Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Practice Exam

What method can be employed to change capacity to match load?

1. Change raw material suppliers

2. Add or reduce work hours

3. Increase quality checks

4. Expand product range

The correct answer is: Add or reduce work hours

Adding or reducing work hours is an effective method to change capacity to match load because it directly impacts the workforce's availability and productivity. When demand increases, extending work hours, such as implementing overtime or additional shifts, allows for increased production capacity without the need for significant capital investment in new equipment or facilities. Conversely, if demand decreases, reducing work hours can help align labor costs with the lower production load, preventing overstaffing and excess operating expenses. This flexible labor approach is essential in environments where production demand can fluctuate significantly over time. The ability to adjust labor hours allows for a responsive and agile manufacturing process, ensuring that capacity can be effectively matched to demand, leading to more efficient operations and cost control. While changing raw material suppliers can impact production efficiency, it doesn't directly affect capacity. Increasing quality checks might improve product quality but would not alter the overall production capacity. Expanding the product range might satisfy more customer needs, but it doesn’t address the existing capacity directly, and may even complicate operations without sufficient capacity planning.