Question 1

Manufacturing firms that want to minimize time-to-market are likely to choose facility sites that give them easy access to their preferred modes of transportation.

Accepted Answer

By having easy access to their preferred modes of transportation, manufacturing firms can quickly transport their products to customers, reducing the time it takes to get their products to market.

Question 2

Many state and local governments offer tax incentives and government services to attract businesses.

Accepted Answer

This is true. State and local governments use tax incentives and government services to attract businesses to their regions, which can lead to job creation and economic growth.

Question 3

Facility location is the process of selecting a geographic location for a company's operations.

Accepted Answer

Facility location is the process of selecting a geographic location for a company's operations.

Question 4

For many firms, operations management has become an interfirm process.

Accepted Answer

With the increase in globalization and outsourcing, operations management has become a process that involves multiple firms, including suppliers, partners, and subcontractors. This interfirm collaboration is essential for managing the entire value chain and achieving greater efficiency and productivity in the operations of a firm.

Question 5

Some companies will locate their production facilities near their suppliers.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Companies may choose to locate their production facilities near their suppliers to reduce transportation costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and facilitate communication and collaboration with suppliers.

Question 6

Tina's Tiny Treats bakes an assortment of cookies and candies for corporate accounts and restaurants. On a good day, Tina's receives orders for from 600 to 800 custom cookies, with a variety of uniqueness, although the company is famous for delicate shortbread and butter cookies. Some cookies have round shapes, but others are elongated rectangles, and yet others are triangles. The bakers can quickly change the cookie cutting machine to reflect the orders for the day, while computers program the ovens bake each cookie to perfection. Refrigeration is also computer controlled. Tina's Tiny Treats embraces flexible manufacturing and mass customization.

Accepted Answer

Flexible manufacturing means the company is using machines that can multitask. They can be quickly retrofitted to create a variety of products. The manufacturer can design and create customized orders, by changing the shape, color, and size depending upon the customer's preference.

Question 7

Fuzzy Fabrics, Inc. is a specialty manufacturer that produces custom blankets according to customer specifications. Fuzzy Fabrics should probably use an intermittent process in production.

Accepted Answer

An intermittent process is characterized by short production runs and frequent adjustments to machinery in order to produce different products. This type of system works well for firms producing customized products in small batches.

Question 8

In making a location decision, businesses seldom consider "quality of life" in various locations, because factors that influence quality of life have little or no impact on profits.

Accepted Answer

Businesses do consider quality of life in various locations as it can impact their ability to attract and retain employees, which can ultimately impact profits. In addition, businesses may also consider the quality of life in a location if their company values prioritize community engagement or sustainability.

Question 9

When considering the issue of facility location, it is important to find an isolated location so that work can get done without interruption from customers.

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider the accessibility of the location to customers as well as the availability of resources and transportation. Isolation may not always be the best option for a business.

Question 10

For service-intensive businesses, facility layout is usually designed to centralize the decision-making process.

Accepted Answer

For service-intensive businesses, facility layout is usually designed to decentralize the decision-making process, giving more autonomy to the employees who directly interact with customers. This allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness to changing customer needs.

Question 11

Online-focused strategies don't affect operations managers since it is not essential for operations managers to negotiate in an interfirm environment.

Accepted Answer

Online-focused strategies can affect operations managers as they may impact supply chain management, inventory management, and other operational activities. Additionally, operations managers may need to work with external partners or vendors in implementing online strategies.

Question 12

Tim and Eric recently started a company focused on rehabbing old houses. Before they buy a house, they use software to create and design the renovation of each room. The program provides them with an estimate of how much of each kind of material is needed, and the orderly progression of tasks that need to be completed. Tim and Eric use computer-aided design.

Accepted Answer

CAD/CAM techniques are revolutionizing the design and production of both industrial and consumer goods. Computer-aided design software assists with the design of finished products.

Question 13

When it comes to location decisions, labor costs are no longer an important consideration for most manufacturing firms.

