BA361 Assignment 27.0

Which of the following issues would best be handled by a special-purpose team? 1. A proposal has been made to switch from rail to truck for both transporting incoming parts and product distribution. 2. Forklifts have difficulty moving material in the factory because there is too much congestion in the aisles. 3. A machine on the shop floor occasionally malfunctions. 4. Customers are complaining that they get charged twice for their purchases. 5. Particular items in a warehouse are difficult to find.

1. A proposal has been made to switch from rail to truck for both transporting incoming parts and product distribution.

Typically the job chosen for the time study will be 1. a routine job that is labor intensive 2. done only occasionally 3. insignificant 4. done primarily by machine 5. a simple job performed by many different people

1. a routine job that is labor intensive

The use of standard times for costing allows the company to do all except which of the following? 1. evaluate use of new equipment 2. evaluate quantitative methods 3. evaluate new techniques for building a product 4. evaluate individual operator proficiency 5. evaluate new product proposals

2. evaluate quantitative methods

The fact that human activities typically improve when they are done on a repetitive basis is described by a(an) _________________ curve. 1. lognormal distribution 2. learning 3. S-shaped 4. normal distribution 5. binomial distribution

2. learning

Disadvantages of individual incentive systems include all except which of the following? 1. They give employees a short-term focus. 2. A study has shown they had no effect on worker performance. 3. They need a significant amount of data collection. 4. They avoid the "free-rider" problem. 5. They undermine teamwork.

4. They avoid the "free-rider" problem.

A company uses standard times for 1. financial accounting 2. the winter months 3. advertising 4. costing 5. public relations

4. costing

Profit sharing and gain sharing are two methods of 1. calculating pay for top management 2. keeping expense account costs under control 3. employee retirement plans 4. group incentive plans 5. keeping costs down

4. group incentive plans

What is the effect of an increase in the desired confidence level on the number of observations necessary in a time study? 1. decreases 2. may increase or decrease 3. impossible to say 4. increases 5. unchanged

4. increases

Which of the following is typically not associated with problem solving teams? 1. employees engage in data gathering 2. employees are trained in problem solving techniques 3. employee participation is on an ongoing basis 4. employees typically volunteer 5. employees contribute on a short term basis

5. employees contribute on a short term basis

What does work measurement determine? 1. what is the best way to do a job 2. why a particular step must be included in an operation 3. who is the best worker 4. where work should be done 5. how long it should take to do a job

5. how long it should take to do a job

The approach that details the tasks of a job and how to do them is 1. work measurement 2. work sampling 3. job design 4. job evaluation 5. methods analysis

5. methods analysis

Standard times can be used to measure performance of individual workers. If a worker fails to match the standard time, the company should do what? 1. change the standard time 2. ignore the situation 3. put the worker on probation 4. fire the worker 5. provide training to improve the worker's performance

5. provide training to improve the worker's performance

Companies need to design compensation systems that 1. are innovative 2. do not differ significantly from those of other firms in the industry 3. are easy to administer 4. punish poor performance 5. reinforce the behaviors needed to meet the companys objectives

5. reinforce the behaviors needed to meet the companys objectives

The steps involved in a time study include all except which of the following? 1. Determine the probability distribution that best fits the observed times. 2. Tell the worker whose job you will be studying. 3. Time each element, record the times, and rate the workers performance. 4. Break the job into easily recognizable units. 5. Calculate the number of cycles you must observe.

1. Determine the probability distribution that best fits the observed times.

What results from methods analysis? 1. a standard, detailed procedure for an operation 2. an evaluation of current employees 3. time standards 4. guidance for designing jobs 5. a graph of how long each step takes

1. a standard, detailed procedure for an operation

Establishing a performance factor is an attempt to 1. counterbalance any unusual patterns noted. 2. allow management to 'encourage' greater productivity. 3. punish the worker who does not perform fast enough. 4. fudge the actual times. 5. use the ISO 9000 approval process.

1. counterbalance any unusual patterns noted.

