Operations & Supply Chain Management Quiz

The correct answer is "All of the above." Supply-chain strategy concepts are applicable to all types of companies, including manufacturing, service, and restaurants. This is because supply chain management involves the coordination and optimization of various activities, such as sourcing, production, inventory management, and distribution, regardless of the industry or sector. Effective supply chain strategies can help companies improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive advantage, regardless of the specific products or services they offer.

Supply-chain response refers to how quickly a company can react to a new competing product and how quickly a customer order can be filled. This means that the company is able to adapt and respond to changes in the market and meet customer demands in a timely manner. It is not related to the cost or affordability of the product. Therefore, the correct answer is A and B.

Operations Management is defined as the transformation of system. This means that it involves taking inputs, such as raw materials or information, and using a process to transform them into outputs, such as finished products or services. In other words, the input is the starting point, the process is what happens to the input to transform it, and the output is the result of the transformation. Therefore, the correct order for the transformation of system in Operations Management is input - process - output.

Henri Ford gets the credit for developing the coordinated assembly line. He revolutionized the manufacturing industry by implementing an efficient system that allowed for mass production of automobiles. This assembly line method significantly increased productivity and reduced costs, making automobiles more affordable and accessible to the general public. Ford's innovation had a profound impact on the industry and set the standard for modern manufacturing processes.

EOQ stands for Economic Order Quantity. This is a formula used in inventory management to determine the optimal order quantity that minimizes total inventory costs. It takes into account factors such as demand, ordering costs, and holding costs to find the balance between ordering too much and tying up capital in excess inventory, or ordering too little and risking stockouts. By calculating the EOQ, businesses can optimize their inventory levels and reduce costs.

Kaizen is the correct answer because Continuous Improvement is based on the concept of making small, incremental changes to processes and systems in order to improve efficiency, quality, and productivity. Kaizen encourages employees at all levels to constantly seek ways to improve their work and eliminate waste. It focuses on continuous learning, problem-solving, and teamwork to drive continuous improvement. Poka-yoke, FMS, and 5S are all related concepts and tools that can be used within the framework of Kaizen, but Kaizen is the overarching principle that drives the continuous improvement process.

Carrying inventory is necessary for various reasons, such as to maintain independence of operations, to take advantage of economic purchase-order size, and to meet variation in product demand. However, carrying inventory does not make the system less productive. In fact, having inventory can help improve productivity by ensuring that there are enough materials or products available when needed, reducing downtime and delays in production. Therefore, the option "to make the system less productive" is not a valid reason for carrying inventory.

F.W. Taylor is called the father of scientific management because he is known for developing the principles of scientific management in the early 20th century. He emphasized the use of scientific methods to improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace. Taylor's ideas revolutionized the field of management and laid the foundation for modern management practices. His work focused on optimizing work processes, standardizing tasks, and providing incentives to motivate employees. Taylor's contributions have had a significant impact on industrial and organizational management, making him widely recognized as the father of scientific management.

The correct answer is "All of the above are identified." This means that all of the options listed (mail contact, face-to-face loose specs, and face-to-face tight specs) are alternatives that have been identified in the service-system design matrix.

Efficiency refers to doing things in the most optimal and resourceful way, ensuring that tasks are completed with minimum waste of time, effort, and resources. In the context of the question, efficiency means performing actions that result in the maximum benefit for the company. By being efficient, the company can achieve its goals and objectives effectively, utilizing its resources in the best possible manner. Efficiency is crucial for enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and improving overall performance, making it the correct answer in this scenario.

The primary transformation function provided by a hospital can be described as physiological. This is because hospitals primarily focus on providing medical care and treatment to patients, which involves addressing their physiological needs such as diagnosing and treating illnesses, performing surgeries, providing medication, and monitoring vital signs. The physical, location, and storage functions may be secondary to the main function of addressing patients' physiological needs.

The product-process matrix shows that as the volume of production increases, specialized equipment becomes more cost effective. This means that as the quantity of products being produced increases, it becomes more efficient and cost-effective to use specialized equipment rather than relying on manual labor or general-purpose machinery. This is because specialized equipment can often perform tasks more quickly and accurately, leading to increased productivity and cost savings.

A breakeven point indicates the point where the cost and revenue of a business are equal, resulting in no profit or loss. This means that the business is neither maximizing profit nor minimizing cost, but rather reaching a point of balance where it is indifferent between two options - continuing operations or shutting down.

Continuous processing is the type of processing structure used to produce gasoline and chemicals. In continuous processing, raw materials are continuously fed into the production system, and the output is also continuously produced without interruption. This type of processing is ideal for industries that require a constant flow of production, such as the production of gasoline and chemicals. It allows for high efficiency, consistent quality, and large-scale production. Unlike batch or assembly line processing, continuous processing does not involve stopping or pausing the production process, making it suitable for industries that require a continuous and uninterrupted production flow.

PDCA, which stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act, is a management method used to continuously improve processes and outcomes. It was developed by Deming, an American statistician, engineer, and management consultant. Deming is known for his contributions to the development of quality management principles and his work in helping Japanese industries improve their quality and productivity after World War II. His ideas and principles laid the foundation for Total Quality Management (TQM) and his PDCA cycle is widely used in various industries to drive continuous improvement efforts.

Quality is defined as the satisfaction of the customer. This means that a product or service meets or exceeds the expectations and requirements of the customer. Meeting the specifications, achieving 6 sigma, and achieving TQM are all important aspects of quality, but ultimately, if the customer is not satisfied, then the quality is not considered to be high. Therefore, the correct answer is satisfaction of the customer.

The given options are Problem Solving, Sales Support, Quality, and Information. These options represent different classifications of Value Added services. Problem Solving and Sales Support are two common classifications of Value Added services that provide assistance in resolving customer issues and supporting sales activities, respectively. Information is another classification that involves providing relevant and useful information to customers. Quality, on the other hand, does not represent a classification of Value Added service. It is likely that Quality refers to the standard or level of excellence in the services provided, rather than being a distinct classification.

The correct answer is "Purely random" because common causes refer to random or chance events that can affect a process or outcome. These causes are not influenced by any specific factors or variables and occur independently. Therefore, they are considered purely random in nature.

Productivity is commonly defined as the measure of efficiency in which outputs are produced from a given set of inputs. In other words, it is the ratio of output to input. This definition highlights the importance of achieving higher levels of output with the least amount of input, indicating that a higher productivity level is achieved when the output is greater than the input. Therefore, the correct answer is "output/input".

PERT/CPM (Program Evaluation and Review Technique/Critical Path Method) was developed in the laboratory of Du Pont. Du Pont is a multinational conglomerate that has been involved in various industries, including chemicals, materials, and energy. The company's research and development department played a significant role in the development of PERT/CPM, which is a project management tool used to analyze and schedule tasks in complex projects.