SCM Chapter 10 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
The objective of a human resource strategy is to manage labor and design jobs so people are effectively and efficiently utilized.
answer
True
question
Equitable pay alone cannot achieve a reasonflexible manufacturing system able quality of work life in an organization.
answer
True
question
Mutual trust means that both management and employee strive to meet common objectives.
answer
False
question
Technology, location, and layout decisions are all possible constraints on human resource strategy.
answer
True
question
A NASCAR pit crew consists of how many members? A) 7 B) 5 C) 9 D) 10 E) 4
answer
A
question
Most pit crew members have background experience in what area? A) mechanical engineering B) athletics C) car mechanics D) automobile race driving E) No specific area—crew members come from all sorts of backgrounds.
answer
C
question
Which of the following best describes mutual commitment in an organization? A) an instance in which management is committed to the employees and the employees are committed to management B) both management and the employees are committed to the same objective C) both management and the employees are committed, but to different objectives D) management obtains the commitment of the employees to a stated objective E) both management and the employees can rely on each other
answer
B
question
Mutual trust is: A) when employees have gained the trust of management. B) reflected in reasonable, documented employment policies that are honestly and equitably implemented to the satisfaction of both management and employee. C) when management has gained the trust of the employees. D) when management recognizes that the employees are competent, motivated people both able and willing to perform at the level required to produce a quality product. E) when management and the employees both agree on common objectives.
answer
B
question
The objective of a human resource strategy is to: A) produce the demand forecast at the lowest possible labor cost. B) match employment levels with demand. C) achieve a reasonable quality of work life at low cost. D) manage labor and design jobs so people are effectively and efficiently utilized. E) hire the most diversified workforce possible.
answer
D
question
Labor planning determines employment stability.
answer
True
question
The two extremes of employment stability policy are "follow demand exactly" and "keep demand constant."
answer
False
question
Maintaining a stable workforce generally results in the firm paying higher wages than a firm that varies workforce level with demand.
answer
False
question
Flextime is a system that allows employees, within limits, to determine their own work schedules.
answer
True
question
The two most basic policies associated with employment stability are: A) job enrichment and job enlargement. B) employment for life and guaranteed minimum wage. C) follow demand exactly and hold employment constant. D) incentive plans and piece-rate plans. E) full-time and part-time.
answer
C
question
A manufacturing plant allows its engineers to come in at 7 A.M. plus or minus an hour but still requires them to work 8-hour days. Which of the following scheduling techniques is the firm employing? A) flextime B) constant employment C) part-time status D) flexible workweek E) compressed workweek
answer
A
question
Working four shifts of ten hours each instead of five shifts of eight hours each is known as which of the following? A) flextime B) constant employment C) part-time status D) flexible workweek E) flexwork
answer
D
question
An enlarged job has more responsibility than the same job enriched.
answer
False
question
Job rotation is a version of job enlargement.
answer
True
question
Fredrick W. Taylor is credited with introducing psychology into the workplace.
answer
False
question
Psychological factors have little relevance in the design of assembly line jobs because those jobs involve physical products and production technology.
answer
False
question
The Hawthorne studies, which showed that there is a dynamic social system in the workplace, took place in the 1960s.
answer
False
question
Hackman and Oldham's five desirable characteristics of job design include job significance and autonomy.
answer
True
question
Job expansion can lead to increased labor cost because of the extra workers hired in the expansion.
answer
False
question
Profit-sharing is a motivation and incentive system where executives receive stock options.
answer
False
question
Four of the components of job design are: A) employment stability, work schedules, work sampling, and motivation & incentive systems. B) job specialization, job expansion, psychological components, and self-directed teams. C) labor specialization and enrichment, motivation and incentive systems, employment stability, and work sampling. D) ergonomics and work methods, method time measurement, work schedules, and incentive systems. E) labor specialization, time studies, work sampling, and pre-determined time standards.
answer
B
question
What is the behavioral approach to job design that involves giving the worker more tasks requiring similar skills? A) job enlargement B) job enrichment C) job enhancement D) job rotation E) job involvement
answer
A
question
Which of Hackman and Oldham's five job characteristics refers to providing a worker a say in the work methods that he/she wishes to utilize? A) skill variety B) job identity C) job significance D) feedback E) autonomy
answer
E
question
Which of the following terms implies an increase in responsibility and control in the vertical direction? A) job rotation B) job enrichment C) job re-design D) job enlargement E) job satisfaction
answer
B
question
Which of the following statements describes job rotation? A) The job contains a larger number of similar tasks. B) The job includes some planning and control necessary for job accomplishment. C) The operator works on different shifts on a regular basis. D) The operator's schedule is flexible. E) The operator is allowed to move, for example, from one type of CNC machine to another.
