OPS 330 UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Question:
1. PlastiPharm employs several modes of transportation for delivery of its products to its customers. In the
past, it relied solely on shipping by truck. However, in recent years, customers have demanded more input
into the delivery modes. Why should PlastiPharm allow its customers to have any say in how their
products are delivered? Or should they not allow it? Please select the best explanation.
Answer:
Allowing customers to choose a delivery mode based on factors that are most important to them speed,
reliability, cost, environmental impact - will better meet their needs.
Question:
2. Five years ago, PlastiPharm implemented a supply chain visibility system, which allows the company
and its customers to see where product and parts are at any given time. It took time, however, to train
employees to use the bar code scanners every time product was in transit. It also took time for
PlastiPharm's suppliers and carriers to buy into the technology, but the system has now been successfully
implemented and is fully operational. Which statement best explains a major benefit of visibility
technology?
Answer:
Supply chain visibility technology allows for quick change to take place and for demand to redirect supply
to where it is needed most.
Question:
3. PlastiPharm hired a new production supervisor for its day shift. He pushed relentlessly to fulfill
customers' orders early, thinking that early was always better. However, several customers started
complaining about the timing of the deliveries. Why would some customers not value early deliveries?
Please select the best explanation.
Answer:
Some businesses operate on a just-in-time basis, so it is critical that suppliers hit delivery slots exactly
when requested.
Question:
4. PlastiPharm's logistics system has been improved over time to become extremely efficient. Movement
of supplies and product has been mapped to reduce waste of motion. Packaging and shipping have been
improved to take advantage of full truckloads and backhauls. Which of the following statements best
explains how these efficiencies benefit the company, its customers, and the economy in general?
Answer:
Improving logistics systems has reduced logistics costs, which has reduced the cost of living and increased
the standard of living in many countries.
, Question:
5. At PlastiPharm, customer expectations have changed drastically over the years as new technology and
new tools have been developed to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Not all costs have been reduced,
however, and the company must carefully monitor inventory, transportation, and packaging costs in
addition to its production and administrative costs. What is one of the biggest challenges the company
faces to meet customer needs as well as manage its own costs? Please select the best explanation.
Answer:
The company needs to identify and evaluate tradeoffs in other costs and balance them all in order meet
customer needs at the right cost.
Question:
6. The shipping department at PlastiPharm was asked to increase its efficiency in loading finished products
and unloading incoming supplies. The department analyzed its movements and realized that employees
spent only 42 percent actively engaged in value-added work. The rest of time was spent waiting - waiting
for trucks, waiting for paperwork, waiting for product to show up at the dock. The department worked with
several other departments to redesign existing processes and workflows to ensure the continuous
movement of product to the shipping department so its employees were more actively engaged. Why is it
important for the shipping department to devise ways to reduce the time its employees wait? Please choose
the best explanation.
Answer:
By reducing wasted time, the shipping department helped improve the flow of products to customers and
increased customer satisfaction.
Question:
7. When PlastiPharm began its lean journey, the company's focus was on cutting back costs by increasing
efficiency and reducing waste. In its drive for efficiency, it significantly reduced the number of employees
in its logistics departments. The company found, however, that many employees complained about being
overworked because there just weren't enough people to do all the work that needed to be done. As one
employee said, "Being lean doesn't mean that you don't invest in resources, including human resources."
The company eventually hired a few more people and found that its employees were more engaged, more
adaptable, and more able to focus on quality work instead of trying to do as little as possible as quickly as
possible in order to say projects were completed. Choose the statement that best explains how the company
can benefit from a lean, but not too lean, human resources approach.
Answer:
Having enough employees and ensuring employees are engaged and adaptable allows the company to be
resilient and respond quickly in case of a crisis.
Question:
8. When PlastiPharm reviewed its contracts for product delivery, it was interested in developing a
long-term relationship with a trucking company that was reliable and could deliver product to all areas in
the contiguous United States. While these traits were definitely important to the company, what other
factors should it consider and why? Please select the statement that would best benefit the company.
Answer:
To maximize profits, the company should also consider the speed of delivery as well the ability of a
company to respond quickly to change.
