Quiz: Supply Chain Fundamentals and Decision Strategies — 18 domande

1. Which supplier had the highest weighted score in the example?

A. All suppliers had the same score

B. Supplier 2

C. Supplier 3

D. Supplier 1

Answer: (D)

Spiegazione

Supplier 1 had the highest weighted score at 8.155, exceeding Supplier 3 and Supplier 2. The winner in AHP is the alternative with the largest weighted score.

2. What is the main purpose of supply chain management?

A. To keep each function independent to reduce coordination costs

B. To eliminate all intermediaries between suppliers and customers

C. To maximize production volume regardless of demand

D. To coordinate activities across the chain to optimize stakeholder value

Answer: (D)

Spiegazione

Supply chain management is the coordination of activities across the chain to optimize stakeholder value. It is not about eliminating all intermediaries or maximizing output without regard to demand.

3. What is the main goal of aggregate planning in this course?

A. To set consumer prices for each product line

B. To replace all strategic decisions with daily operating rules

C. To determine the best warehouse location for the next decade

D. To balance production capacity with demand forecasts over the intermediate future

Answer: (D)

Spiegazione

Aggregate planning is a tactical process that balances capacity with forecast demand over the intermediate future. It focuses on production quantities and timing, not pricing or long-term network design.

4. What is the correct next step after pairwise comparisons in the Analytic Hierarchy Process?

A. Discard inconsistent comparisons without calculating weights

B. Convert all criteria into binary pass-fail values

C. Normalize the matrix and average the row values to obtain criteria weights

D. Choose the supplier with the highest raw rating on one criterion

Answer: (C)

Spiegazione

In AHP, the pairwise comparison matrix is normalized and row averages are used to derive weights. Those weights are then used in weighted scoring of alternatives.

5. Which plan had the lowest total cost in the comparison?

A. Plan 1 with $60,350

B. Plan 2 with $54,465

C. Plan 1 and Plan 3 tied

D. Plan 3 with $55,209

Answer: (B)

Spiegazione

Plan 2 had the lowest total cost at $54,465, lower than Plan 1 and Plan 3. The comparison table identifies it as the cheapest option.

6. What does subcontracting strategy do when internal production cannot satisfy demand?

A. It lowers demand by offering price discounts

B. It meets excess demand by outsourcing part of the required output

C. It shifts unmet demand into future periods as backorders

D. It keeps the workforce constant and refuses extra orders

Answer: (B)

Spiegazione

Subcontracting covers excess demand by obtaining output from an external supplier. Backordering is a different choice because it carries unmet demand forward.

7. Which sequence lists the major supply chain functions in the order presented?

A. Sourcing and purchasing, transport, inbound storage, production, outbound storage, distribution, sales

B. Transport, sales, sourcing and purchasing, production, inbound storage, outbound storage, distribution

C. Sales, distribution, outbound storage, production, inbound storage, transport, sourcing and purchasing

D. Production, sourcing and purchasing, sales, transport, inbound storage, distribution, outbound storage

Answer: (A)

Spiegazione

The listed sequence matches the main functions described: sourcing and purchasing, transport, storage inbound, production, storage outbound, distribution, and sales. The other orders mix the functions incorrectly.

8. What best describes a supply chain?

A. A pricing system that links customer demand to retail discounts

B. A network of parties that move goods and services while coordinating information and money from raw materials to customers

C. A transport route used only to deliver finished products to stores

D. A single factory that transforms raw materials into finished goods for local sale

Answer: (B)

Spiegazione

A supply chain is defined as a network of parties that coordinate goods/services, information, and money from raw materials to customers. The other options describe only isolated parts of the chain or unrelated concepts.

9. Which statement best describes a chase strategy?

A. It sets production in each period to match that period’s forecasted demand

B. It relies only on subcontracting to meet demand spikes

C. It keeps production rate uniform across the entire planning horizon

D. It ignores forecasted demand and uses historical averages only

Answer: (A)

Spiegazione

A chase strategy adjusts production each period to follow forecast demand. A level strategy is the one that keeps output uniform.

10. In the level-plan scenario, how many workers are required when 50 units per day are needed, labor time is 1.6 hours per unit, and regular time is 8 hours per day?

A. 8 workers

B. 11 workers

C. 10 workers

D. 9 workers

Answer: (C)

Spiegazione

The calculation is 50 × (1.6 / 8) = 10 workers. This is the required workforce for the regular-time level plan.

11. Which flow refers to the exchange of data that supports planning, forecasting, and coordination across supply chain activities?

A. Financial flow

B. Goods and services flow

C. Information flow

D. Reverse logistics flow

Answer: (C)

Spiegazione

Information flow is the exchange of data used for planning, forecasting, and coordination. Goods and services flow is physical movement, while financial flow concerns payments and cash flows.

12. How is a supplier’s overall score obtained in the multicriteria approach?

A. By averaging only the raw cost values across suppliers

B. By multiplying the number of criteria by the supplier rank

C. By combining its performance on each criterion using the criteria weights

D. By using the highest score on one criterion and ignoring the rest

Answer: (C)

Spiegazione

The overall supplier score is a weighted combination of performance across criteria, using the derived criteria weights. This allows multiple factors to influence the ranking.

13. What is the backorder cost in the case study?

A. $45 per unit per month

B. $20 per unit per month

C. $40 per unit per month

D. $2 per unit per month

Answer: (B)

Spiegazione

Backorder cost is given as $20 per unit per month for unmet demand carried forward. The other figures correspond to different costs in the scenario.

14. How is the average production requirement calculated in the planning example?

A. Total expected demand divided by the number of working days

B. Regular hours per day multiplied by labor hours per unit

C. Total inventory divided by forecast demand

D. Hiring cost divided by workforce size

Answer: (A)

Spiegazione

The course uses average production requirement as total expected demand divided by the number of working days. This converts total demand into a daily target.

15. Which set of monthly demands is used in the aggregate planning case study?

A. 500, 450, 600, 400, 550

B. 450, 600, 500, 400, 550

C. 400, 450, 500, 550, 600

D. 450, 500, 600, 550, 400

Answer: (D)

Spiegazione

The case study lists monthly demand units of 450, 500, 600, 550, and 400 for January through May. The other sequences rearrange these values.

16. Which decision is an example of a strategic procurement choice?

A. Scheduling a shift for tomorrow morning

B. Issuing a daily transport route

C. Selecting a supplier and negotiating a contract

D. Counting end-of-day inventory

Answer: (C)

Spiegazione

Strategic procurement includes sourcing choices, supplier selection, and contracting. The other options are tactical or operational actions rather than strategic procurement decisions.

17. Why is a level strategy often preferred in aggregate planning?

A. Because it removes the need for any demand forecasting

B. Because it uses only external suppliers

C. Because it guarantees zero inventory at all times

D. Because a stable workforce can improve commitment and product quality

Answer: (D)

Spiegazione

The level strategy is based on maintaining a stable workforce, which can support commitment and quality. It does not eliminate forecasting or guarantee zero inventory.

18. What does multicriteria decision making mean in supplier selection?

A. Selecting the supplier with the highest advertised market share

B. Ranking options using several criteria rather than a single metric

C. Picking the alternative that performs best on cost alone

D. Choosing the supplier with the lowest shipping distance only

Answer: (B)

Spiegazione

Multicriteria decision making evaluates alternatives using several criteria, such as cost, safety, and flexibility. It is not limited to a single factor like price or distance.