Question 1

Which one of the following is NOT a typical objective of production and staffing plans?
A) maximize customer service
B) minimize changes in workforce levels
C) minimize costs
D) minimize equipment utilization

Accepted Answer

Minimizing equipment utilization is not a typical objective; usually, the goal is to maximize or optimize equipment utilization to improve efficiency and productivity.

Question 2

Which one of the following statements are TRUE?
A) The progress chart graphically displays the days each employee is on duty.
B) Gantt charts are tools that determine the optimal schedule of jobs in a job shop.
C) Gantt charts only display the ideal use (planned schedules) of resources over time because the actual use is too variable.
D) The machine chart is a visual tool useful for determining the consequence of schedule changes on a trial- and- error basis.

Accepted Answer

The machine chart is indeed a visual tool that helps in assessing the impact of schedule changes, often used in a trial-and-error manner.

Question 3

Table 12.3
Bluebird University provides tutoring services for undergraduate students seven days a week. The daily requirements for
tutors are:
$\begin{array} { | r | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } 
\hline \text { Day } & \mathrm { M } & \mathrm { T } & \mathrm { W } & \mathrm { TH } & \mathrm { F } & \mathrm { S } & \mathrm { SU } \
\hline \text { Requirement } & 5 & 4 & 7 & 3 & 6 & 3 & 3 \
\hline
\end{array}$
Each tutor works five days a week and must have two consecutive days off, according to the contract.
-Use the information in Table 12.3. What is the minimum number of tutors required if preference is given to the pair S- Su in case of a tie in the selection off days?
A) less than 7
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9

Accepted Answer

The minimum number of tutors required is 7. This is because the requirement for tutors on Saturday and Sunday is 3, and each tutor works five days a week. Therefore, at least 3 tutors are needed to cover Saturday and Sunday. The remaining 4 tutors can be scheduled to cover the other days of the week.

Question 4

Table 12.1
Gable Express Co. provides delivery service seven days a week.
The daily requirements (in workers) are estimated as follows:
$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } 
\hline \text { Day } & \mathrm { M } & \mathrm { T } & \mathrm { W } & \mathrm { TH } & \mathrm { F } & \mathrm { S } & \mathrm { SU } \
\hline \text { Requirement } & 8 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 7 & 3 & 3 \
\hline
\end{array}$
Each worker is required to work five days per week,
and each must have two consecutive days off.
-Use the information in Table 12.1. What is the minimum number of workers required if preference is given to the pair S- Su in case of a tie in the selection of off days?
A) less than 8 workers
B) 8 workers
C) 9 workers
D) greater than 9 workers

Accepted Answer

The minimum number of workers required is 8. This is because each worker must work five days per week, and each must have two consecutive days off. The only way to satisfy these requirements is to have two workers who work M-F and two workers who work S-Su.

Question 5

Which one of the following approaches for scheduling customer demand would be appropriate for a fancy hotel?
A) backlogs
B) reservations
C) service on demand
D) appointments

Accepted Answer

Reservations would be the most appropriate approach for scheduling customer demand in a fancy hotel as it allows the hotel to plan and allocate resources in advance, ensuring that the guests receive the service they desire in a timely and efficient manner. This approach also provides the guests with the assurance that their needs will be met and enhances their overall experience at the hotel.

Question 6

Which one of the following conditions can make a level strategy the most attractive?
A) The shelf life of the goods being produced is limited.
B) Inventory holding costs are high.
C) The cost of changing the workforce levels is low.
D) Products complementary to the existing products can be produced easily with the given facilities.

Accepted Answer

A level strategy is attractive when products complementary to existing ones can be produced easily, as it allows for stable production levels and efficient use of resources without frequent changes in workforce or production rates.

Question 7

Which one of the following statements concerning aggregate planning alternatives is best?
A) Creating anticipation inventory has the advantage of increasing customization.
B) Building anticipation inventory during the slack season is a demand alternative a firm can follow to satisfy seasonal demand patterns.
C) Using overtime is an undesirable option when the overtime wage premium is high and sustained levels of top worker productivity are important.
D) Adjusting workforce levels is an attractive capacity alternative when the cost of training and unemployment compensation is high.

