Lesson 4.1.2

4.1.2 Lean production Quiz: NCFE Business & Enterprise, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

This lesson introduces lean production, which aims to cut waste without lowering quality. It explains just-in-time stock delivery, cell production and Kaizen continuous improvement, and shows how they lower the cost of each unit and raise profit margins while keeping customers satisfied.

Key points

  • Lean production removes waste such as idle time, scrap and surplus stock, but the product must still meet the quality customers expect.
  • Because lean cuts the cost of making each unit, a business keeps more of each pound of sales as profit.
  • Just-in-time has materials arrive as they are needed, freeing cash and space, but it leaves no buffer if a supplier is late.
  • Just-in-time only works safely if the firm forecasts demand accurately, since there is little stock in reserve.
  • Cell production gives a small team a whole stage of the product, which cuts time lost moving work and builds pride.
  • Kaizen means continuous improvement through many small changes suggested by the staff who actually do the job.
  • After a year of Kaizen, a business such as a bakery should see costs drift down as small amounts of waste are trimmed.

Key terms

Lean production
A way of operating that removes waste while keeping quality high.
Just-in-time
Receiving materials from suppliers only when they are needed in production.
Cell production
Organising staff into small teams responsible for completing a whole stage of the product.
Kaizen
A Japanese word for continuous improvement through many small changes.
Profit margin
The gap between selling price and cost, shown as the share of sales kept as profit.
Waste
Anything that adds cost but no value, such as idle time, scrap or surplus stock.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the primary aim of implementing lean production methods?

    • Eliminating operational waste
    • Slowing down output
    • Expanding office space
    • Increasing raw stock

  2. How does lean production help improve a firm's profit margin?

    • Raising retail prices
    • Cutting staff wages
    • Reducing unit costs
    • Increasing total output

  3. Which lean method has materials delivered by suppliers at the moment they are needed?

    • Cell production
    • Quality assurance
    • Just-in-time
    • Kaizen

  4. What is the primary benefit of using just-in-time delivery for fresh food?

    • Less stock wasted
    • Larger storage rooms
    • More surplus inventory
    • Higher bulk discounts

  5. What must a business accurately predict for just-in-time to succeed?

    • Interest rates
    • Sales demand
    • Exchange rates
    • Corporation tax

  6. Why do workers in cell production often feel higher job satisfaction?

    • They receive higher pay
    • They have shorter shifts
    • They finish whole parts
    • They work completely alone

  7. How does cell production improve workplace productivity?

    • Isolating team members
    • Increasing idle waiting
    • Cutting movement time
    • Extending transport routes

  8. What does Kaizen mean in the context of lean business?

    • Batch processing
    • Rapid liquidation
    • Continuous improvement
    • Mass customisation

  9. How do shop-floor employees contribute to Kaizen initiatives?

    • Signing off budgets
    • Suggesting small changes
    • Setting corporate strategy
    • Recruiting directors

  10. What is the primary effect of introducing Kaizen in a bakery?

    • Output stops immediately
    • Costs gradually fall
    • Staff numbers double
    • Quality drops instantly

  11. Why does a business measure customer service quality?

    • To slow down output
    • To punish poor staff
    • To raise prices safely
    • To fix weak points

  12. Under Total Quality Management, who is responsible for product quality?

    • The marketing team
    • Only the manager
    • External auditors
    • All staff members

  13. What is the main aim of Total Quality Management?

    • Faster machine speed
    • Higher selling prices
    • Cheaper raw materials
    • Continuous improvement

  14. What is a major drawback of flow production?

    • Expensive customisation
    • Slow output speed
    • Repetitive boring work
    • High product variety

  15. Which product is most suitable for flow production?

    • Handmade yachts
    • Custom suits
    • Bespoke wedding cakes
    • Long-life milk

  16. Apple does not build its own iPhones. Which firm assembles most of them under contract?

    • Sony
    • Samsung
    • Foxconn
    • Huawei

  17. How does quality assurance differ from quality control?

    • Increases product waste
    • Inspects finished items
    • Prevents faults arising
    • Delays customer orders

  18. What is a key advantage of job production?

    • Standardised designs
    • Rapid mass output
    • Exact customer fit
    • Low unit costs

  19. What is the main cost advantage of flow production?

    • Low unit costs
    • Expensive machinery
    • Small output scale
    • High labour wages

  20. Which activity is an example of after-sales service?

    • Initial market research
    • Free item repairs
    • Raw material sourcing
    • Product design testing

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