answer
E
question
When a worker obtains clear and timely information about his/her performance, his/her job includes which of the following characteristics? A) feedback B) skill variety C) job identity D) job significance E) autonomy
answer
A
question
Which of the following is not a limitation of job expansion? A) higher capital cost B) higher wage rates C) smaller labor pool D) higher training costs E) All of the above are limitations of job expansion.
answer
A
question
`Management and labor share the labor cost reductions in which of these compensation schemes? A) bonus system B) quota system C) Scantron plan D) Scanlon plan E) measured day work plan
answer
D
question
Which of the following statements regarding incentive systems is FALSE? A) Bonuses are often used at the executive levels. B) About half of all American manufacturing firms use productivity incentives. C) Profit-sharing systems provide some part of the profit for distribution to employees. D) The Scanlon plan is based on team productivity. E) Increasing use of cross-training has led to increasing use of knowledge-based pay systems.
answer
D
question
The physical environment in which employees work may affect the quality of work life, but it does not affect their performance and safety.
answer
False
question
Ergonomics is a branch of economics that deals with costs of scheduling workers.
answer
False
question
One of the elements of ergonomics is A) allocating work time based on economic studies. B) the cost justification of technology. C) designing tools and machines that facilitate human work. D) assembly line balancing. E) the establishment of time standards.
answer
C
question
An operations chart, or right-hand/left-hand chart, points out wasted motion and idle time.
answer
True
question
Which of the following is not analyzed using methods techniques? A) movement of capital B) body movement C) movement of individuals D) movement of material E) crew activity
answer
A
question
Methods analysis focuses on: A) the design of the machines used to perform a task. B) establishing time standards. C) reducing the number of skills needed for the completion of a task. D) issues such as the movement of individuals or material. E) evaluating training programs to see if they are efficient.
answer
D
question
Which of the following is used by methods analysis in analyzing body movement at the workstation level? A) MTM chart B) flow diagram C) operations chart D) process chart E) improvement chart
answer
C
question
The phrase, "designed to show economy of motion by pointing out wasted motion and idle time (delay)," describes which of the following? A) a flow diagram B) an activity chart C) an operations chart D) a process chart E) a work sample
answer
C
question
Methods analysis employs which of the following charts in its analysis of the movement of workers and materials? A) micro-motion chart B) flow diagram C) activity chart D) man-machine chart E) movement chart
answer
B
question
Flow diagrams are used to analyze: A) movement of people or material. B) utilization of an operator and machine. C) body movements. D) time taken by various activities. E) unnecessary micro-motions.
answer
A
question
Activity charts help analyze: A) movement of people or material. B) utilization of an operator and machine. C) body movements. D) activities that can cause injuries. E) unnecessary micro-motions.
answer
B
question
Kanbans and andons are both elements of the visual workplace, because they are visual signals that replace printouts and paperwork.
answer
True
question
"Visual workplace" is a term coined by Hawthorne, and it refers to the need for proper lighting at employee workstations.
answer
False
question
The visual workplace: A) uses low-cost visual devices to share information. B) is an effective means of rapid communication in a dynamic workplace. C) replaces difficult-to-understand paperwork. D) eliminates non-value-added activities by making problems and standards visual. E) All of the above describe the visual workplace.
answer
E
question
Which of the following is a visual signal at a machine that notifies support personnel about the machine's status? A) Andon B) Endon C) Indon D) Ondon E) Undon
answer
A
question
The purpose of labor standards is to accurately define the skills required to complete a job.
answer
False
question
Two uses of labor standards are to determine the labor content of items produced and to determine staffing needs.
answer
True
question
One use of labor standards is to determine what constitutes a fair day's work.
answer
True
question
Labor standards based on historical experience are relatively inexpensive to obtain.
answer
True
question
The preferred method of choice for setting labor standards is to base them on historical experience.
answer
False
question
Standard time may be less than average observed time.
answer
True
question
The classical stopwatch study, or time study, was originally proposed by Western Electric's Hawthorne Commission in the 1920s.
answer
False
question
A time-study procedure involves timing a sample of a worker's performance and using it as a basis for setting a standard time.
answer
True
question
The allowance factor that increases normal time to standard time compensates for inadequate worker training and lack of worker dexterity.
answer
False
question
Normal time is always less than the average observed time.
answer
False
question
Standard time is always greater than normal time, due to the inclusion of allowances for personal time, delay, and fatigue.
answer
True
question
Personal and fatigue allowances can include amounts for the effects of lighting, heat and humidity, and noise.
answer
True
question
The allowances that convert normal time to standard time have three components: personal time allowances, delay allowances, and fatigue allowances.
answer
True
question
If a manager conducting a time study needed an accuracy of ±0.1 minutes, rather than ±0.2 minutes, the adequate sample size would have to be twice as large.
answer
False
question
Work sampling and time studies are similar in that the analyst in both cases records the time taken by the worker to accomplish each step of the task.