Accepted Answer

Using overtime is undesirable when the overtime wage premium is high and maintaining top worker productivity is crucial, as it can lead to increased costs and decreased efficiency.

Question 8

The meaning of undertime is
A) employees work as usual, but they are paid at a lower rate.
B) employees work more than normal hours, but they are not compensated.
C) employees don't work productively for the number of hours that they normally do.
D) the workweek of some employees is permanently reduced.

Accepted Answer

Undertime refers to the situation where employees do not work productively for the full number of hours that they are scheduled to work.

Question 9

Table 12.2
The daily requirements for highway patrol officers at Park City over the week are:
$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } 
\hline \text { Day } & \mathrm { M } & \mathrm { T } & \mathrm { W } & \mathrm { TH } & \mathrm { F } & \mathrm { S } & \mathrm { SU } \
\hline \text { Requirement } & 11 & 9 & 6 & 7 & 5 & 3 & 2 \
\hline
\end{array}$
Each officer works five days a week and must have two consecutive days off.
-Use the information in Table 12.2. What is the minimum number of officers required if preference is given to the pair S- Su in case of a tie in the selection of off days?
A) 9
B) 10
C) 11
D) 12

Accepted Answer

To cover the highest daily requirement of 11 officers on Monday, at least 11 officers are needed. With the preference for S-Su off days, the schedule can be arranged to meet all daily requirements.

Question 10

Table 12.2
The daily requirements for highway patrol officers at Park City over the week are:
$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } 
\hline \text { Day } & \mathrm { M } & \mathrm { T } & \mathrm { W } & \mathrm { TH } & \mathrm { F } & \mathrm { S } & \mathrm { SU } \
\hline \text { Requirement } & 11 & 9 & 6 & 7 & 5 & 3 & 2 \
\hline
\end{array}$
Each officer works five days a week and must have two consecutive days off.
-Use the information in Table 12.2. How much total slack is generated from the schedule?
A) less than 9 days
B) 10 days
C) 11 days
D) greater than 11 days

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 12.2
The daily requirements for highway patrol...

Question 11

Which one of the following statements concerning production and staffing plans is best?
A) Production plans are based primarily on information from the master production plan.
B) A master production schedule is a projected statement of income, costs, and profits.
C) A staffing plan is the intermediate link between the business plan and the master production schedule.
D) Aggregation can be performed along three dimensions: product families, labor, and time.

Accepted Answer

Aggregation in production and staffing plans involves grouping products, labor, and time to simplify planning and decision-making processes.

Question 12

Which one of the following statements concerning capacity alternatives is best?
A) Subcontracting can help overcome short- term capacity shortages by offloading work on other producers.
B) Using overtime capacity usually improves worker productivity.
C) Adjusting workforce levels is preferred when the workforce is skilled and the labor pool is small.
D) Creating anticipation inventory increases customization, and is particularly favored in the service industry.

Accepted Answer

Subcontracting is a viable strategy to manage short-term capacity shortages by allowing a company to offload excess work to other producers, thus maintaining production levels without the need for immediate internal capacity expansion.

Question 13

With a rotating schedule
A) employees switch workdays or hours on a periodic basis.
B) each employee chooses the schedule he/she wants each week and is not required to change unless they want to.
C) the supervisor must switch an employee's work schedule on demand, thereby changing the schedules of other employees.
D) employees work the same days and hours each week but rotate tasks.

Accepted Answer

In a rotating schedule, employees switch workdays or hours on a periodic basis, allowing for varied work times and days.

