5. Supply Chain Strategy and Design

Lean And Agile — Quiz

Test your understanding of lean and agile with 5 practice questions.

Practice Questions

Question 1

Which of the following scenarios would most strongly indicate the need for an agile supply chain, even if it introduces higher operational costs?

Question 2

In a 'leagile' supply chain, if a company manufactures custom-configured industrial machinery, where would the decoupling point most effectively be placed to balance cost efficiency and customer responsiveness?

Question 3

A company is evaluating its supply chain strategy for a new product line. The product is a high-tech gadget with a short market window, high demand uncertainty, and requires significant customization options. Which supply chain paradigm would be most appropriate, and what is its primary advantage in this context?

Question 4

Consider a global pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of drugs. For its generic, high-volume, off-patent medications with stable demand, it employs a lean supply chain. For its newly developed, patented, specialized drugs with uncertain demand and short patent lives, it employs an agile supply chain. This strategic differentiation across product lines exemplifies which concept?

Question 5

A company aims to reduce its total logistics costs while maintaining customer service levels. It operates in an industry with relatively stable demand and standardized products. Which of the following lean principles would be most critical to focus on to achieve this goal?