answer
False
question
A therblig is a very small amount of time: one hundred-thousandth of an hour.
answer
False
question
An advantage of predetermined time standards is that the standard can be set before a task is actually performed.
answer
True
question
Most unions do not accept the use of predetermined time standards.
answer
False
question
Work sampling estimates the percent of time that a worker spends on various tasks.
answer
True
question
An advantage of work sampling is that it completely breaks down work elements.
answer
False
question
Normal time equals the average observed time multiplied by the allowance factor.
answer
False
question
Labor standards are defined as the: A) preset activities required to perform a job. B) amount of space required by a specific crew to perform the job. C) standard set of procedures to perform the job. D) standard labor agreements. E) amount of time required to perform a job or part of a job.
answer
E
question
Labor standards can help to determine which of the following? A) labor content of a product B) staffing needs C) incentive plans D) efficiency E) all of the above
answer
E
question
Which of the following is not a method used to set labor standards? A) historical experience B) time studies C) predetermined time standards D) work sampling E) government laws and regulations
answer
E
question
Normal time for a stopwatch study is equal to which of the following? A) Average observed time × Performance rating factor B) Average observed time + Performance rating factor C) Average observed time / Performance rating factor D) Average observed time - Performance rating factor E) Performance rating factor / Average observed time
answer
A
question
Which of the following is NOT a use of labor standards? A) labor content of items produced B) cost and time estimates prior to production C) crew size and work balance D) basis of wage-incentive plans E) All of the above are uses of labor standards.
answer
E
question
Which of the following techniques may NOT provide reliable and accurate labor standards? A) historical experience B) methods time measurement (MTM) C) time studies D) work sampling E) predetermined time standards
answer
A
question
Timing a sample of a worker's performance and using it as a basis for setting a standard time describes which of the following? A) predetermined time standards B) time studies C) work sampling D) methods time measurement E) left-hand, right-hand charting
answer
B
question
A manager who is conducting a time study now needs an accuracy of ±0.1 minutes, rather than ±0.2 minutes as in the past. Because of this change in accuracy, the new required sample size becomes: A) one-fourth as large. B) one-half as large. C) twice as large. D) four times as large. E) one-tenth larger.
answer
D
question
In time studies, normal time is: A) average observed time multiplied by a performance rating factor. B) larger than standard time. C) determined by historical experience. D) converted to standard time by the performance rating factor. E) one hour later during the summer months.
answer
A
question
The smaller the percentage established for allowances: A) the closer is normal time to standard time. B) the closer is average observed time to normal time. C) the larger is the performance rating factor. D) the larger is the required sample size. E) the larger is the number of observations in the work sampling.
answer
A
question
In time studies, personal time allowances are often established in which of the following ranges? A) 0 - 2% B) 3 - 5% C) 4 - 7% D) 6 - 10% E) 10 -15%
answer
C
question
Which of these is the most common predetermined time standard? A) CSD B) TMU C) RCH D) SAE E) MTM
answer
E
question
Therbligs are: A) the smallest unit of time used in methods time measurement exercises. B) the largest unit of time used in methods time measurement exercises. C) basic physical elements of motion as used in methods time measurement exercises. D) the full range of motions required to complete a job as used in methods time measurement exercises. E) the smallest amount of time required to complete a job.
answer
C
question
A time measurement unit, or TMU, is: A) the same as a Therblig. B) 0.00001 minute. C) 0.00001 hour. D) the duration of the easiest GET motion. E) an historical experience standard.
answer
C
question
Predetermined time standards are an outgrowth of basic motions called: A) mini-movements. B) micro-motions. C) SAE standards. D) TMUs. E) therbligs.
answer
E
question
Among the advantages of predetermined time standards are all EXCEPT which of the following? A) Unions accept them as fair. B) They are available before a task is actually performed. C) They can only be determined after work actually takes place. D) They can be established in a laboratory setting. E) No performance ratings are necessary.
answer
C
question
What is a technique for estimating the percent of time a worker spends on various tasks? A) stopwatch time study B) simultaneous motion study C) work sampling D) standard elemental (historical) times E) predetermined (published) time standards
answer
C
question
The tally sheet data from a work sampling study provides information regarding: A) the number of wasted motions. B) the level of difficulty in a motion. C) the percent of time spent on various tasks. D) the quality of the work environment. E) the number of micro-motions involved.
answer
C
question
An advantage of work sampling is that: A) no observation is required. B) it involves study of the equipment only. C) a performance rating is necessary. D) the time spent observing the employee is relatively short. E) it is more effective than time studies when task times are short.
answer
D
question
A disadvantage of work sampling is that: A) it tends to be less accurate, particularly when task times are short. B) it observes several workers simultaneously. C) it is more expensive than time-study methods. D) it is more intrusive than time-study methods, and therefore generates more complaints. E) All of the above are disadvantages of work sampling.
answer
A
