Which of the following attributes is an advanced functionality of a warehouse management system (WMS)?
Correct : C
Warehouse management systems (WMS) offer various functionalities to optimize warehouse operations. While basic WMS functions include inventory management (A), work order management (B), and task management (D), advanced functionalities often extend to labor management (C). Labor management involves tracking and optimizing workforce performance, scheduling, and productivity. This advanced functionality allows for better resource allocation, increased efficiency, and reduced labor costs, which are crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in warehouse operations.
Frazelle, E. (2002). World-Class Warehousing and Material Handling. McGraw-Hill.
Tompkins, J. A., & Smith, J. D. (1998). The Warehouse Management Handbook. Tompkins Press.
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Which of the following transportation modes has the highest fixed cost and the lowest variable cost structure?
Correct : D
Among the listed transportation modes, pipelines have the highest fixed cost and the lowest variable cost structure. Pipelines require significant investment in infrastructure, including the construction of the pipeline itself and the necessary pumping stations, which contribute to high fixed costs. However, once the infrastructure is in place, the cost of transporting goods (usually liquids or gases) through pipelines is relatively low, resulting in low variable costs. In contrast, modes like rail (A), truck (B), and air (C) have lower fixed costs but higher variable costs associated with fuel, labor, and maintenance.
Coyle, J. J., Novack, R. A., Gibson, B. J., & Bardi, E. J. (2015). Transportation: A Supply Chain Perspective. Cengage Learning.
Rodrigue, J.-P., Comtois, C., & Slack, B. (2013). The Geography of Transport Systems. Routledge.
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A lack of which of the following elements is most likely to impede the implementation of a demand management system?
Correct : C
According to the APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference Model SCOR, an ineffective sales and operations planning (S&OP) process is most likely to impede the implementation of a demand management system. S&OP is a process that aligns the demand and supply plans across the supply chain, based on the business objectives and customer expectations. S&OP helps to balance demand and supply, improve forecast accuracy, reduce inventory costs, and increase customer satisfaction. An ineffective S&OP process can result in poor demand management, which can lead to stockouts, excess inventory, lost sales, or dissatisfied customers.
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The practice of supply chain members acting in close collaboration while retaining independent ownership is known as:
Correct : D
The practice of supply chain members acting in close collaboration while retaining independent ownership is known as virtual integration. This term was introduced by Michael Dell in the 1990s to describe processes resulting from combining traditional supply chain vertical integration with the characteristics of the virtual organization1. Virtual integration allows supply chain partners to share information, coordinate activities, and leverage each other's capabilities, without having to merge or acquire each other. This can lead to improved efficiency, responsiveness, and innovation in the supply chain23. Vertical integration, on the other hand, is a business strategy where the business itself controls the supply chain and multiple stages of its production process, thus eliminating or reducing third-party vendor dependencies4. Forward integration and horizontal integration are types of vertical integration, where the business expands its control over the downstream or the same level of the supply chain, respectively4.
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