ISDS 3115 - EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE WOOSLEY LSU QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST
UPDATE 2026
TQM (Total Quality Management) - Answers A company-wide philosophy focused on continuous
improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee involvement in achieving quality at every level.
Who is responsible for quality? - Answers Everyone in the organization—from top management to
front-line employees.
Who is responsible for developing the culture of quality? - Answers Top management sets the tone
and leads by example to create a culture of quality.
Who must understand and use TQM tools? - Answers All employees, especially managers and
supervisors, must understand and apply TQM tools to improve processes.
What are the definitions of quality? - Answers Quality can mean meeting customer expectations,
conformance to specifications, or fitness for use.
Main types of control charts - Answers X-bar, R, p, and c charts are used to monitor different types of
variation in processes over time.
What does the X-bar chart track? - Answers It tracks process averages using constants z and A₂.
What does the R-chart track? - Answers It tracks process variability using constants D₃ and D₄.
What is a p-chart used for? - Answers Monitoring the proportion or percentage of defective units.
What is a c-chart used for? - Answers Monitoring the count of defects per unit.
Difference between variable and attribute charts - Answers Variable charts measure continuous data
(like weight or diameter), while attribute charts count discrete data (like defects or errors).
How are control charts developed and used? - Answers They are developed using sample data to
calculate control limits and are used to detect changes or abnormalities in processes.
What does it mean to be statistically out of control? - Answers When data points fall outside control
limits or show non-random patterns, indicating special causes of variation.
Types of variation - Answers Common cause (natural) variation and special cause (assignable)
variation.
Relationship between being statistically in control but having patterns - Answers The process may still
show trends or cycles that suggest non-random variation even if it's within limits.
Relationship between being statistically in control and design specifications - Answers A process can
be in control but still not meet design specs if its limits don't align with required tolerances.
Factors affecting location decisions - Answers Country: political stability, laws, culture. Regional: labor
costs, climate, proximity to markets. Site: transportation, utilities, community environment.
Factors that differ for manufacturing, retail, and service companies - Answers Manufacturing focuses
on cost and logistics, retail on customer access, and services on proximity to clients.
What makes a good facility layout? - Answers Efficient flow of materials, reduced movement, safety,
flexibility, and worker satisfaction.
Characteristics of process-focused vs. product-focused layouts - Answers Process-focused: organized
by function, flexible, low volume. Product-focused: organized by sequence, efficient, high volume.
How is the load-distance technique used to design facilities? - Answers It helps minimize total travel
distance by evaluating the flow between departments.
Factors affecting make-or-buy decisions - Answers Cost, expertise, capacity, quality control, and
strategic importance.
Effect of better supply chain management - Answers Increases efficiency, reduces costs, improves
customer satisfaction, and enhances competitiveness.
What is integration in supply chain management? - Answers Coordinating all activities across the
supply chain for smooth information and material flow.
What is the bullwhip effect? - Answers Small demand changes cause large swings in inventory up the
supply chain.
How can a company effectively manage its supply chain? - Answers Through collaboration,
information sharing, inventory control, and strong supplier relationships.
Relationship between TQM, Lean Production, and JIT - Answers All focus on efficiency, continuous
improvement, and eliminating waste.
Difference between pull and push systems - Answers Pull produces based on demand; push produces
based on forecasts.
UPDATE 2026
TQM (Total Quality Management) - Answers A company-wide philosophy focused on continuous
improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee involvement in achieving quality at every level.
Who is responsible for quality? - Answers Everyone in the organization—from top management to
front-line employees.
Who is responsible for developing the culture of quality? - Answers Top management sets the tone
and leads by example to create a culture of quality.
Who must understand and use TQM tools? - Answers All employees, especially managers and
supervisors, must understand and apply TQM tools to improve processes.
What are the definitions of quality? - Answers Quality can mean meeting customer expectations,
conformance to specifications, or fitness for use.
Main types of control charts - Answers X-bar, R, p, and c charts are used to monitor different types of
variation in processes over time.
What does the X-bar chart track? - Answers It tracks process averages using constants z and A₂.
What does the R-chart track? - Answers It tracks process variability using constants D₃ and D₄.
What is a p-chart used for? - Answers Monitoring the proportion or percentage of defective units.
What is a c-chart used for? - Answers Monitoring the count of defects per unit.
Difference between variable and attribute charts - Answers Variable charts measure continuous data
(like weight or diameter), while attribute charts count discrete data (like defects or errors).
How are control charts developed and used? - Answers They are developed using sample data to
calculate control limits and are used to detect changes or abnormalities in processes.
What does it mean to be statistically out of control? - Answers When data points fall outside control
limits or show non-random patterns, indicating special causes of variation.
Types of variation - Answers Common cause (natural) variation and special cause (assignable)
variation.
Relationship between being statistically in control but having patterns - Answers The process may still
show trends or cycles that suggest non-random variation even if it's within limits.
Relationship between being statistically in control and design specifications - Answers A process can
be in control but still not meet design specs if its limits don't align with required tolerances.
Factors affecting location decisions - Answers Country: political stability, laws, culture. Regional: labor
costs, climate, proximity to markets. Site: transportation, utilities, community environment.
Factors that differ for manufacturing, retail, and service companies - Answers Manufacturing focuses
on cost and logistics, retail on customer access, and services on proximity to clients.
What makes a good facility layout? - Answers Efficient flow of materials, reduced movement, safety,
flexibility, and worker satisfaction.
Characteristics of process-focused vs. product-focused layouts - Answers Process-focused: organized
by function, flexible, low volume. Product-focused: organized by sequence, efficient, high volume.
How is the load-distance technique used to design facilities? - Answers It helps minimize total travel
distance by evaluating the flow between departments.
Factors affecting make-or-buy decisions - Answers Cost, expertise, capacity, quality control, and
strategic importance.
Effect of better supply chain management - Answers Increases efficiency, reduces costs, improves
customer satisfaction, and enhances competitiveness.
What is integration in supply chain management? - Answers Coordinating all activities across the
supply chain for smooth information and material flow.
What is the bullwhip effect? - Answers Small demand changes cause large swings in inventory up the
supply chain.
How can a company effectively manage its supply chain? - Answers Through collaboration,
information sharing, inventory control, and strong supplier relationships.
Relationship between TQM, Lean Production, and JIT - Answers All focus on efficiency, continuous
improvement, and eliminating waste.
Difference between pull and push systems - Answers Pull produces based on demand; push produces
based on forecasts.
