Question 1

A ________ diagrams steps to be performed and specifies the time required to complete each step.
A) master production schedule
B) Gantt chart
C) PERT chart
D) materials requirement planning document
E) methods improvement system

Accepted Answer

A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart used to illustrate a project schedule. It lists the activities or tasks to be performed on the left-hand side of the chart with the time interval for the completion of each task specified on the right-hand side. This makes it easy to see the duration of each task and the overall timeline of the project.

Question 2

Ed's job responsibilities include the receiving, storing, handling, and counting of all raw materials. He is probably in the ________ function.
A) inventory control
B) transportation
C) quality control
D) warehousing
E) purchasing

Accepted Answer

Ed is responsible for the receiving, storing, handling, and counting of all raw materials, which falls under the inventory control function. This function is concerned with managing the flow of materials through a business, from raw materials to finished products, to ensure that there is always enough inventory on hand to meet customer demand while minimizing storage and handling costs.

Question 3

What is the meaning of "operations control"?
A) Planning and organizing the flow of materials
B) Purchasing the right raw materials, in the right quantity, at the right price, and at the right time
C) Checking to ensure that production decisions are being implemented
D) Stocking items needed for production that are themselves produced within the firm
E) Monitoring production performance by comparing results with plans and schedules

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the meaning of "operations control"?
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Question 4

Once plans identify needed resources and how they will be used to reach a firm's goals, managers must develop timetables for acquiring resources for production. This aspect of operations is called
A) resourcing.
B) planning.
C) timing.
D) controlling.
E) scheduling.

Accepted Answer

Scheduling is the process of developing a timetable for acquiring resources and producing goods or services. It involves determining the order of production, the time required for each activity, and the resources needed at each step. Scheduling is a key component of operations management as it ensures that resources are acquired and used efficiently to meet production goals.

Question 5

Nissan, Toyota, and Honda now build several different models of cars using the same basic "platform." This is an example of
A) process layout.
B) soft manufacturing.
C) flexible manufacturing systems.
D) the movable factory.
E) quality control.

Accepted Answer

Flexible manufacturing systems allow for the production of multiple products using the same equipment and processes. The use of a shared platform allows for cost savings and efficiency in production for companies like Nissan, Toyota, and Honda.

Question 6

The schedule that shows which products will be produced, when production will occur, and what resources will be used during specified time frames is called a(n)
A) inventory control schedule.
B) master production schedule.
C) control chart.
D) short-term detailed production schedule.
E) material requirements plan.

Accepted Answer

The description given in the question matches the definition of a master production schedule. The other options do not match the given description accurately.

Question 7

John's job responsibilities include the acquisition of all the raw materials and services that the company needs to produce its products. He is most likely in the ________ function.
A) warehousing
B) transportation
C) quality control
D) inventory control
E) purchasing

Accepted Answer

John is responsible for acquiring raw materials and services for the company, which falls under the purchasing function. Warehousing involves managing and storing inventory, transportation involves moving goods, quality control involves ensuring the products meet standards, and inventory control involves managing the amount of inventory on hand.

Question 8

In a custom cake bakery, blending of ingredients is done in the mixing area, baking occurs in the oven area, and decorations are applied in the finishing area. This is an example of which layout?
A) FMS
B) Customer
C) Process
D) Fixed-position
E) Product

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a process layout, where similar processes or activities are grouped together. In this case, blending of ingredients is done in the mixing area, baking occurs in the oven area, and decorations are applied in the finishing area.

Question 9

Planning, organizing, and controlling the flow of materials from design through distribution of finished goods is
A) quality control.
B) material requirements planning.
C) statistical process control.
D) materials management.
E) inventory planning and control.

Accepted Answer

Materials management involves the planning, organizing, and controlling of the flow of materials from design through distribution of finished goods. It includes activities such as inventory planning and control, material requirements planning, and quality control. Statistical process control is a technique used to monitor and control a process through the use of statistical methods. So, option D is the best choice as it directly relates to the given context.

Question 10

The layout that simplifies work tasks and uses unskilled labour is the ________ layout.
A) customer
B) process
C) product
D) quality control
E) fixed-position

Accepted Answer

The product layout, also known as the assembly line, is designed to simplify work tasks and is efficient for using unskilled labor. It organizes resources based on the sequence of production operations, allowing for specialized tasks that require minimal skill.

Question 11

What is the difference between soft manufacturing and flexible manufacturing?
A) Soft manufacturing emphasizes smaller groups of machines than flexible manufacturing does.
B) Flexible manufacturing has been shown to be more effective than soft manufacturing.
C) Soft manufacturing is based on the idea that machines can generally do better work than humans, while flexible manufacturing is based on the opposite assumption.
D) Flexible manufacturing emphasizes efficiency, while soft manufacturing emphasizes effectiveness.
E) There are no differences between the two concepts.

Accepted Answer

Soft manufacturing emphasizes smaller groups of machines, focusing on adaptability and efficiency in smaller setups, whereas flexible manufacturing involves larger systems that can be reconfigured for different tasks.

Question 12

What does a just-in-time production system attempt to accomplish?
A) Materials and parts needed at each production step are brought together at the right time
B) Attempts to control the overall production process
C) Shows when production must be completed to satisfy consumer demand just-in-time
D) Shows the critical path where production problems will be the most damaging to the schedule
E) Breaks down the production process into steps necessary for completion

Accepted Answer

A just-in-time production system attempts to bring together the necessary materials and parts at the right time for each production step, reducing waste and improving efficiency. The other choices do not accurately describe the purpose of a just-in-time production system.

Question 13

The main advantage of process layouts is
A) speed.
B) flexibility.
C) low cost.
D) high employee morale.
E) efficiency.

