Questions from General Operations Management

Q: You hear someone comment that any inventory is a sign of waste

You hear someone comment that any inventory is a sign of waste. Do you agree or disagree? Can managers simultaneously justify holding inventories and still seek out ways to lower inventory levels?

Q: In your own words, what is an inventory driver? What

In your own words, what is an inventory driver? What is the difference between a controllable inventory driver and an uncontrollable inventory driver? Give examples.

Q: Which of the following are independent demand inventory items? Dependent demand

Which of the following are independent demand inventory items? Dependent demand inventory items? a. Ice cream at McDonalds b. Bicycle seats in a bicycle factory c. An iPhone 6 Plus at an Apple stor...

Q: Early in the chapter, we argued that “no single trend

Early in the chapter, we argued that “no single trend has done more to change the nature of business than the Internet.” Can you think of an example about how the Internet and its resources can be use...

Q: In a supply chain, what are the pros and cons of

In a supply chain, what are the pros and cons of pushing inventory downstream, closer to the final customer? How might modular product designs (Chapter 15) make it more profitable for companies to pos...

Q: The JIT/lean production movement has long argued that firms should

The JIT/lean production movement has long argued that firms should: a. Maximize their process flexibility so that ordering costs are minimized; b. Stabilize demand levels; c. Shrink lead times as m...

Q: What are the benefits of using material requirements planning (MRP)?

What are the benefits of using material requirements planning (MRP)?

Q: Master scheduling, MRP, and DRP have been around for a

Master scheduling, MRP, and DRP have been around for a long time, but too many companies still do an inadequate job of using these tools. How can this be? In particular, what role do you think organiz...

Q: What are the benefits of having a formal master scheduling process?

What are the benefits of having a formal master scheduling process? What could happen to firms that don’t follow some of the basic rules of master scheduling?

Q: Explain in your own words how tools such as master scheduling,

Explain in your own words how tools such as master scheduling, MRP, and DRP can be used to coordinate activity up and down a supply chain. For example, what information might we share with our custome...