Specialisation and division of labour

Specialisation and division of labourBy Mrs Hilton

Learning Objectives

• Candidates should understand how specialisation and division of labour can impact on efficiency.

Video on production efficiency

Recap - Flow production• Large amounts can be made• Costs of production are low

as large scale economies of scale

• Machinery used helps to keep costs low

• Computer controlled machines can easily make a variety of designs

• ONLY useful for large scale production

Activity

1. You have a sheet cut out all the sentences

2. Stick them in the correct box advantage or disadvantage

Flow production - answers

Advantages• You can use a low skilled

workforce – save on wages

• Low skill means training needs are less

• More efficient method of production than job / batch

• Cost per item lower than job / batch

Disadvantages• Work can become repetitive

and boring

• Big set up costs – may need to invest in machinery

• Heavy fixed costs of running this type of production

Specialisation

• Flow production means that many processes that require labour (people to do it) can be broken down into smaller repetitive tasks.

• Quick to train workers• Workers become very

efficient at their job

• Watch the video – what two specialised jobs can you see?

Downside of specialisation?

• Boring work• Demotivating

• Repetitive

• What do you see in the images?

Specialisation

• What impact does specialisation have on efficiency (Part of Learning objective met if you can answer this)?

• Allows staff to become highly skilled

• Reduced training times means more efficient production

Division of labour

• Key term alert!

• This is the organisation of labour into a number of specialised simple processes

• Repetition of the task means practice makes perfect

Worker repeats the same job every day

Work becomes dull and monotonous

Worker loses interest

Decline in productivity

Past paper question

In the exam its 60Marks in 60 mins

So you have 6 mins to completeThis question

Timer http://www.online-stopwatch.com/bomb-countdown/full-screen/

How to get 6 /6

Flow production – cut out these sentences and stick them on the advantages and disadvantages sheet

• Owners can employ a low skilled workforce – save on wages

• Work can become repetitive and boring for the workers

• Low skill jobs means training needs are less, meaning a cost saving

• Big set up costs – may need to invest in machinery

• More efficient method of production than job / batch

• Heavy fixed costs of running this type of production

• Cost per item lower than job / batch

Flow production

Advantages Disadvantages

Learning Objectives

• Candidates should understand how specialisation and division of labour can impact on efficiency.

• Success criteria• If you answered the question and completed

the activity then you have met the learning objectives