Accepted Answer

Labor costs are still a significant factor in location decisions for manufacturing firms, but other factors such as proximity to customers, transportation costs, infrastructure, access to resources, and government regulations also play important roles.

Question 14

BeltIn, Inc., is a seat belt manufacturer about 8 miles from two major auto assembly plants. Every two hours, BeltIn delivers seatbelts to each of the plants. The assembly plants only accept the number of seatbelts that they will use in cars during the next two hours after delivery. The auto plants embrace lean manufacturing.

Accepted Answer

Firms that practice lean manufacturing typically carry very limited amounts of inventory. They only accept delivery and add to their inventory the amount of raw materials or parts that they can use in the immediate future.

Question 15

The production of a bridge, ship, or large airplane usually involves a variable-position facility layout.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The production of a bridge, ship, or...

Question 16

Operations management planning is concerned with finding the ideal location for a business and also with materials requirement planning. It leaves decisions about purchasing and inventory control to marketing.

Accepted Answer

Operations management planning involves decisions related to purchasing and inventory control, as well as finding an ideal location and materials requirement planning. It works closely with marketing to ensure optimal production and supply chain management.

Question 17

Today, e-commerce uses social media to make online transactions even easier.

Accepted Answer

E-commerce has increasingly turned to social media to make online transactions easier for customers. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter enable businesses to reach a wider audience, promote their products or services, and engage with customers directly. Social media can also be used for customer service, order tracking, and secure payment methods, making e-commerce transactions more convenient for both businesses and consumers.

Question 18

B&B Brothers Manufacturing typically creates large batches of standardized products used by plumbers, such as pipefittings and valves that must be produced in standard sizes. A continuous production process would work well for B&B.

Accepted Answer

A continuous process is used to produce large batches of a particular product in a long production run.

Question 19

Telecommuting has diminished in popularity as a strategy for linking employees with work.

Accepted Answer

The given statement is not true. Telecommuting has actually increased in popularity, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as it allows employees to work from the safety of their homes while maintaining productivity.

Question 20

Facility layout is the function of operations management that considers the physical arrangement of resources (including people) in the production process.

Accepted Answer

Facility layout is one of the major functions of operations management that focuses on the physical arrangement of equipment, machines, facilities, people, and other resources in the production process. It involves designing an efficient and effective layout that maximizes productivity, minimizes waste, and optimizes the flow of materials, information, and people. A good facility layout can help reduce production costs, improve quality, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Quiz 9: Production and Operations Management

Manufacturing firms that want to minimize time-to-market are likely to choose facility sites that give them easy access to their preferred modes of transportation.

Many state and local governments offer tax incentives and government services to attract businesses.

Facility location is the process of selecting a geographic location for a company's operations.

For many firms, operations management has become an interfirm process.

Some companies will locate their production facilities near their suppliers.

Fuzzy Fabrics, Inc. is a specialty manufacturer that produces custom blankets according to customer specifications. Fuzzy Fabrics should probably use an intermittent process in production.

In making a location decision, businesses seldom consider "quality of life" in various locations, because factors that influence quality of life have little or no impact on profits.

When considering the issue of facility location, it is important to find an isolated location so that work can get done without interruption from customers.

For service-intensive businesses, facility layout is usually designed to centralize the decision-making process.

Online-focused strategies don't affect operations managers since it is not essential for operations managers to negotiate in an interfirm environment.

When it comes to location decisions, labor costs are no longer an important consideration for most manufacturing firms.

The production of a bridge, ship, or large airplane usually involves a variable-position facility layout.

Operations management planning is concerned with finding the ideal location for a business and also with materials requirement planning. It leaves decisions about purchasing and inventory control to marketing.

Today, e-commerce uses social media to make online transactions even easier.

B&B Brothers Manufacturing typically creates large batches of standardized products used by plumbers, such as pipefittings and valves that must be produced in standard sizes. A continuous production process would work well for B&B.

Telecommuting has diminished in popularity as a strategy for linking employees with work.

Facility layout is the function of operations management that considers the physical arrangement of resources (including people) in the production process.