Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Accountancy and Finance

Sta. Mesa, Manila

A Survey On
Developing SMEs: Bringing Out the Operations Management Decisions of
New Star Apa Corporation
Part I. Profile
Direction: Please put a check mark on the box provided that best corresponds to
your answer.
1. Age
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] 18 - 25 years old
] 26 - 30 years old
] 31 - 35 years old

[
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] 36 - 40 years old
] Above 40 years old

] Male

] Female

2. Sex

3. Highest Educational Attainment

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] Bachelor's Degree
] Bachelors Degree with Masters Degree Units
] Others, please specify_____

4. Courses Attended
[
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] Accounting
] Business Administration
] Human Resource Management
] Information Technology

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] Office Technology
] Operations Management
] Others, please specify _____

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] Coordinator
] Inspector
] Officer
] Others, please specify _____

5. Position in the Company

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] Manager
] Assistant Manager
] Supervisor
] Staff

101

PART II: Operations Management Decisions

Direction: Please put a check mark on the space provided that best corresponds
to your degree of agreement with the following statements .
Legend: 5 - Strongly Agree (SA)
4 - Agree (A)
3 - Undecided (U)
2 - Disagree (D)
1 - Strongly Disagree (SD)

A. Process Design

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.

Description
The company is innovative in bringing out
new products regularly.
The company produces designs that are
consistent with the goals of the company.
Current production is able to check against
the predetermined standards.
The company learns by observing its
competitors products and their success
rate.
The material for production can be readily
obtained.
Production needs of the product match the
existing resources of the company.

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B. Quality Management

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

Description
Quality is built into the product.
Aesthetical properties of the products are
being considered.
Customers specified designs are properly
employed.
The corporations reputation is well
maintained through the quality of product or
service.
The company complies with all requirements
i.e. sanitation, taxes, permits.
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6. There are frequent errors on the outputs.

7. All records are well-monitored, safely kept,
and available when needed.
8. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed by the
manufacturing.

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C. Process Design

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Description
Selection of machines and equipment are
properly done.
The manufacturing is investing for
automation of manufacturing facilities.
Excellence is observed in the processes
inside the plant.
The use of computers for more accurate
measurements is employed.
Supervision is regularly done to facilitate an
accurate and error-free work.
The company can easily respond to the
varying volumes of production.

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D. Location

1.

2.
3.
4.

5.

6.

Description
The company chose the location because it
is easily accessible to all their existing and
prospective customers.
The location of the company helps in
generating more revenues.
The location of the plant is qualified as to its
line of business.
The location of service area is carefully
planned so that the flow of activities is
continuous and properly executed.
The company takes into consideration the
background characteristics such as lighting,
sounds, smell and store temperature that
affects workers and customers.
The company makes sure that the company
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complies with all local governments

requirements.
E. Lay-out Design
Description
1. The company is capital intensive.
2. The company uses computer in their plant
operations.
3. The Manufacturing Company employed a
technology that can adapt to changes in
demand/volume.
4. The Manufacturing Company employed a
technology that can adapt to changes in
design
5. The plant layout is fitting to the processes
(from joint to separate processes).
6. The plant space is used efficiently.
7. The company eliminates unnecessary
movement of workers or materials
8. The layout of the company is parallel to the
existing goals of the manufacturing.
9. The company considers safety in their
layout design.
10. The layout avoids bottlenecks
workstations with the highest work
time/cycle time.

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F. Human Resources

1.
2.

3.

4.

Description
The employer selects based on the potential
contribution of applicants.
They tend to evaluate candidates based on
their ability to contribute immediately in their
job without training.
The managements hiring practices focus on
how well the individual fits with the culture of
the company.
The employers consider computer literacy
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as one of the criteria for hiring employees.

5. Managers closely monitor the day-to-day
activities of workers.
6. The company has formal job duties and
descriptions so that employees know their
roles and responsibilities.
7. Managers follow a regular schedule in
providing feedback to employees.
8. Policies are strictly observed by the
employees.
9. The management provides trainings for
employees to enhance knowledge and skills
and be more competent enough to improve
quality performance.
10. Performance appraisals are fully employed
to determine who needs training, and who
will be promoted, demoted, retained, or
fired.
11. The top managers of the company are
knowledgeable of the practices needed to
design and implement effective employee
management.
12. The company has an enough workforce.

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G. Supply-Chain Management

1.
2.
3.

4.

5.
6.

Description
Purchases of raw materials only from
reliable suppliers.
Suppliers are included in quality assurance
and quality efforts to ensure timely deliver.
Suppliers provide quality at source, thereby
reducing or eliminating inspection of
deliveries.
Suppliers are flexible in handling changes in
delivery schedules, quantity and product or
service changes.
There is a sufficient supply of raw materials.
Suppliers are partners in the process and
long term relationships are encouraged.
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H. Inventory

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

Description
The company has a fully a computerized
software/system in their inventory control.
The company has a reliable forecast of
demand.
The inventory system can produce an
accurate report on stock counts.
The company has ways to reduce non-value
added costs associated with inventory.
Effective controls for incoming and outgoing
materials are employed for better inventory
management.
The raw materials are stored in a place free
from contamination.

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I. Scheduling

1.

2.

3.
4.
5.

6.
7.

Description
The management efficiently establishes
timing in the use of equipment, facilities and
human activities in an organization
(scheduling).
Work schedules are properly done and
management strictly sets realistic due dates
in every activity to avoid confusion and
overlapping of activities.
Workers idle times are effectively managed
to promote productivity.
The management ensures that workers are
skilled enough for the job assigned
The company makes sure that activities are
matched with personnel equipped with
appropriate knowledge and skills to do the
jobs.
There is a frequent delay in production.
The manufacturing can finish rush orders on
time.
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8. Over time is done to comply with rush

orders.
9. Management strictly sets up priority rules for
the order of jobs to be processed.
10. The company can manage schedule
changes because some orders are needed
to be prioritized.

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J. Maintenance

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

Description
Production systems are kept in good
working order at a minimal cost.
Proactive maintenance is done regularly.
Breakdowns are monitored for predictive
maintenance.
Standby or backup equipment that can be
pressed into service are readily available.
Operators and repair people are well trained
and readily available to diagnose and
correct problems with the equipment.
The company considers trade-off decisions.

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PART III: Problems Encountered and Possible Solutions

Direction: Please put a check mark on the column that best corresponds to your
degree of agreement with the following statements.
Legend: 5 - Strongly Agree (SA)
4 - Agree (A)
3 - Undecided (U)
2 - Disagree (D)
1 - Strongly Disagree (SD)

107

A. Problems Encountered

1.
2.

3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

Description
The company have delays on production.
The company frequently receives
complaints and sales returns from
dissatisfied customers.
The manufacturing is not flexible enough to
respond to change in demands.
The company has a nearly manual
production system and relies on
conventional techniques.
The company has no enough skilled
manpower.
The company has a limited capacity for ecommerce.
A great deviation between the actual and
standard production exist in all areas.
Staffs, crews, and other employees are not
properly supervised that causes errors on
production.

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B. Possible Solutions

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.
7.

8.

Description
The company employs sound scheduling to
meet/beat deadlines.
The company has established supplier
relationship to gain mutual trust.
The company continually improves its
operation styles to be more efficient.
The company invests to a more
computerized and automated system and
production.
Proper motivation to employees are done to
make them work towards the company
goals.
The business capitalizes in online marketing
to widen their market.
The company responds to competition by
guarantying customers the quality of the
product.
The company provides trainings to
employees to make them more competent.

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