Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management: Operations and Supply Chain Flashcards

A facility layout that groups similar machines or functions together (e.g., all lathes in one area) is called a:

Answer: Process layout

Process (functional) layouts cluster equipment by type and suit high-variety, low-volume production.

In project management, the Critical Path Method (CPM) identifies the sequence of activities that:

Answer: Determines the minimum project duration

The critical path is the longest path through the project network and sets the earliest possible completion date.

Total Quality Management (TQM) emphasizes which of the following as the primary driver of quality improvement?

Answer: Continuous improvement involving all employees

TQM holds that quality is everyone's responsibility and focuses on continuous, organization-wide improvement rather than end-of-line inspection.

Which forecasting technique is most appropriate when demand shows a clear seasonal pattern combined with a long-term upward trend?

Answer: Exponential smoothing with trend and seasonality (Holt-Winters)

Holt-Winters triple exponential smoothing explicitly models level, trend, and seasonality, making it well-suited for such data.

A company achieves a fill rate of 95% from its distribution center. This means:

Answer: 95% of ordered units are shipped without a backorder

Fill rate (unit fill rate) measures the fraction of demand immediately satisfied from on-hand inventory without backordering.

Six Sigma's DMAIC framework stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and:

Answer: Control

Control is the final DMAIC phase, where process changes are standardized and monitored to sustain improvements.

Which of the following best describes a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) provider?

Answer: An outsourced provider of logistics services such as warehousing and transportation

3PLs take over logistics functions (storage, freight, fulfillment) on behalf of a client, allowing the client to focus on core activities.