Accepted Answer

The main advantage of process layouts is their flexibility to handle a variety of products or services, which allows for efficient use of resources and easy adaptation to changes in demand or product mix. The other options listed are not necessarily associated with process layouts as a primary advantage.

Question 14

Tom is concerned with the storage of both incoming materials for production and finished goods for distribution to customers. Tom's job is in the ________ area.
A) inventory control
B) purchasing
C) transportation
D) warehousing
E) quality control

Accepted Answer

Tom's concern with storage of both incoming materials and finished goods as well as distribution to customers indicates that his job is in the warehousing area of the business. Inventory control and quality control are related to the management of stock levels and the quality of goods, respectively. Purchasing and transportation are concerned with the procurement of materials and the logistics involved in getting products from one place to another.

Question 15

A fixed position layout
A) Is generally superior to a same-steps layout.
B) Is used when the product remains in one place and the necessary equipment is moved to that place.
C) Is used when the service must come to the customer, not the other way around.
D) can be used only in the manufacturing of physical products.
E) all of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

A fixed position layout is used when the product remains in one place and the necessary equipment is moved to that place. This type of layout is commonly used in construction projects, shipbuilding, and aircraft manufacturing.

Question 16

The typical layout in automobile, food-processing, and computer assembly plants is the ________ layout.
A) product
B) fixed-position
C) process
D) customer
E) none of these

Accepted Answer

The typical layout in automobile, food-processing, and computer assembly plants is the product layout, designed for the mass production of products manufactured in a sequential manner.

Question 17

What is the difference between a Gantt chart and a PERT chart?
A) Gantt charts are used for planning service activities, while PERT charts are used for planning production activities.
B) PERT charts show the critical path for meeting project goals, but Gantt charts do not.
C) Gantt charts focus more on efficiency, while PERT charts focus more on effectiveness.
D) PERT charts were formerly used more widely than Gantt charts, but the reverse is now true.
E) There actually is no difference between Gantt charts and PERT charts; they are both used to schedule activities.

Accepted Answer

The main difference between a Gantt chart and a PERT chart is that PERT charts show the critical path for meeting project goals, while Gantt charts do not. Gantt charts focus on the timeline and scheduling of tasks, while PERT charts focus on the interdependencies between tasks and determining the minimum time needed to complete a project.

Question 18

Betty is a production supervisor in a leather goods factory. Her main responsibility is operations control. Betty would probably be most concerned with
A) determining what products to produce.
B) deciding how to produce products.
C) deciding on product pricing.
D) ensuring that production plans or schedules are met.
E) deciding where to produce the products.

Accepted Answer

As a production supervisor, Betty's main responsibility is operations control, which includes ensuring that production plans or schedules are met. Therefore, she would be most concerned with making sure that production runs smoothly and that targets are being met. While decisions regarding what products to produce, how to produce them, and where to produce them are important, they would typically fall outside of Betty's specific job responsibilities. Pricing decisions may also be important, but they would typically be made at a higher level in the organization.

Question 19

A product layout is
A) a spatial arrangement of production activities designed to make one type of product in a fixed sequence.
B) a spatial arrangement of production activities that groups equipment and people according to function.
C) a method for analyzing a service by showing the flow of processes that constitutes it.
D) a spatial arrangement of production facilities designed to move families of products through similar flow paths.
E) a production system in which a single factory uses automation to produce a wide variety of products.

Accepted Answer

A product layout refers to arranging production activities in a fixed sequence to produce a specific type of product. This layout is useful for companies that produce large volumes of the same product, such as automobile assembly lines, where each station is arranged for a particular task in the assembly process.

Question 20

All of the following are characteristics of soft manufacturing except
A) emphasis on computer software and computer networks.
B) automation is used only for highly repetitive tasks.
C) robots play a supporting role in the manufacturing process.
D) it allows for customizability of the end product.
E) focus on production machines.

Accepted Answer

Soft manufacturing does not focus on production machines, but rather on computer software and computer networks, as well as customization of the end product. Robots may play a supporting role, but automation is not limited to highly repetitive tasks.

Quiz 10: Operations Management, Productivity, and Quality

A ________ diagrams steps to be performed and specifies the time required to complete each step.

Ed's job responsibilities include the receiving, storing, handling, and counting of all raw materials. He is probably in the ________ function.

What is the meaning of "operations control"?

Once plans identify needed resources and how they will be used to reach a firm's goals, managers must develop timetables for acquiring resources for production. This aspect of operations is called

Nissan, Toyota, and Honda now build several different models of cars using the same basic "platform." This is an example of

The schedule that shows which products will be produced, when production will occur, and what resources will be used during specified time frames is called a(n)

John's job responsibilities include the acquisition of all the raw materials and services that the company needs to produce its products. He is most likely in the ________ function.

In a custom cake bakery, blending of ingredients is done in the mixing area, baking occurs in the oven area, and decorations are applied in the finishing area. This is an example of which layout?

Planning, organizing, and controlling the flow of materials from design through distribution of finished goods is

The layout that simplifies work tasks and uses unskilled labour is the ________ layout.

What is the difference between soft manufacturing and flexible manufacturing?

What does a just-in-time production system attempt to accomplish?

The main advantage of process layouts is

Tom is concerned with the storage of both incoming materials for production and finished goods for distribution to customers. Tom's job is in the ________ area.

A fixed position layout

The typical layout in automobile, food-processing, and computer assembly plants is the ________ layout.

What is the difference between a Gantt chart and a PERT chart?

Betty is a production supervisor in a leather goods factory. Her main responsibility is operations control. Betty would probably be most concerned with

A product layout is

All of the following are characteristics of soft manufacturing except