CPPB Inventory Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which inventory valuation method assumes that the most recently purchased items are the first to be used or sold?
- First In, First Out (FIFO)
- Last In, First Out (LIFO) (Correct answer)
- Weighted Average Cost
- Specific Identification
Correct answer: Last In, First Out (LIFO)
LIFO (Last In, First Out) assumes the most recently acquired items are consumed or sold first, which affects cost reporting and taxes.
Question 2: The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model is used to determine which of the following?
- The optimal reorder point for an item
- The optimal order quantity that minimizes total inventory costs (Correct answer)
- The maximum inventory level that should be maintained
- The number of suppliers needed for a commodity
Correct answer: The optimal order quantity that minimizes total inventory costs
EOQ calculates the order quantity that minimizes the combined costs of ordering and holding inventory.
Question 3: In public procurement, a 'stockout' occurs when:
- Inventory exceeds maximum storage capacity
- An item is available but not yet requisitioned
- Demand cannot be met due to insufficient inventory on hand (Correct answer)
- A vendor fails to deliver within the lead time
Correct answer: Demand cannot be met due to insufficient inventory on hand
A stockout happens when current inventory is depleted and cannot fulfill a request, disrupting agency operations.
Question 4: ABC analysis in inventory management classifies items primarily based on:
- Alphabetical order of item names
- Annual consumption value (Correct answer)
- Physical size and storage requirements
- Frequency of vendor deliveries
Correct answer: Annual consumption value
ABC analysis ranks items by their annual consumption value so that high-value (A) items receive the most management attention.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of safety stock in a public agency's inventory system?
- To reduce the number of purchase orders issued
- To serve as a buffer against unexpected demand or supply delays (Correct answer)
- To comply with minimum stocking requirements set by law
- To take advantage of vendor quantity discount pricing
Correct answer: To serve as a buffer against unexpected demand or supply delays
Safety stock is maintained as a cushion to prevent stockouts caused by demand variability or longer-than-expected lead times.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'perpetual inventory system'?
- Inventory is counted and reconciled once a year
- Inventory records are updated continuously with each transaction (Correct answer)
- Inventory is ordered on a fixed schedule regardless of stock levels
- Inventory is managed exclusively by a third-party logistics provider
Correct answer: Inventory records are updated continuously with each transaction
A perpetual system updates inventory balances in real time as items are received, issued, or transferred, providing an ongoing accurate count.
Question 7: The reorder point (ROP) for an inventory item is calculated using which formula?
- ROP = Safety Stock + (Average Daily Usage × Lead Time) (Correct answer)
- ROP = EOQ / Average Daily Usage
- ROP = Maximum Usage × Maximum Lead Time
- ROP = Annual Demand / Number of Orders
Correct answer: ROP = Safety Stock + (Average Daily Usage × Lead Time)
The reorder point equals safety stock added to the product of average daily usage and the procurement lead time.
Which inventory valuation method assumes that the most recently purchased items are the first to be used or sold?