QUESTION 1 Operations management is important as it is concerned with creating the products and services upon which we all depend. Operations management is explained in a number of context, but one major context that stands out of the many explanations is the input-transformation-output processes transformation model context. In the context of the process view of operations management, operations managers are considered as managers of the conversion process in the firm in that they make decisions to manage the transformation process that converts inputs into desired finished goods or service. The decision focus, provides basis for dividing operations into parts according to four (4) major decision types, namely process, quality, capacity, and inventory Careful attention to the four operations decision areas in the framework is the key to the successful management of operations and it is said that a well-managed operations function can be defined in terms of this operations decision framework. If decisions in each of the four groupings of operations support the strategy of the firm, provide value, and are well integrated with the other functions of the organization, the operations function can be considered well. Quality related decisions are known to affect the value and functionality of the goods or services produced and delivered to customers by the operations function and the approach to planning quality has a significant effect on operational success At your company's quarterly staff seminar which is an educational forum where staff educate others on their areas of operation, you have been tasked as the operations manager to; a) Explain with a diagram, the input-transformation-output-model process of operations management with an example of how they differ for different types of operations. (4 marks for explanation of model, 3 marks for diagram and 6 marks for example) b) Capacity decisions are one of the four major decision areas of operations management. Your company which has a normal operating capacity of 40,000 units per a working day shift of eight (8) hours has landed a lucrative order for a month of extra 40,000 units of your products 1 per day. Explain the measures you can take as the operations manager to temporarily manage your capacity/operations to cope with this increase demand of 240,000 units per day in the short term? (5 marks) c) Explain the focus of process decision in operations management with examples of questions that can be asked in facilitating the effectiveness of process decisions. (10 marks) d) Explain the following: 1. Value engineering and ii. Value analysis and ili. the distinction between value engineering value analysis (4 marks each)