Average costs
Cost of producing a single unit of output
Break even
The level of output where sales revenue is the same as total costs, neither a profit or loss is made
Diseconomies of scale
Factors that result in average price of production increasing as output increases
Economies of scale
Factors that result in average price of production decreasing as output increases
Fixed costs
Costs that don't change with output
Margin of safety
Difference between the current level of output and break even point
Quality assurance
Achieving quality production by designing every process to get the product 'right first time' and preventing mistakes
Quality control
Checking quality through inspection at the end of the production process
Total Costs
Fixed costs plus variable costs
Variable costs
Costs that change with output
Production
The process of converting inputs like (raw materials and components) into finished products
Productivity
Measure of efficiency by caluclated by dividing output by input
Efficiency
Making the best possible use of resources. Maximising outputs from inputs.
Inventory
Stock of work in progress, raw materials, and finished products held by a business
Lean Production
Production of goods and servies with maximum efficiency and minimum waste
Kaizen
( 'continuous improvement') constantly introducing small changes in a business in order to improve quality and/or efficiency.
Just in time (inventory management)
is an inventory management method where supplies arrive exactly when needed in the production process
Job production
Producing a unique product, one at a time.
Batch production
Producing goods in batches where all products must pass through one stage of production before moving onto the next
Flow production
Constantly producing large quantities of identical goods