In calculating the time standard, the frequency of occurrence for a work element is 1. how many times the work element is repeated in doing the job once 2. how many other jobs have the same work element 3. the number of times the work element took longer than all the other work elements 4. the fraction of the time the work element needs to be done when the job is done 5. the inverse of the wave length for the work element

1. how many times the work element is repeated in doing the job once

What is the methods analysis chart that describes the overall sequence of operation, movement, inspection, delay, and storage? 1. process flowchart 2. worker-machine chart 3. efficiency/time-of-day chart 4. simultaneous-motion (simo) chart 5. operations chart

1. process flowchart

What is the approach that moves the work to the worker rather than the worker to the workplace? 1. the alternative workplace 2. teleworking 3. office on the move 4. office at home 5. virtual office

1. the alternative workplace

What is a technique for estimating the proportion of time an employee or machine spends on different work activities? 1. work sampling 2. time elements 3. stopwatch time study 4. predetermined time data 5. simultaneous motion study

1. work sampling

If OT = the mean observed time, PRF = the performance rating factor, F = the frequency of occurrence, and PFD = the percentage allowance based on time worked, what is the formula to compute the normal time? 1. (OT)(PRF)(F)(1 + PFD) 2. (OT)(PRF)(F) 3. (OT)(PRF) / (F) 4. (OT)(PRF)(F) / (1 - PFD) 5. (OT)(PRF)(F) / (1 + PFD)

2. (OT)(PRF)(F)

If OT = the mean observed time, PRF = the performance rating factor, F = the frequency of occurrence, and PFD = the percentage allowance adjustment based on job time, what is the formula to compute the standard time? 1. (OT)(PRF)(F) / (1 - PFD) 2. (OT)(PRF)(F)(1 + PFD) 3. (OT)(PRF) / (F) 4. (OT)(PRF)(F) 5. (OT)(PRF)(F) / (1 + PFD)

2. (OT)(PRF)(F)(1 + PFD)

The first unit of a product took 400 hours to complete. If an 80% learning curve is expected, how long will the 18th unit take to complete? 1. 163.8 hours 2. 157.6 hours 3. 3886.4 hours 4. 400.0 hours 5. 7200.0 hours

2. 157.6 hours

Which of the following is an advantage of using predetermined time data? 1. There is universal agreement in assessing the level of difficulty of different work elements. 2. You can calculate standard times before the job begins. 3. No calculations are required. 4. You do not need to know much about the job. 5. Very little skill is required.

2. You can calculate standard times before the job begins.

Which of the following is not a commonly used process for setting standard times? 1. predetermined time data 2. elapsed times 3. time study 4. work sampling 5. elemental time data

2. elapsed times

A companys accepted time studies are stored in a(n) ____________ for possible future use. 1. file cabinet 2. elemental time database 3. time study vault 4. jar 5. warehouse

2. elemental time database

What are small groups of employees who meet to identify, analyze, and solve operational problems called? 1. cross-functional teams 2. problem-solving teams 3. special-purpose teams 4. self-managed teams 5. traditional work groups

2. problem-solving teams

The formula to determine standard labor costs for costing a product is: 1. standard labor time x normal labor cost 2. standard labor time x hourly labor cost 3. normal labor time x normal labor cost 4. normal labor time x hourly labor cost 5. adjusted normal time x adjusted normal labor cost

2. standard labor time x hourly labor cost

The first unit of a product took 400 hours to complete. If an 80% learning curve is expected, how long will it take to complete the first 18 units? 1. 7200.0 hours 2. 400.0 hours 3. 3886.4 hours 4. 163.8 hours 5. 157.6 hours

3. 3886.4 hours

Output-based incentive systems are based on the assumption that some workers 1. work harder than others 2. mentally calculate their pay by keeping track of their output 3. are motivated by money and produce more when pay is linked to performance 4. like to work overtime 5. like to work in a competitive environment

3. are motivated by money and produce more when pay is linked to performance

In work sampling, when should observations be taken? 1. at the same time 2. each day once per hour 3. at random times 4. once per day 5. once per week

3. at random times

Which of the following is not taken into consideration when dealing with the effects of working conditions on worker productivity, quality and safety? 1. ventilation 2. relative humidity 3. cafeteria location 4. temperature 5. lighting

3. cafeteria location

Typical work elements that occur in many jobs include all except which of the following? 1. tighten something 2. position an item 3. figure out the instructions 4. reach for materials 5. insert something

3. figure out the instructions

For the step in a time study that involves breaking the job down into easily recognizable elements, each of these elements should 1. be semi-continuous 2. not involve the worker 3. have clear starting and ending points 4. not be stand-alone 5. overlap

3. have clear starting and ending points

Which of the following is not characteristic of time-based compensation systems? 1. employees know what they will get in their regular paycheck 2. normally used when measuring output per employee is not applicable 3. lower cost per unit than output-based systems 4. simplicity 5. wages are easily calculated

3. lower cost per unit than output-based systems

When performing a time study, the analyst converts the observed time into the time an "average" worker would require working at an acceptable pace by using which of the following? 1. allowance factor 2. analysis of efficiency 3. performance rating factor 4. methods analysis 5. mean time modulation

3. performance rating factor

The formula for determining the number of observations needed depends upon all except which of the following values? 1. the mean of the sample observations 2. the standard deviation of the sample observations 3. the maximum observed value in the sample 4. the desired accuracy 5. the number of standard deviations needed for the desired confidence

3. the maximum observed value in the sample

A difference between self-directed and self-managed teams is 1. who defines the team's compensation package 2. where the work is performed 3. who defines the team's working goal 4. who defines the team rules 5. what means of job enrichment will be applied

3. who defines the team's working goal

Which of the following steps is not included when a time study analyst uses standard elemental times? 1. If no valid studies exist for this or a similar work element, do a time study for the new work element. 2. Identify the standard elements of the job. 3. Check the database for time studies done on these elements. 4. Determine the performance rating factor. 5. Adjust the database times if needed.

