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Operations Management

Capacity utilisation

  • 3 things to know
  • AS Unit 2

Overview

Recall questions on how the measure is calculated, what running near or below full capacity does to unit costs, and the risks of operating at or above it for long.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

What is meant by capacity?

Key term

What is meant by capacity utilisation?

Numbers

State the formula for capacity utilisation.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is meant by capacity?

    Model answer

    Capacity is the maximum output a business can produce in a given period using the resources it currently has.

  2. 2

    What is meant by capacity utilisation?

    Model answer

    Capacity utilisation is the proportion of its maximum possible output that a business is actually producing.

  3. 3

    State the formula for capacity utilisation.

    Model answer

    Capacity utilisation (%) = (actual output ÷ maximum possible output) × 100.

  4. 4

    A factory has a maximum output of 4,500 units a month and produces 3,600. Calculate its capacity utilisation.

    Model answer

    Capacity utilisation is 3,600 ÷ 4,500 × 100 = 80%.

  5. 5

    A hotel has 120 rooms and 90 are occupied on a given night. Calculate its capacity utilisation that night.

    Model answer

    Capacity utilisation is 90 ÷ 120 × 100 = 75%.

  6. 6

    Fixed costs are £90,000 a month. Calculate the fixed cost per unit at an output of 3,600 units and again at 4,500 units.

    Model answer

    At 3,600 units the fixed cost per unit is £90,000 ÷ 3,600 = £25, and at 4,500 units it is £90,000 ÷ 4,500 = £20.

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