A.)What do you think are
the relative contributions of the raw materials and the machinery to the final
cost of the pen to the customer?
The relative contributions within the manufacturing process of the ball
point pen will include some of the materials that are used. For example, the brass
ball is manufactured in bulk but to such precession that the machinery involved
will be extremely expensive; Furthermore, the brass used to produce the ball
point will be the main cost within a singular pen. However, with the balance of
the computer controlled lathe meaning production can continue at a rapid pace
the price of the material is near enough balanced when in perspective off how
many can be produced at once.
Moreover, the plastic that is
used during production has to be made into multiple parts for the pen for example
you have the outer barrel, the ink tube and the plastic plugs that the ink tube
fits into. Each of these items will require a separate manufacturing process,
so as much as the plastic may not be too costly in the grand scheme it will
actually be one of the biggest costs due to the number of varied components it
has to produce. To conclude the machinery used within the production process will
be by far the biggest cost which will in pact more what the customer is paying
for than the actual pen product. However due to the demand the machines are
able to meet, the cost of production balances by the amount of pens the machines
are capable of producing in a short amount of time.
B.)
When is most investment required for producing the pen.
The main investments required for producing a pen will be within the
cost of buying and the upkeep of the machinery. This also has other investment requirements
such as a facility to hold the machinery. Additionally, if the machinery goes
wrong at any point how much will this cost to fix, will someone be employed with
the purpose of keeping the machines working?
If analysing the investment purely based on the product, then the most investment
will come when producing the steel balls. All though this is done via machinery
thinking of the entire production process including getting the brass to the
point where it can start to be moulded into the ball shape, makes this the
longest process from starting point to final product. It is also the most significant
part of the pen and precision at assembly point is key.
Activity 2.5
Activity 2.5
A.) What do you think are the relative contributions of the raw materials and the machinery to the final cost of the pen to the customer?
The relative contributions within the manufacturing process of the ball point pen will include some of the materials that are used. For example, the brass ball is manufactured in bulk but to such precession that the machinery involved will be extremely expensive; Furthermore, the brass used to produce the ball point will be the main cost within a singular pen. However, with the balance of the computer controlled lathe meaning production can continue at a rapid pace the price of the material is near enough balanced when in perspective off how many can be produced at once.
Moreover, the plastic that is used during production has to be made into multiple parts for the pen for example you have the outer barrel, the ink tube and the plastic plugs that the ink tube fits into. Each of these items will require a separate manufacturing process, so as much as the plastic may not be too costly in the grand scheme it will actually be one of the biggest costs due to the number of varied components it has to produce. To conclude the machinery used within the production process will be by far the biggest cost which will in pact more what the customer is paying for than the actual pen product. However due to the demand the machines are able to meet, the cost of production balances by the amount of pens the machines are capable of producing in a short amount of time.
B.)
When is most investment required for producing the pen.
The main investments required for producing a pen will be within the cost of buying and the upkeep of the machinery. This also has other investment requirements such as a facility to hold the machinery. Additionally, if the machinery goes wrong at any point how much will this cost to fix, will someone be employed with the purpose of keeping the machines working?
If analysing the investment purely based on the product, then the most investment will come when producing the steel balls. All though this is done via machinery thinking of the entire production process including getting the brass to the point where it can start to be moulded into the ball shape, makes this the longest process from starting point to final product. It is also the most significant part of the pen and precision at assembly point is key.