Question 1 Report
Fig. 1 shows a workshop where material is delivered, stored, cut and assembled. Analyse how the company should manage its materials to reduce cost and waste, referring to purchasing, storage, cutting and offcuts. [8]
Work through the four areas named in the stem and reach a judgement.
Purchasing. Order standard stock sizes in quantities matched to consumption. A bigger order lowers the unit price but ties up cash and floor space, so use a reorder level rather than buying on impulse.
Storage. Keep material flat, dry and supported so it does not warp, corrode or get damaged, because damaged stock is waste that has already been paid for. Rotate it so older material is used first.
Cutting. Plan a cutting list so the largest parts are taken first and smaller parts are nested into what remains. Cutting in a sensible order, rather than part by part as needed, is what actually reduces waste.
Offcuts. Sort and store usable offcuts by size so they are found and used, and segregate scrap by material so it holds its recycling value.
The strongest answer notes that purchasing and cutting give the largest saving, because they decide how much material is bought and how much of it ends up in the product.
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