Matching Supply with Demand: An Introduction to Operations Management

2nd Edition

Questions for Chapter 10

Last updated 10/8/08

Copyright Gerard Cachon and Christian Terwiesch: Instructors adopting our text are free to use these questions.

QUESTIONS WITH EMBEDDED ANSWERS

Which of the following statements about the Kanban System are accurate?

I. Deploying the Kanban system leads to pulling work through the system instead of pushing work. II. Deploying the Kanban system leads to pushing work through the system instead of pulling work. III. The Kanban system controls the work in process inventory. IV. The seats in the Toyota case discussed in class were ordered using the Kanban process V. Kanban requires cross-training all workers.

a. I only b. II only c. III and IV only d. I, II and III only e. I, II and IV f. I and IV only g. I and III only

Answer g) is correct Please write the letter corresponding to the most appropriate example or definition from choices (a – k below) on the blank line next to each word below.

a) Examples of this include: workers having to make unnecessary movements (i.e. excessive reaching or walking to get tools or parts), working on parts that are defective and idle time.
b) A system that enables a line worker to signal that he or she needs assistance from his or her supervisor, for example in the case of a defect. Used to implement the Jidoka principle.
c) A brainstorming technique that helps structure the process of identifying underlying causes of an (usually undesirable) outcome
d) As an example of this philosophy, workers in the Toshiba case had notebooks at their work stations that they used to jot down improvement ideas.
e) A method that controls the amount of work-in-process inventory
f) If