4. Determine the performance rating factor.

Which of the following is not a step in work sampling? 1. Estimate the proportion of time spent on the given activity. 2. Define the activities to be observed. 3. Estimate the sample size based on the desired level of accuracy and confidence. 4. Divide the job into basic elements. 5. Identify the worker or machine to be sampled.

4. Divide the job into basic elements.

What is the governmental agency that has inspectors who check for safety conditions? 1. IRS 2. HEW 3. FCC 4. OSHA 5. ISO

4. OSHA

Which of the following is not characteristic of output-based compensation systems? 1. need to be linked to quality as well as quantity to be successful 2. can be used to compensate groups 3. can be used to compensate individuals 4. often include an upper limit on how much an individual can be compensated each day 5. can include a base salary

4. often include an upper limit on how much an individual can be compensated each day

Which one of the following would learning curves affect the most? 1. location analysis 2. robots 3. layout analysis 4. planning labor requirements 5. statistical process control

4. planning labor requirements

The ____________ time is the time it should take a qualified operator, working at a sustainable pace and using the appropriate tools and process, to do the job. 1. normal 2. observed 3. ideal 4. standard 5. performance

4. standard

Which of the following is not a form of alternative workplace arrangements? 1. telework center 2. desk sharing 3. hot desking 4. working from the hotel room on an occasional business trip 5. virtual office

4. working from the hotel room on an occasional business trip

If OT = the mean observed time, PRF = the performance rating factor, F = the frequency of occurrence, and PFD = the percentage allowance based on time worked, what is the formula to compute the standard time? 1. (OT)(PRF)(F)(1 + PFD) 2. (OT)(PRF)(F) / (1 + PFD) 3.(OT)(PRF)(F) 4.(OT)(PRF)(F) / (1 - PFD) 5. (OT)(PRF) / (F)

4.(OT)(PRF)(F) / (1 - PFD)

To determine whether the alternative workplace is right for your organization, which of the following questions should be positively answered? 1. Are you out of space? 2. Does your organization subscribe to the 'new' work force program? 3. Does the organization plan office parties? 4. Does your organization allow the employee to set their own expectations? 5. Does your organization have an open culture?

5. Does your organization have an open culture?

Which of the following is a basic difference of work sampling compared to a time study? 1. It is suitable only for assembly lines. 2. It does not require any observations. 3. It is better suited for short, repetitive tasks. 4. It requires fewer observations to accomplish the same thing. 5. It does not provide standard times.

5. It does not provide standard times.

____________ is a published database of elemental time data used for establishing standard times. 1. Time elements 2. Performance times 3. Time histories 4. Time samples 5. Predetermined time data

5. Predetermined time data

In a time study, personal time, fatigue, and unavoidable delays (PFD) during the typical work day are accounted for in what? 1. costs 2. how the work elements are defined 3. the performance rating 4. the normal time 5. an allowance factor

5. an allowance factor

Methods analysis can 1. analyze the fairness of pay systems 2. help select issues that need to be brought to management's attention 3. evaluate job performance 4. improve how teams function 5. improve efficiency

5. improve efficiency

Advantages of the alternative workplace include all except which of the following? 1. reducing overhead expenses 2. eliminating offices that people do not need 3. employees devote more time to customers and/or meaningful work activities 4. offers more flexibility to balance work and family 5. increased cohesiveness among employees

5. increased cohesiveness among employees

The allowance factor is computed by adding one to PFD (personal time, fatigue, and unavoidable delays) when the allowance is based on what? 1. time worked 2. the performance rating 3. factor normal time 4. standard time 5. job time

5. job time

Which of the following would not be a basic element into which a job would be split when using predetermined time data? 1. insert 2. turn 3. grasp 4. reach 5. sort

5. sort

For each work element in the time study, multiplying the mean observed time by the performance rating factor by the frequency of occurrence results in what? 1. the average delay for the element 2. the standard time for the job 3. the average observed time for the element 4. the standard time for the element 5. the normal time for the element

5. the normal time for the element