How do operations processes have different characteristics?

Although all operations processes are similar in that they all transform inputs, they do differ in a number of ways, four of which, known as the four Vs, are particularly important:

1. The volume of their output

2. The variety of their output

3. The variation in the demand for their output

4. The degree of visibility which customers have of the production of their output

Different processes for different 

Objectives 

Systems 

Policies 

Input 

Treatment 

Output 

Nature of the process