Final answer:
Preparing purchase orders is not a core function of the batch production process; it's part of supply chain management and procurement instead.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks which function is not a part of the batch production process. The key functions in batch production include planning and controlling production, maintaining inventory control, and performing cost accounting. These functions are crucial for the efficient operation of batch production. However, preparing purchase orders is generally associated with procurement and is not a core function of the batch production process itself. Instead, purchase orders are part of the broader supply chain management which supports batch production but is not part of the production process.