Question 1

Scheduling problems occur almost exclusively in manufacturing.

Accepted Answer

Scheduling problems can occur in a variety of industries, not just manufacturing. They can be found in transportation, healthcare, hospitality, and many other fields.

Question 2

Scheduling refers to determining the order in which jobs or tasks are processed.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

For a single processor, a first-come, first-served (FCFS) rule minimizes the average flow time because customer waiting time will be minimized.

Accepted Answer

The FCFS rule does not necessarily minimize the average flow time; it simply processes tasks in the order they arrive, which can lead to suboptimal scheduling and longer average flow times compared to other scheduling algorithms like Shortest Job First (SJF).

Question 4

The makespan is the sum of flow times of a given set of jobs.

Accepted Answer

The makespan is the time taken to complete all the jobs in a given set, not the sum of flow times.

Question 5

The EDD rule minimizes the maximum of jobs past due but doesn't perform well on average flow-time, WIP inventory or resource utilization.

Accepted Answer

The Earliest Due Date (EDD) rule focuses on minimizing the maximum lateness of jobs, which can lead to suboptimal performance in terms of average flow-time, work-in-progress (WIP) inventory, and resource utilization.

Question 6

In sequencing a set of jobs on a single processor, different sequences will have different makespans but the same average flow times.

Accepted Answer

Different sequences will have different average flow times, while the same sequence will have the same make span but a different average flow time. Therefore, the statement is false.

Question 7

The shortest processing time rule and earliest due date rule will always provide the same sequence.

Accepted Answer

The shortest processing time rule and earliest due date rule could provide different sequences. The shortest processing time rule prioritizes the jobs with the shortest processing time first, while the earliest due date rule prioritizes the jobs with the earliest due date first. Depending on the specific jobs' processing times and due dates, the two rules could provide different sequences.

Question 8

A lateness measure can only be 0 or a positive number.

Accepted Answer

A lateness measure can be negative if a task is completed before its due date.

Question 9

Telling an umpire crew to work baseball games in Chicago, then Milwaukee, and then Cleveland is an example of a sequence.

Accepted Answer

The sequence is the order in which the umpire crew should work the games, starting in Chicago, then moving to Milwaukee, and finally to Cleveland.

Question 10

The SPT sequencing rule will maximize the average flow time.

Accepted Answer

The Shortest Processing Time (SPT) sequencing rule minimizes the average flow time, not maximizes it, by processing jobs with the shortest duration first.

Question 11

Flow time is the amount of time a job spends in a shop or factory.

Accepted Answer

Flow time is defined as the total time a job spends in a shop or factory from the moment it enters until the moment it exits. It includes both processing time and any waiting or idle time that may occur in-between operations.

Question 12

In practice, whenever processing times of a set of jobs are about equal, managers typically use a first-come, first-serve rule.

Accepted Answer

When processing times of a set of jobs are about equal, managers usually use a first-come, first-serve rule as it is simple and fair.

Question 13

A tardiness measure can be either zero (0) or a positive number.

Accepted Answer

This is true because tardiness cannot be negative. It is measured based on how late someone is, which is always a non-negative number.

Question 14

Indirectly, appointments reduce the cost of providing a service because the service provider is idle less each workday.

Accepted Answer

Appointments help service providers to plan their workday efficiently and reduce downtime, ultimately reducing costs.

Question 15

High flow times reduce WIP inventory.

Accepted Answer

High flow times typically increase WIP (Work In Progress) inventory because products spend more time in the production process, leading to a buildup of inventory.

Question 16

Sequencing is not as much of a concern when several activities use a common resource.

Accepted Answer

Sequencing is crucial when several activities use a common resource to avoid conflicts and ensure efficient use of the resource.

Question 17

Tardiness measures the amount of time by which the completion time exceeds the due date.

Accepted Answer

Tardiness is the amount of time by which the completion time exceeds the due date.

Question 18

Since all jobs eventually get done, job sequencing has no effect on resource utilization.

Accepted Answer

Job sequencing can have a significant impact on resource utilization. If jobs are sequenced inefficiently, resources can be tied up for longer periods of time and may not be available when needed for other tasks. For example, if a high-priority job is scheduled after several lower-priority jobs, resources may be occupied for longer than necessary, delaying the completion of the important task. Efficient job sequencing can help optimize resource utilization and improve overall productivity.

Question 19

Appointments can be viewed as a reservation of service time and capacity.

Accepted Answer

An appointment is a scheduled time where a service is reserved for a specific individual or group, and the service provider sets aside the appropriate amount of time and resources to fulfill that reservation. Therefore, appointments can be viewed as a reservation of service time and capacity.

Question 20

Scheduling and sequencing methods used in manufacturing are more beneficial in low-contact, than high-contact, service processes.

Accepted Answer

Scheduling and sequencing methods are more effective in manufacturing processes as compared to high-contact service processes like healthcare or hospitality where the priority is given to customer satisfaction and personal attention. In high-contact services, the priority is given to accommodating customer requests rather than adhering strictly to a production schedule.

Quiz 14: Operations Scheduling and Sequencing