Question 1

Just-in-time inventory systems

Accepted Answer

A) are used only by manufacturing firms. 
B) are implemented primarily by the manufacturing function. 
C) have components arrive at a manufacturing plant just in time to enter the production process. 
D) are valuable when there is a labor dispute with a key supplier. 
E) always keep extra inventory on hand for emergencies. 
A) are used only by manufacturing firms. 
B) are implemented primarily by the manufacturing function. 
C) have components arrive at a manufacturing plant just in time to enter the production process. 
D) are valuable when there is a labor dispute with a key supplier. 
E) always keep extra inventory on hand for emergencies. C

Question 2

Which of the following is not one of the principles commonly found in companies that have successfully embraced the TQM philosophy?

Accepted Answer

A) Building an organizational commitment to quality 
B) Finding ways to measure quality 
C) A strong customer focus 
D) Close supplier relations 
E) Creating a separate quality department within the firm 
A) Building an organizational commitment to quality 
B) Finding ways to measure quality 
C) A strong customer focus 
D) Close supplier relations 
E) Creating a separate quality department within the firm E

Question 3

The law of economies of scale suggests that unit costs continue to fall indefinitely as output volume increases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Formulating a plan to close the quality gap

Accepted Answer

A) requires a strong customer focus. 
B) is the exclusive responsibility of top management. 
C) is an example of finding ways to measure quality. 
D) is the responsibility of manufacturing. 
E) should be done by qualified TQM consultants. 
A) requires a strong customer focus. 
B) is the exclusive responsibility of top management. 
C) is an example of finding ways to measure quality. 
D) is the responsibility of manufacturing. 
E) should be done by qualified TQM consultants.

Question 5

Six Sigma is a quality and efficiency program derived from the concept of Total Quality Management,and was widely used in Japan before acceptance in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Effective employee training within an organization

Accepted Answer

A) results in more productive employees. 
B) increases employee efficiency. 
C) raises employee skill levels. 
D) enables employees to perform tasks faster. 
E) all of these choices 
A) results in more productive employees. 
B) increases employee efficiency. 
C) raises employee skill levels. 
D) enables employees to perform tasks faster. 
E) all of these choices

Question 7

Although important,innovation plays a minor role in achieving competitive advantage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Quality improvement efforts should focus on the

Accepted Answer

A) product. 
B) external environment. 
C) customer. 
D) material costs. 
E) internal operations. 
A) product. 
B) external environment. 
C) customer. 
D) material costs. 
E) internal operations.

Question 9

Economies of scale are

Accepted Answer

A) unit cost reductions associated with learning effects. 
B) unit cost reductions associated with superior customer responsiveness. 
C) realized when output is as large as possible. 
D) realized when the point of maximum efficient scale is reached. 
E) unit cost reductions associated with a large-scale output. 
A) unit cost reductions associated with learning effects. 
B) unit cost reductions associated with superior customer responsiveness. 
C) realized when output is as large as possible. 
D) realized when the point of maximum efficient scale is reached. 
E) unit cost reductions associated with a large-scale output.

Question 10

____ refers to unit cost increases associated with a large scale of output.

Accepted Answer

A) Economies of scale 
B) Learning effects 
C) Diseconomies of scale 
D) Flexible manufacturing 
E) Mass customization 
A) Economies of scale 
B) Learning effects 
C) Diseconomies of scale 
D) Flexible manufacturing 
E) Mass customization

Question 11

No matter how complex the task is,learning effects typically die out after a limited period of time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

One of Otis Elevator's strengths is the ability to continue to improve employee productivity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Quality circles are a valuable tool for TQM because they

Accepted Answer

A) solicit employee suggestions for improvement. 
B) identify and rework defective products. 
C) are used by top managers to communicate their intentions to workers. 
D) design high-quality products. 
E) survey customer attitudes about quality. 
A) solicit employee suggestions for improvement. 
B) identify and rework defective products. 
C) are used by top managers to communicate their intentions to workers. 
D) design high-quality products. 
E) survey customer attitudes about quality.

Question 14

Materials management encompasses the activities necessary to get inputs and components to a production facility,through the production process,and out through a distribution system to the end user.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Top management should take primary responsibility for establishing measures of quality.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Flexible manufacturing technologies allow companies to

Accepted Answer

A) mass-produce a standardized output at a low delivered cost. 
B) avoid plant-level diseconomies of scale. 
C) produce small batches of high-quality customized products at a high cost. 
D) ride down the experience curve more rapidly than competitors. 
E) produce small batches of customized products at a relatively low cost. 
A) mass-produce a standardized output at a low delivered cost. 
B) avoid plant-level diseconomies of scale. 
C) produce small batches of high-quality customized products at a high cost. 
D) ride down the experience curve more rapidly than competitors. 
E) produce small batches of customized products at a relatively low cost.

