Question 1

A laundry which washes, dries, and irons men's shirts is an example of a standard service system.

Accepted Answer

A standard service system refers to a service that follows a specific, consistent process to deliver a uniform outcome to all customers, such as a laundry service that washes, dries, and irons men's shirts in a consistent manner.

Question 2

There are both long-term and short-term operational decisions.

Accepted Answer

Long-term operational decisions often involve strategic planning and investments in technology or infrastructure, while short-term operational decisions typically focus on day-to-day activities and immediate problem-solving.

Question 3

To make a viable product/service decision, interaction with the marketing department will be needed.

Accepted Answer

The marketing department plays a crucial role in understanding customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscape, which are essential for making informed decisions about product or service development and viability.

Question 4

The decisions regarding system capacity will determine the level of product or service output that the system will be able to provide.

Accepted Answer

Decisions regarding system capacity directly influence the maximum level of product or service output that a system can sustainably provide, as they determine the resources, processes, and infrastructure designed to meet production or service delivery requirements.

Question 5

Survey data show that manufacturing location decisions are dominated by five factors: favorable labor climate, proximity to markets, quality of life, proximity to suppliers and resources, and proximity to the parent company's facilities.

Accepted Answer

These factors are commonly cited in literature and industry reports as key considerations for manufacturing location decisions, as they directly impact operational efficiency, costs, and overall business strategy.

Question 6

Systems at the flexible-purpose extreme, which must be able to handle a wide variety of product or customer service demands, will use a product layout.

Accepted Answer

Systems at the flexible-purpose extreme, designed to handle a wide variety of products or customer service demands, typically use a process layout, which is more adaptable to different tasks than a product layout, which is more efficient for high-volume, low-variety production.

Question 7

Systems at the specific-purpose extreme, in which all products or services are essentially the same, will use a process layout.

Accepted Answer

Systems at the specific-purpose extreme, where products or services are essentially the same, typically use a product layout, not a process layout, because the operations are standardized and repetitive, allowing for an efficient, continuous flow of production.

Question 8

Systems at the flexible-purpose extreme, which must be able to handle a wide variety of product or customer-service demands, will use a process layout.

Accepted Answer

A process layout is designed for flexibility to handle a wide variety of products or services, making it suitable for systems at the flexible-purpose extreme.

Question 9

Aggregate planning constitutes the link between the more general business planning activities and the more specific master planning activities of a system.

Accepted Answer

Aggregate planning serves as the intermediary step that connects high-level business strategies and goals with the detailed scheduling and planning found in master planning, ensuring that a company's resources are efficiently allocated to meet its objectives.

Question 10

The main purpose of master production scheduling is to provide broad production, inventory, and human resource scheduling guidelines within which much more detailed scheduling decisions eventually will be made.

Accepted Answer

Master production scheduling (MPS) is a detailed planning process that determines the quantity and timing of production for specific products, rather than providing broad guidelines.

Question 11

Master production schedules typically employ weekly time periods.

Accepted Answer

Master production schedules often use weekly time periods to balance detail with manageability, allowing for efficient planning and adjustments in production.

Question 12

The master production schedule is really just a detailed break down of the aggregate schedule.

Accepted Answer

The master production schedule (MPS) is indeed a detailed breakdown of the aggregate plan, specifying exactly what is to be produced in specific time periods.

Question 13

In a manufacturing plant, a wrench used for equipment maintenance is part of the supplies inventory.

Accepted Answer

A wrench is considered a tool or equipment used in maintenance and repair, and is typically categorized as part of the supplies inventory in a manufacturing plant.

Question 14

Lot-sizing and lot-timing refer to the replenishment amount and time period (when to replenish) of inventory items.

Accepted Answer

Lot-sizing determines the quantity of an item to order or produce at once, while lot-timing decides when to order or produce that quantity, effectively managing inventory replenishment.

Question 15

Just-in-time inventory management is an overall manufacturing philosophy that advocates eliminating waste, solving problems, and striving for continual improvement in operations.

Accepted Answer

Just-in-time (JIT) inventory management is indeed a manufacturing philosophy that focuses on reducing waste, solving problems as they arise, and continuously improving processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

Question 16

Using JIT, once the supply order contract is signed by the buyer and supplier, further communication is unnecessary.

Accepted Answer

JIT (Just-In-Time) inventory systems require continuous communication between the buyer and supplier to adjust for demand fluctuations, ensure timely delivery, and manage inventory levels effectively.

Question 17

Productivity is a measure of the efficiency with which a firm performs the transformation process.

Accepted Answer

Productivity measures how efficiently a firm converts inputs into outputs during the production process, reflecting the effectiveness of its transformation process.

Question 18

Any increase in the numerator or decrease in the denominator of the productivity equation will result in a productivity increase.

Accepted Answer

Productivity is calculated as the ratio of outputs to inputs. Increasing the numerator (outputs) or decreasing the denominator (inputs) both lead to an increase in the productivity ratio, indicating higher productivity.

Question 19

Quality is a measure of operational effectiveness.

Accepted Answer

Quality is often used as an indicator of how well an organization's operations meet customer expectations and standards, reflecting its operational effectiveness.

Question 20

Changing the process by which a product is manufactured can enhance the productivity.

Accepted Answer

Changing the manufacturing process can introduce more efficient methods, reduce waste, and increase the overall output, thereby enhancing productivity.

Quiz 16: Productivity and Quality in Operations