This mini-lesson covers AQA Topic 3 — Business operations: production processes (job, batch, flow), the impact of technology, quality (control vs assurance), the supply chain and procurement, and delivering good customer service.
Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go (some are wordy, some are calculations) and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you're ready.
Production
Methods of production
AQA identifies three main production methods:
Job production — one unique item at a time (a wedding cake). High quality, flexible, but expensive per unit.
Batch production — groups of identical items in stages (loaves of one recipe). Balances flexibility and cost.
Flow production — a continuous line of identical items (bottled drinks). Low unit cost but inflexible, needs big investment.
Choosing: more customisation → job; high volume of standard items → flow. Batch sits in between.
Quick check
Which production method?
?A drinks factory fills thousands of identical bottles on a continuous, automated line. Which production method is this?
Calculate
Your turn — labour productivity
1A workshop of 8 workers makes 4,000 units in a week. Calculate labour productivity (output per worker).
units
Hint: labour productivity = output ÷ number of workers = 4,000 ÷ 8.
Technology in operations
Technology in production
Technology changes how goods are made and stock is managed:
Automation & robotics — raise output and consistency, lower long-run costs, but cost a lot upfront and can reduce jobs.
Computer systems — track stock and orders, cutting waste and errors.
Trade-off: higher productivity and quality vs high investment, training needs and possible job losses.
Calculate
Your turn — output rise
2After buying new machinery, weekly output rises from 4,000 to 5,000 units. Calculate the percentage increase in output.
Customers expect goods and services to meet a standard.
Quality control — inspecting products at the end to catch faults before they reach customers.
Quality assurance — building quality in at every stage so faults are prevented, not just caught.
Why it matters: good quality reduces waste and returns, protects reputation and can justify a higher price. Poor quality raises costs and loses customers.
Sort it
Quality control, quality assurance, or a benefit?
Tap a statement, then the group it best matches.
🔎 Quality control
🛠️ Quality assurance
👍 Benefit of quality
Quick check
Control or assurance?
?A bakery trains every worker to check dough at each stage so faults never reach the oven. Which approach is this?
Supply chain & procurement
The supply chain & procurement
The supply chain is every stage from raw materials to the finished product reaching the customer. Procurement is choosing and managing suppliers.
Good suppliers offer the right price, quality, reliability and delivery time.
Logistics move goods efficiently and on time.
Holding the right stock avoids running out (lost sales) or over-stocking (tied-up cash).
Just-in-time (JIT): stock arrives as needed, cutting storage costs — but a late delivery can halt production.
Match it
Match the term to its meaning
Tap a statement on the left, then the correct term on the right.
Statement
Answer
Calculate
Your turn — reorder level
3A shop uses 50 units a day and it takes 4 days for new stock to arrive. Calculate the reorder level (usage during the lead time) so it never runs out.
units
Hint: reorder level = daily usage × lead time = 50 × 4.
Customer service
Customer service
Good customer service — helpful staff, product knowledge, quick response and after-sales support — builds loyalty and repeat business.
Benefits: repeat custom, positive reviews and word-of-mouth. Poor service loses customers and damages reputation, especially with social media.
Calculate
Your turn — repeat customers
4Of 800 customers in a month, 560 return again. Calculate the percentage who are repeat customers.
%
Hint: (repeat ÷ total) × 100 = (560 ÷ 800) × 100.
Calculate
Your turn — productivity again
5A team of 5 staff serve 1,250 customers in a week. Calculate output per worker (customers served per worker).
customers
Hint: output per worker = total ÷ workers = 1,250 ÷ 5.
Quick check
Why good service matters
?Which of these is the clearest business benefit of consistently excellent customer service?