Question 17

The role played by infrastructure leadership in implementing reliability methodologies includes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Providing leadership and commitment quality 
B) Finding ways to manage quality 
C) Setting goals and creating incentives 
D) Soliciting input from employees 
E) All of these choices 
A) Providing leadership and commitment quality 
B) Finding ways to manage quality 
C) Setting goals and creating incentives 
D) Soliciting input from employees 
E) All of these choices

Question 18

Poor commercialization occurs when there is definite customer demand for a new product,but the product is not well adapted to customer needs because of factors such as poor design and poor quality.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Pretend that you are a consultant,offering advice to a large manufacturing firm about ways to increase its distinctive competency in innovation.What suggestions would you offer? Be specific and detailed in your answer.

Accepted Answer

Students' answers should point out that

Question 20

Distinctive competencies shape the functional-level strategies that a company can pursue.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Just-in-time inventory systems

Which of the following is not one of the principles commonly found in companies that have successfully embraced the TQM philosophy?

The law of economies of scale suggests that unit costs continue to fall indefinitely as output volume increases.

Formulating a plan to close the quality gap

Six Sigma is a quality and efficiency program derived from the concept of Total Quality Management,and was widely used in Japan before acceptance in the U.S.

Effective employee training within an organization

Although important,innovation plays a minor role in achieving competitive advantage.

Quality improvement efforts should focus on the

Economies of scale are

____ refers to unit cost increases associated with a large scale of output.

No matter how complex the task is,learning effects typically die out after a limited period of time.

One of Otis Elevator's strengths is the ability to continue to improve employee productivity.

Quality circles are a valuable tool for TQM because they

Materials management encompasses the activities necessary to get inputs and components to a production facility,through the production process,and out through a distribution system to the end user.

Top management should take primary responsibility for establishing measures of quality.

Flexible manufacturing technologies allow companies to

The role played by infrastructure leadership in implementing reliability methodologies includes which of the following?

Poor commercialization occurs when there is definite customer demand for a new product,but the product is not well adapted to customer needs because of factors such as poor design and poor quality.

Pretend that you are a consultant,offering advice to a large manufacturing firm about ways to increase its distinctive competency in innovation.What suggestions would you offer? Be specific and detailed in your answer.

Distinctive competencies shape the functional-level strategies that a company can pursue.

Strategic Leadership: Managing the Strategy-Making Process for Competitive Advantage

External Analysis: The Identification of Opportunities and Threats

Internal Analysis: Distinctive Competencies, Competitive Advantage, and Profitability

Building Competitive Advantage Through Business-Level Strategy

Business-Level Strategy and the Industry Environment

Strategy and Technology

Strategy in the Global Environment

Corporate-Level Strategy: Horizontal Integration, Vertical Integration, and Strategic Outsourcing

Corporate-Level Strategy: Related and Unrelated Diversification

Corporate Performance, Governance, and Business Ethics

Implementing Strategy in Companies That Compete in a Single Industry

Implementing Strategy in Companies That Compete Across Industries and Countries

Filters

Exam 4: Building Competitive Advantage Through Functional-Level Strategy

Just-in-time inventory systems

Which of the following is not one of the principles commonly found in companies that have successfully embraced the TQM philosophy?

The law of economies of scale suggests that unit costs continue to fall indefinitely as output volume increases.

Formulating a plan to close the quality gap

Six Sigma is a quality and efficiency program derived from the concept of Total Quality Management,and was widely used in Japan before acceptance in the U.S.

Effective employee training within an organization

Although important,innovation plays a minor role in achieving competitive advantage.

Quality improvement efforts should focus on the

Economies of scale are

____ refers to unit cost increases associated with a large scale of output.

No matter how complex the task is,learning effects typically die out after a limited period of time.

One of Otis Elevator's strengths is the ability to continue to improve employee productivity.

Quality circles are a valuable tool for TQM because they

Materials management encompasses the activities necessary to get inputs and components to a production facility,through the production process,and out through a distribution system to the end user.

Top management should take primary responsibility for establishing measures of quality.

Flexible manufacturing technologies allow companies to

The role played by infrastructure leadership in implementing reliability methodologies includes which of the following?

Poor commercialization occurs when there is definite customer demand for a new product,but the product is not well adapted to customer needs because of factors such as poor design and poor quality.

Pretend that you are a consultant,offering advice to a large manufacturing firm about ways to increase its distinctive competency in innovation.What suggestions would you offer? Be specific and detailed in your answer.

Distinctive competencies shape the functional-level strategies that a company can pursue.

Strategic Leadership: Managing the Strategy-Making Process for Competitive Advantage

External Analysis: The Identification of Opportunities and Threats

Internal Analysis: Distinctive Competencies, Competitive Advantage, and Profitability

Building Competitive Advantage Through Business-Level Strategy

Business-Level Strategy and the Industry Environment

Strategy and Technology

Strategy in the Global Environment

Corporate-Level Strategy: Horizontal Integration, Vertical Integration, and Strategic Outsourcing

Corporate-Level Strategy: Related and Unrelated Diversification

Corporate Performance, Governance, and Business Ethics

Implementing Strategy in Companies That Compete in a Single Industry

Implementing Strategy in Companies That Compete Across Industries and Countries

Filters