1. What do you mean by Productivity? What is its importance?

How would you measure

productivity?
2. Suppose that a company produced 300 standard bookcases last week using eight workers
and it produced 240 standard bookcases this week using six workers. In which period was
productivity higher? Explain.
3. Briefly describe the Delphi technique. What are its main benefits and weaknesses?
4. Sanyo Water Bottling Co. sells packaged drinking water. Monthly sales for a seven-month
period were as follows:

Sales
Month (Thousands)
Jan 150
Feb 175
Mar 186
Apr 194
May 187
Jun 155
Jul 141

Forecast August sales volume using each of the following:

a. A five-month moving average.
b. Exponential smoothing with a smoothing constant equal to .20, assuming a Feb forecast
of 150(Thousand).
c. A weighted average using .50 for July, .40 for June, and .10 for May.
d. Which method seems least appropriate? Why?

5. What is mass customization?

6. Explain the term robust design
7.