Questions from General Operations Management

Q: What is the difference between an information flow and an information system

What is the difference between an information flow and an information system? Do information systems always have to be computerized? Why?

Q: Consider Figure 12S.1. Some people have argued that companies

Consider Figure 12S.1. Some people have argued that companies need to put in place information systems that address routine decision making and transactional requirements prior to tackling higher-leve...

Q: Go to the Web and see if you can find out the

Go to the Web and see if you can find out the mission statement of a logistics and supply chain related company. From the said mission statement, can you find out why the organization exists? What ar...

Q: One of your friends asks you about the difference between necessary transportation

One of your friends asks you about the difference between necessary transportation and unnecessary transportation, based on the lean perspective on waste. Can you explain what they are? Illustrate you...

Q: Even though waiting is a form of waste, does it always

Even though waiting is a form of waste, does it always make sense to eliminate it? (Hint: Recall our discussion of waiting line theory in Chapter 6, and the relationship between resource levels and w...

Q: Comment on the relationship between quality management (Chapter 5) and

Comment on the relationship between quality management (Chapter 5) and Lean. Are they the same thing, or are there some differences?

Q: We noted in the chapter that kanban is not a planning tool

We noted in the chapter that kanban is not a planning tool but a control mechanism. What did we mean by that? How does the MRP/kanban example in Example 13.4 illustrate the point?

Q: In what ways might a firm’s suppliers improve or undermine the firm’s

In what ways might a firm’s suppliers improve or undermine the firm’s Lean efforts? Can you think of any examples from the chapter that illustrate this idea?

Q: Visit the Web site for the Project Management Institute, at www

Visit the Web site for the Project Management Institute, at www.pmi.org. What types of educational material are available for project managers? What types of professional certification programs are av...

Q: In what businesses would you expect project management skills to be most

In what businesses would you expect project management skills to be most important? In what businesses would you expect them to be least important?