operations.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE REFER TO THE GIVEN DIFFERENCES ON THE PHOTO ATTACHED.
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