Rivalry among competing sellers is the degree of competition between firms in the same industry. It can affect the profitability and market share of the firms, and influence their strategies and decisions. Rivalry tends to be stronger when the demand is slow, the products are similar, the switching costs are low, and the capacity is high. Rivalry can also lead to innovation, differentiation, and customer satisfaction.
Rivalry among competing sellers is generally weaker when buyer demand is growing rapidly. This is because a fast-growing market offers more opportunities for expansion and growth for all the firms, without having to compete aggressively for a limited number of customers. A fast-growing market also reduces the pressure to cut prices or increase advertising, as the demand exceeds the supply. A fast-growing market can also attract new entrants, which can increase the rivalry in the long run, but in the short run, it can create more diversity and segmentation in the market.
References: Competitive Rivalry: What Is It and Why Is It Important? | Indeed.com; Industry Rivalry & Competition | Porter’s Five Forces.
Question 2
Which of the following is the fundamental difference between finite loading and other capacity planning approaches?
Options:
A.
It is highly dependent on advanced computer software to function effectively.
B.
It is only managed by shop floor supervisors.
C.
It can use historical information to drive decision-making processes.
D.
It considers adjustments to plans based on planned capacity utilization.
Answer:
D
Explanation:
Explanation:
Finite loading is a capacity planning approach that considers adjustments to plans based on planned capacity utilization. It does not allow overloading of resources and schedules operations only when there is enough capacity available. Finite loading creates a more realistic schedule for the production processes than other approaches, such as infinite loading, that ignore the capacityconstraints and assume that the due dates of orders are absolute. Finite loading is not highly dependent on advanced computer software, although it can benefit from it. It is not only managed by shop floor supervisors, but also by planners and schedulers. It can use historical information, but it is not the only approach that can do so. Therefore, the fundamental difference between finite loading and other capacity planning approaches is that it considers adjustments to plans based on planned capacity utilization. References := CPIM Part 2 Exam Content Manual, Domain 6: Plan, Manage, and Execute Detailed Schedules, Section B: Schedule Production Activities, Subsection 1: Develop a detailed production schedule (p. 28)
Question 3
Which of the following factors may be used to calculate available capacity?
Options:
A.
Productivity
B.
Load
C.
Yield
D.
Efficiency
Answer:
D
Explanation:
Explanation:
Available capacity is the difference between the required capacity and planned operating capacity1. It refers to how capable the resources in an organization are in formulating and implementing strategy1. To calculate available capacity, factors such as the number of machines or workers, the number of shifts, utilization, and efficiency are considered1. Efficiency, in particular, is a crucial factor as it measures how effectively resources are used to produce output. It is calculated as the ratio of actual output to standard output within a specific time period1. Therefore, efficiency directly impacts available capacity by determining how much output can be produced with the available resources and time.
The other options, while important in production and operations management, are not directly used to calculate available capacity:
Productivity measures the output per unit of input and is more about overall performance rather than available capacity.
Load refers to the amount of work assigned to a resource or facility but does not directly indicate available capacity.
Yield measures the percentage of products that meet quality standards out of total units produced but does not directly calculate available capacity.