APICS Updated CPIM-8.0 Exam Questions and Answers by ewan

A control chart is a tool that shows process changes and random variation over time. It is a type of statistical process control (SPC) that monitors the performance of a process and detects whether it is in or out of control. A control chart consists of a center line, an upper control limit, and a lower control limit. The center line represents the average or target value of the process. The control limits represent the acceptable range of variation withinthe process. If the data points fall within the control limits, the process is considered stable and in control. If the data points fall outside the control limits, or show a non-random pattern, the process is considered unstable and out of control, indicating the presence of special causes of variation that need to be investigated and eliminated. References:

• Managing Supply Chain Operations, Chapter 9: Quality Management, Section 9.2: Statistical Process Control
• CPIM Exam Content Manual, Module 8: Quality, Technology and Continuous Improvement, Section 8.1: Quality Management, Subsection 8.1.2: Statistical Process Control

A bill of distribution is the planned channels of inventory disbursement from one or more sources to field warehouses and ultimately to the customer. There may be one or more levels in the disbursement system. It is used to allocate inventory among different distribution centers based on demand, capacity, and costs. A bill of distribution is similar to a bill of materials, but for distribution planning instead of production planning. The other options are not correct, as they refer to different concepts in distribution management:

•A supply chain community is a network of organizations that collaborate to achieve common goals and objectives in the supply chain.

•Interplant demand is the demand for a product or component from one plant to another within the same company.

•Logistics data interchange (LDI) is the electronic exchange of information between logistics partners, such as suppliers, carriers, and customers. References:

•[CPIM Part 2 - Section A - Topic 4 - Distribution Planning]

•Distribution Channel Design

•APICS Flashcards

Maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supply systems are essential for ensuring the availability and reliability of equipment and infrastructure used in production processes. MRO supplies include items such as spare parts, tools, lubricants, cleaning materials, and safety equipment. The primary consideration in MRO supply systems typically is stockout costs, which are the costs incurred when an item is not available when needed. Stockouts can cause production delays, equipment breakdowns, customer dissatisfaction, and lost sales opportunities. Therefore, it is important to maintain adequate inventory levels of MRO supplies to avoid stockouts and ensure uninterrupted operations. Order quantity, carrying costs, and shelf life are also important factors in MRO supply systems, but they are not the primary consideration. Order quantity is the amount of MRO supplies ordered at a time, which affects the ordering costs and the inventory levels. Carrying costs are the costs of holding MRO supplies in inventory, which include storage, handling, insurance, and obsolescence costs. Shelf life is the period of time that MRO supplies can be stored before they expire or deteriorate, which affects the inventory turnover and the waste disposal costs. These factors need to be balanced with the stockout costs to optimize the MRO supply systems. References:

• CPIM Part 2 Study Guide, Chapter 6: Inventory Management, Section 6.3: Inventory Management for Independent Demand Items
• What is maintenance, repair and operations | IBM, Section: Why should you care about MRO?
• Maintenance, Repair, and Operations/Overhaul (MRO) - A Complete Guide, Section: Understanding MRO

Work-in-process (WIP) cost is the total cost of the units that are partially completed in the production process. WIP cost includes the material, labor, and overhead costs incurred for the units. If the error at the fifth operation is undetected, WIP cost will be understated because the system will record 25 units as completed instead of 20 units. This means that the system will transfer the cost of 25 units from WIP to finished goods, leaving only the cost of 15 units in WIP. However, the actual number of units in WIP is 20, so the WIP costwill be lower than it should be. The other conditions will not be true if the error is undetected. Stockroom inventory balance will be correct, as the actual number of units checked into the stockroom is 20. Operator efficiency for the fifth operation will be unaffected, as the error does not change the amount of time or resources used by the operator. Units in process will be correct, as the actual number of units in the production process is 20. References: Work in Process (WIP) | APICS Dictionary Term of the Day, APICS CPIM 8 Planning and Inventory Management | ASCM