Deck 16: Sustainable Operations Management preparing for the Future

Question 1

The principles of process improvement suggest that an effective, efficient process:

A)Maximizes the number of sequential activities and minimizes the number of parallel ones.
B)Eliminates all ? steps.
C)Minimizes the number of entry points of a workpiece into the process.
D)Minimizes reliance on departments outside of manufacturing.

Answer 1

Minimizes the number of entry points of a workpiece into the process.

Question 2

A tool used to quickly communicate proposed process changes effectively is called a:

A)Process summary table.
B)Future state map.
C)Work process flowchart.
D)Process flow diagram.

Answer 2

Process summary table.

Question 3

Which of the following conditions does a "critical" process satisfy?

A)Most steps (thus consuming the most time).
B)The one that people complain about the most.
C)A process that is visible to the key customers.
D)The first process that we encounter in the system.

Answer 3

A process that is visible to the key customers.

Question 4

Joe's Quick Oil Change shop is interested in improving its ability to satisfy customers.The most appropriate mapping tool for a company such as this is called:

A)Service architecture.
B)Service blueprinting.
C)Service diagramming.
D)Service mapping.

Question 5

You observe three different people doing the same task using three different approaches (with differing levels of quality, output, and lead time).Which of the following disposition options is most appropriate for this situation?

A)Keep
B)Rethink
C)Combine
D)Eliminate

Question 6

Which of the following identifies the most appropriate time to set the metrics when doing a process flow analysis?

A)During the analysis stage
B)At the start of the process
C)When bounding the critical process
D)When recommending the appropriate changes to the process (i.e., the "future state" map)

Question 7

"Bounding" a process is necessary because:

A)It determines which activity is the bottleneck.
B)If the project is "shelved" during your analysis, someone else may have to pick up where you left off.
C)Bounding determines if a process is a core competency.
D)Without bounding, it is difficult to determine the beginning and ending points for the analysis.

Question 8

You, as a supply chain analyst, have been approached by the vice president of supply chain operations to come up with a recommendation for improving the throughput time for the manufacture of Widget A.You quickly realize that you need a process map before you proceed.What is the first step you should undertake to map the process?

A)Draw a detailed schematic of the inputs and outputs of the process in question.
B)Identify the desired outcomes of the process.
C)Analyze the process and prioritize opportunities for improvement.
D)Document the existing process (the "current state" map).

Question 9

Production planning and scheduling is most likely to be associated with which of the following activities?

A)Operation
B)Inspections
C)Storages
D)Transportation

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a principle of process improvement?

A)Produce at the rate of customer demand.
B)Sequence activities to minimize setups, distance, or other transition costs.
C)Change process design to facilitate product improvements.
D)All of these are principles of process improvement.

Question 11

You realize that you need a tool for recording all the move distances, process flow symbols, people involved, value add designations, and time required for each step to get an overall grasp for where waste exists in the process.The best tool for this would be:

A)A value stream map
B)A process flow table
C)An assembly process chart
D)A physical layout diagram

Question 12

The symbol || indicates what type of activity in a process?

A)Operation
B)Transportation
C)Delay
D)Storage

Question 13

The process of "stapling yourself to an order" refers to:

A)Pretending you are the workpiece moving through a process.
B)Observing a process through multiple iterations to eliminate possible biases from observing "random" events.
C)Stapling documents in your process maps to other applicable documents in order not to confuse the "flow."
D)Imagining a workpiece in a process and following it through a process map you have developed.

Question 14

Value in a process flow analysis is most often associated with which of the following activities?

A)Operation
B)Inspections
C)Storages
D)Transportation

Question 15

After you have drawn the "current state" process map, you decide that you need a tool for showing the actual moves of material (and their locations) that take place in the manufacture of Widget A.Which of the following tools would be most appropriate?

A)A "future state" map
B)A process flow table
C)An assembly process chart
D)A physical layout diagram

Question 16

Value stream mapping:

A)Is a simplified version of process mapping.
B)Uses the same terminology and symbols used in typical process mapping.
C)Is another name for a future state map.
D)Relies on computer-assisted flowcharting.
E)Is more comprehensive than typical process mapping.

Question 17

When should the metrics used in evaluating a process be developed?

A)As soon as we have identified the value proposition.
B)After we have identified the critical process.
C)When we have done the "as is" analysis of the process.
D)After we have completed the future state analysis of the process.

Question 18

The principles of process improvement suggest that an ineffective, inefficient process:

A)Produces at the rate of customer demand.
B)Produces products in large batch sizes.
C)Processes workpieces on a FIFO basis.
D)Keeps non-value-adding activities off the critical path.

Question 19

An activity identified by a "?" is typically a(n):

A)Value-adding activity.
B)Necessary activity.
C)Waste-generating activity.
D)None of these.

Question 20

The symbol ∇ indicates what type of activity in a process?

A)Operation
B)Transportation
C)Delay
D)ANSD.Storage

Question 21

When the Marriott, an international hotel chain, designs a new facility, which of the following process tools is it most likely to use?

A)Swim lanes
B)Process Flow Diagram
C)Service blueprinting
D)Physical Layout Diagram

Question 22

If our goal is to reduce lead times, which of the following process measures is most appropriate?

A)Number of steps
B)Actual elapsed lead time
C)Percentage reduction in lead time
D)Actual lead time versus standard or target lead time.

Question 23

Which of the following mapping techniques identifies and integrates functional responsibilities into the process mapping process?

A)Process flow diagram
B)Value stream mapping
C)Service blueprinting
D)Swim lanes

Question 24

Which of the following activities is most likely to be overlooked when doing a process flow analysis?

A)Operations
B)Inspections
C)Delays
D)Storages

Question 25

Which of the following traits is not one associated with a critical process?

A)It is a bottleneck operation
B)It has been identified by management as critical.
C)It is visible to the customer
D)It is associated with a core competency.

Question 26

Which of the following identifies the ultimate goal of process mapping?

A)Reduce steps in the process.
B)Reduce costs created by the process.
C)Make the desired outcome inevitable.
D)Facilitate the identification and reduction of system complexity.

Question 27

We observe three different people doing the same task using three different approaches (with differing levels of quality, output and lead time).Which of the following disposition options is most appropriate for this situation?

A)Keep
B)Rethink
C)Combine
D)Eliminate.

Question 28

Why are processes that are visible to the customer considered to be critical?

A)They often exhibit the greatest variance (thus affecting customer waiting times).
B)They are often bottlenecks (thus causing customer delays).
C)They are often shared processes.
D)They affect the customer perceptions of the firm.

Question 29

Which of the two set of activities are most likely to be " value-adding"?

A)Operations and storages
B)Storages and delays
C)Delays and transportations
D)Transportations and operations.

Question 30

Which of the following is an example of an activity that is "necessary but not value-adding"?

A)Scheduling
B)Processing
C)Inspections
D)Setups