Question 1

Frolichstein Fabrics promotes itself as a specialty manufacturer that will produce according to customer specifications. This firm will probably be best served by using an intermittent process in production.

Accepted Answer

Since Frolichstein Fabrics is producing according to customer specifications, their production needs are likely to be varied and unpredictable. Therefore, an intermittent process would allow them to handle custom orders with greater flexibility and efficiency.

Question 2

Chinese companies use so many robots in its manufacturing sector that it may soon become the world's largest robot market.

Accepted Answer

According to a report by the International Federation of Robotics, China is on track to becoming the world's largest market for industrial robots by 2020. Chinese companies are increasing investment in automation and robotics to improve efficiency and productivity in their manufacturing sector.

Question 3

Featured Furnishings is a company that specializes in producing custom-made furniture. A continuous production process would be the most efficient way for Featured Furnishings to produce its products.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Featured Furnishings is a company that specializes...

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

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

Manufacturing firms need to minimize time-to-market, so they are likely to choose facility sites that give them easy access to their preferred modes of transportation, whether it is road, rail, air, or sea. This will help them quickly move their products to their target markets.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Many state and local governments offer tax incentives (such as tax breaks or reductions) and government services (such as assistance with site selection, permitting, and workforce development) to attract businesses to their region. These measures are intended to stimulate economic development and create jobs.

Question 7

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 since it can affect their ability to attract and retain employees, which can ultimately impact profits. Additionally, a location with a high quality of life can attract a more affluent and loyal customer base.

Question 8

Trace and Tim own a company that rehabs old houses. Prior to buying a house, they use software to create and design the renovation of each room. The program provides them with an estimation of how much of each kind of material is needed, and the orderly progression of tasks that need to be completed. Trace and Tim use computer-aided design.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that Trace and Tim use software to create and design the renovation of each room, which is computer-aided design. The software also provides them with material estimations and task progressions.

Question 9

Computers and robots are only useful in continuous production processes where the same type of product is produced many times.

Accepted Answer

Computers and robots can also be programmed to adapt to different production processes and produce different types of products, making them useful in a variety of manufacturing industries.

Question 10

J&R Industries typically produces very 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 J&R.

Accepted Answer

Since J&R Industries produces standardized products in large batches, a continuous production process would be efficient as it allows for a steady flow of production without interruptions.

Question 11

Alice's Cookie Company makes a variety of cookies for corporate accounts and restaurants. On a good day, the orders can range from 600 to 800 cookies, with a variety of uniqueness, although the company is known 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 to make those cookies the light golden color they are known for across town. Refrigeration is also computer controlled. Alice's Cookie Company embraces flexible manufacturing and mass customization.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that the company can quickly change the cookie cutting machine and that the ovens and refrigeration are computer-controlled, indicating that they embrace flexible manufacturing and mass customization.

Question 12

The Internet is a very popular place to locate your business today.

Accepted Answer

The Internet has become a crucial platform for businesses to market and promote their products or services, as well as connect with their customers. Therefore, it is indeed a popular place for businesses to locate themselves in today's economy.

Question 13

The Cooldaze Ice Company compresses carbon dioxide and cools it to a very low temperature to make dry ice. The method used by Cooldaze is an example of process manufacturing.

Accepted Answer

Process manufacturing involves using a recipe or formula to create a product through a set of standardized processes. In this case, Cooldaze uses a specific process to create dry ice, which falls under the category of process manufacturing.

Question 14

Although lean manufacturing attempts to reduce the amount of labor used in the manufacturing process, it typically does so by increasing the amount of most of the other resources used in the production process.

Accepted Answer

Lean manufacturing aims to eliminate waste and increase efficiency, which may lead to a reduction in labor, but it also seeks to optimize the use of all resources, including materials and equipment. Thus, it does not necessarily increase the use of most other resources, as stated in the statement.

Question 15

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

When considering facility location, it may be important to balance isolation with accessibility for customers or suppliers, depending on the type of business.

Question 16

Some companies will locate their production facilities near their suppliers.

Accepted Answer

Some companies choose to locate their production facilities near their suppliers in order to reduce transportation costs and improve supply chain efficiency. This is known as a "cluster" or "agglomeration" strategy.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Labor costs are still an important consideration for most manufacturing firms when making location decisions. Although advancements in automation and technology have reduced the overall reliance on human labor, it remains a significant factor in determining the competitiveness and profitability of a manufacturing operation. Other factors, such as access to raw materials, transportation infrastructure, and government regulations, also play a critical role in location decisions.

Question 18

Land, labor, capital, and knowledge are inputs into the production process.

Accepted Answer

Land, labor, capital, and knowledge are known as the four factors of production, which are essential inputs in the production process.

Question 19

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 is responsible for purchasing and inventory control decisions as well as finding the ideal location and materials requirement planning.

Question 20

SeatBelts Unlimited, Inc., is located about 8 miles from two major auto assembly plants. The firm delivers seatbelts about every two hours to each of the plants. The assembly plants only accept the number of seatbelts that they will assemble into cars during the next two hours after delivery. The auto plants embrace lean manufacturing.

Accepted Answer

The fact that the auto plants only accept the number of seatbelts they will use in the next two hours after delivery indicates that they embrace just-in-time inventory management, which is a key aspect of lean manufacturing.

Quiz 9: Production and Operations Management