Question 14

Which one of the following statements about aggregate planning is best?
A) A production plan generally focuses on production rates and inventory holdings, whereas a staffing plan focuses on staffing and other labor- related factors.
B) A level strategy stabilizes inventory levels by adjusting production rates or staff levels to match demand levels over the planning horizon.
C) Capacity alternatives are actions that adjust demand patterns.
D) Operations and marketing are the only two functional areas that supply inputs for developing production and staffing plans.

Accepted Answer

A production plan focuses on production rates and inventory holdings, while a staffing plan focuses on staffing and labor-related factors.

Question 15

Which one of the following conditions favors a level strategy for manufacturing firms?
A) high availability of workers
B) high inventory holding cost
C) highly automated equipment and a make- to- stock strategy
D) short shelf life of inventory

Accepted Answer

A level strategy is favored when there is highly automated equipment and a make-to-stock strategy, as it allows for consistent production rates and inventory levels to meet steady demand.

Question 16

Which one of the following is a demand alternative for aggregate planning?
A) Use subcontracting to overcome short- term capacity shortages.
B) Use overtime and undertime to change workforce levels.
C) Offer complementary products or services with contra- cyclical demand requirements.
D) Use seasonal inventories to buffer the manufacturing process from variations in customer demand.

Accepted Answer

Offering complementary products or services with contra-cyclical demand requirements is a demand alternative, as it aims to influence or manage demand patterns rather than adjusting production capacity or workforce levels.

Question 17

Which one of the following actions applies to a level strategy?
A) Use promotional campaigns to boost demand.
B) Decrease production output to match any decreases in demand requirements.
C) Build anticipation inventory to meet the variability in demand.
D) Hire workers to increase production output to match increases in demand requirements.

Accepted Answer

A level strategy involves maintaining a constant production rate and using inventory to absorb fluctuations in demand, which aligns with building anticipation inventory.

Question 18

Which one of the following statements about managerial inputs to production and staffing plans is best?
A) Accounting and finance provide forecasts of demand and competition behaviour.
B) Materials provide supplier capabilities.
C) Human resources provide plans for future equipment capacities.
D) Operations provide training capacity.

Accepted Answer

Materials management typically provides information about supplier capabilities, which is crucial for production and staffing plans.

Question 19

Which one of the following statements about costs of aggregate plans is best?
A) Hiring costs include the costs of advertising jobs, interviews, training programs for new employees, and initial paperwork.
B) Overtime wages are typically 50 percent of regular time, exclusive of fringe benefits.
C) Fringe benefits, which are a part of regular- time costs, do not typically include health insurance and paid vacations.
D) The cost of capital is not generally included in the inventory holding cost.

Accepted Answer

Hiring costs encompass various expenses such as advertising, interviews, training, and paperwork for new employees.

Question 20

A TV repair service company has a seasonal demand for its service, and there is a general shortage of skilled TV repair persons. Which one of the following is a capacity production planning alternative suitable for this situation?
A) Build anticipation inventories.
B) Increase the backlog for short- term demand surges.
C) Offer reduced prices during the slack season.
D) Hire and lay off workers to match the demand requirements.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A TV repair service company has a...

Quiz 12: Operations Planning and Scheduling

Which one of the following is NOT a typical objective of production and staffing plans?

Which one of the following statements are TRUE?

Which one of the following approaches for scheduling customer demand would be appropriate for a fancy hotel?

Which one of the following conditions can make a level strategy the most attractive?

Which one of the following statements concerning aggregate planning alternatives is best?

The meaning of undertime is

Which one of the following statements concerning production and staffing plans is best?

Which one of the following statements concerning capacity alternatives is best?

With a rotating schedule

Which one of the following statements about aggregate planning is best?

Which one of the following conditions favors a level strategy for manufacturing firms?

Which one of the following is a demand alternative for aggregate planning?

Which one of the following actions applies to a level strategy?

Which one of the following statements about managerial inputs to production and staffing plans is best?

Which one of the following statements about costs of aggregate plans is best?

A TV repair service company has a seasonal demand for its service, and there is a general shortage of skilled TV repair persons. Which one of the following is a capacity production planning alternative suitable for this situation?