ANSWERS
Question:
1. PlastiPharm employs several modes of transportation for delivery of its products to its customers. In the
past, it relied solely on shipping by truck. However, in recent years, customers have demanded more input
into the delivery modes. Why should PlastiPharm allow its customers to have any say in how their
products are delivered? Or should they not allow it? Please select the best explanation.
Answer:
Allowing customers to choose a delivery mode based on factors that are most important to them speed,
reliability, cost, environmental impact - will better meet their needs.
Question:
2. Five years ago, PlastiPharm implemented a supply chain visibility system, which allows the company
and its customers to see where product and parts are at any given time. It took time, however, to train
employees to use the bar code scanners every time product was in transit. It also took time for
PlastiPharm's suppliers and carriers to buy into the technology, but the system has now been successfully
implemented and is fully operational. Which statement best explains a major benefit of visibility
technology?
Answer:
Supply chain visibility technology allows for quick change to take place and for demand to redirect supply
to where it is needed most.
Question:
3. PlastiPharm hired a new production supervisor for its day shift. He pushed relentlessly to fulfill
customers' orders early, thinking that early was always better. However, several customers started
complaining about the timing of the deliveries. Why would some customers not value early deliveries?
Please select the best explanation.
Answer:
Some businesses operate on a just-in-time basis, so it is critical that suppliers hit delivery slots exactly
when requested.
Question:
4. PlastiPharm's logistics system has been improved over time to become extremely efficient. Movement
of supplies and product has been mapped to reduce waste of motion. Packaging and shipping have been
improved to take advantage of full truckloads and backhauls. Which of the following statements best
explains how these efficiencies benefit the company, its customers, and the economy in general?
Answer:
Improving logistics systems has reduced logistics costs, which has reduced the cost of living and increased
the standard of living in many countries.
, Question:
5. At PlastiPharm, customer expectations have changed drastically over the years as new technology and
new tools have been developed to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Not all costs have been reduced,
however, and the company must carefully monitor inventory, transportation, and packaging costs in
addition to its production and administrative costs. What is one of the biggest challenges the company
faces to meet customer needs as well as manage its own costs? Please select the best explanation.
Answer:
The company needs to identify and evaluate tradeoffs in other costs and balance them all in order meet
customer needs at the right cost.
Question:
6. The shipping department at PlastiPharm was asked to increase its efficiency in loading finished products
and unloading incoming supplies. The department analyzed its movements and realized that employees
spent only 42 percent actively engaged in value-added work. The rest of time was spent waiting - waiting
for trucks, waiting for paperwork, waiting for product to show up at the dock. The department worked with
several other departments to redesign existing processes and workflows to ensure the continuous
movement of product to the shipping department so its employees were more actively engaged. Why is it
important for the shipping department to devise ways to reduce the time its employees wait? Please choose
the best explanation.
Answer:
By reducing wasted time, the shipping department helped improve the flow of products to customers and
increased customer satisfaction.
Question:
7. When PlastiPharm began its lean journey, the company's focus was on cutting back costs by increasing
efficiency and reducing waste. In its drive for efficiency, it significantly reduced the number of employees
in its logistics departments. The company found, however, that many employees complained about being
overworked because there just weren't enough people to do all the work that needed to be done. As one
employee said, "Being lean doesn't mean that you don't invest in resources, including human resources."
The company eventually hired a few more people and found that its employees were more engaged, more
adaptable, and more able to focus on quality work instead of trying to do as little as possible as quickly as
possible in order to say projects were completed. Choose the statement that best explains how the company
can benefit from a lean, but not too lean, human resources approach.
Answer:
Having enough employees and ensuring employees are engaged and adaptable allows the company to be
resilient and respond quickly in case of a crisis.
Question:
8. When PlastiPharm reviewed its contracts for product delivery, it was interested in developing a
long-term relationship with a trucking company that was reliable and could deliver product to all areas in
the contiguous United States. While these traits were definitely important to the company, what other
factors should it consider and why? Please select the statement that would best benefit the company.
Answer:
To maximize profits, the company should also consider the speed of delivery as well the ability of a
company to respond quickly to change.
