Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The physical environment
The
physical environment
for employees can have substantial effects on employee morale,
productivity, health, and safety. The physical environment in job design consists of items
such as safe working conditions, lighting, noise, temperature, and ergonomics. Ergonomics,
or human factors, is the study of the interaction between the person and their workstation,
tools, and equipment. The objectives of ergonomics are to improve human performance by
increasing speed and accuracy, reduce fatigue, reduce accidents due to human error, and
improve user comfort and acceptance.
Examples of ergonomics in the food and agribusiness markets abound. Farm producers
using tractors see the effects of ergonomics in their tractor cabs. Cabs are placed in a location
where they can best view the operations of the tractor with comfortable but supportive seats,
grips on the steering wheel, levers positioned for easy access, and dials that are easy to
read.
Summary
Operations management involves a complex network of decisions that affects agribusinesses
in the production of goods and services. In considering the production planning aspects of
operations management, agribusiness managers must consider the uniqueness of agricultural
production: seasonality, perishability, bulkiness, and variations in quantity, quality, or value.
Operations management involves production planning and supply chain management, and
must be viewed as a total system.
Production planning decisions entail quality management, location, capacity, layout, and
process design of the plant or facility, and job design. Supply chain management decisions
include purchasing, production scheduling, inventory control, and distribution. Many factors
affect each of these sets of decisions, and food and agribusiness managers must consider all
factors and their effect on the total system before making a decision.
Discussion questions
1.
List and describe some of the activities that an operations manager may be engaged in.
How would you describe the agribusiness operations manager's role? How does this
role relate to the systems approach outlined in
Figure 14.
1
?
2.
In your view, what are the most diffi cult operations management problems for the fol-
lowing types of fi rms: (a) a veterinary practice that serves both the farm and companion
animal markets; (b) a large California dairy operation; and (c) a retail food store located
in Minnesota?
3.
Why is Frederick Taylor called “the father of scientifi c management?”
4.
Differentiate between the four types of plant or facility layouts and give an example of
a specifi c agribusiness that might employ each layout. Visit a food or agribusiness fi rm
of your choice. Map the layout of the facility and identify the type of facility layout used
by the food or agribusiness fi rm.
5.
What factors are involved in the choice of plant or facility location? Name some food
and agribusiness companies whose locations refl ect consideration of these factors.
6.
What are some of the factors that may be considered in determining the optimal capacity
for a food or agribusiness fi rm?
