Q&A Hero

Q: Materials handling deals with the short distance movement that usually takes place within the confines of a building such as a plant or DC and between a building and a transportation service provider.

Q: "Weighing out" refers to a container that has been weighed prior to its departure from a container yard.

Q: Load-planning software can be used to suggest how to load a container with different sizes of cartons.

Q: Advances in technology have created stronger plastics that can be used for slip sheets and this has resulted in a corresponding decrease in damage rates.

Q: Fifty pounds is a significant weight in many logistics systems because it represents the approximate weight at which there is a noticeable increase in injuries.

Q: Plastic pallets tend to be less expensive than wooden or metal pallets.

Q: In the United States, the majority of pallets are made of wood.

Q: The retail package is the basic unit in unit loading.

Q: The World Trade Organization has established six international pallet size standards.

Q: The major advantage of the unit load is that it enables mechanical devices to be substituted for manual labor.

Q: When a unit load is secured to a pallet, it is more difficult for pilferage to take place.

Q: A "box maker's certificate" assures that boxes are free from any visible defects.

Q: Carriers' tariffs and classifications influence the type of packaging and packing methods that must be used.

Q: Transportation consolidation has been described as the "last frontier" of logistics savings opportunities.

Q: The United States is the only country in the world that does not currently use the metric system of measurement.

Q: Reusable containers work best in a closed-loop system.

Q: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), commonly referred to as vinyl, is considered a friendly plastic because it has few, if any, potential side effects.

Q: Plastic packaging tends to be cheaper, more versatile, and more consumer-friendly than paper packaging.

Q: Biodegradable plastics cost approximately three times as much as conventional plastics.

Q: Approximately 50% of consumers view packaging as a major environmental issue.

Q: The International Chamber of Commerce developed the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

Q: Failure to comply with labeling guidelines can result in surcharges, administrative fees, or penalty charges.

Q: As a general rule, labeling requirements and enforcement tend to be more stringent in larger countries (based on population) than in smaller countries.

Q: Most package labeling takes place at the end of the assembly line.

Q: Shipping hazards include vibrations, dropping, rough handling, and overexposure to extreme temperatures.

Q: When new products or new packaging techniques are about to be introduced, it is somewhat advisable to have the packages pretested.

Q: The severity of the distribution environment is the primary consideration in properly designing a protective packaging system.

Q: One general function of packaging is to identify the relevant product.

Q: Procurement can be thought of in terms of the building-blocks concept.

Q: Certain products should not, for safety or health reasons, be packaged together.

Q: The physical characteristics of some goods change while they are moving in the logistics channel.

Q: Packaging and materials handling decisions can be made in isolation from other logistics activities.

Q: Which of the following is false? a. racks and bins are examples of storage equipment b. automation refers to equipment that complements, rather than replaces, human contact c. forklifts can be dangerous d. in a part-to-picker system, the pick location is brought to the picker e. all of the above are true

Q: It is important that the materials handling equipment be aligned with an organization's objectives, customers, and ____. a. suppliers b. top management c. products d. stakeholders

Q: The total cost of ownership is associated with which of the 10 materials handling principles? a. life cycle cost principle b. planning c. system d. standardization e. none of the above

Q: ____ refers to the interaction between workers and workplace conditions. a. rhochrematics b. labor relations c. human resource management d. ergonomics

Q: A dry bulk material's ____ is important for determining the quantity that can be stored in a given location. a. viscosity b. specific gravity c. angle of repose d. market value e. none of the above

Q: With respect to density, a vehicle loaded with ____ is most likely to cube out (cubic capacity is filled before reaching its weight capacity). a. grain b. coal c. soybeans d. gravel

Q: ____ refers to the short distance movement that usually takes place within the confines of a building such as a plant or distribution center and between a building and a transportation service provider. a. physical distribution b. materials management c. warehousing d. materials handling

Q: From a space utilization perspective, one pallet occupies ____ times more space than a plastic slip sheet. a. 80 b. 60 c. 40 d. 20

Q: ____ pounds is the approximate weight at which there is a noticeable increase in injuries, particularly back injuries, from manual handling. a. 25 b. 40 c. 50 d. 60 e. none of the above

Q: A major drawback to metal and plastic pallets is their ____. a. lifespan b. price c. weight d. incompatibility with existing forklifts

Q: The basic unit in unit loading is a ____. a. box b. crate c. pallet d. container

Q: The ____ has established six international pallet size standards. a. World Trade Organization b. International Chamber of Commerce c. International Standards Organization d. United Nations

Q: Which of the following is false? a. the unit load is of limited value to shippers that deal in smaller quantities b. unit loads may discourage pilferage c. the unit load allows mechanical devices to be substituted for manual labor d. pallets suffer from a lack of standardized sizes, particularly in the U.S. e. all of the above are true

Q: A major advantage of the unit load is ____. a. its environmental friendliness b. mechanical devices can be substituted for manual labor c. its value to companies that deal in small quantities d. that it simplifies transportation requirements

Q: A unit load involves ____. a. a convoy of rail cars carrying the same product b. loading an entire vehicle with shipments from three or fewer shippers c. the usage of a pallet rack system of storage d. consolidation of several units into larger units to improve efficiency in handling and to reduce shipping costs

Q: What organization regulates the packaging of international air shipments? a. International Air Transport Association b. United Nations c. World Trade Organization d. International Chamber of Commerce

Q: A "box-maker's certificate" ____. a. refers to what box makers receive upon finishing their training b. is given in recognition of superior box making ability c. assures that boxes are free from any visible defects d. assures railroads and motor carriers that boxes are sufficiently sturdy to meet their handling requirements

Q: What has been described as the "last frontier" of logistics savings opportunities? a. information technology b. transportation consolidation c. packaging inefficiencies d. inventory management e. none of the above

Q: Which of the following is not a logistical consequence of packaging inefficiency? a. increased loss b. increased damage c. higher storage costs d. slower materials handling e. all of the above are logistical consequences

Q: How many countries in the world do not currently use the metric system of measurement? a. five b. three c. two d. zero

Q: ____ systems consider the reverse flow of products, their reuse, and the marketing and distribution of recovered products. a. eco- b. open-loop c. closed-loop d. dynamic

Q: Which of the following is not an environmentally-friendly packaging strategy that firms might adopt? a. reduce the amount of packing materials used b. use more environmentally-friendly packaging materials c. use reusable containers d. retain or support services that collect the used package and recycle it e. all of the above are strategies

Q: Which of the following is not a characteristic of plastic packaging? a. lack of versatility b. takes a long time to biodegrade c. plastic is dependent on petroleum d. plastic litter can kill marine animals e. all of the above are characteristics of plastic packaging

Q: Biodegradable plastics cost ____ as much as conventional plastics. a. two times b. three times c. four times d. five times

Q: Over 80% of customers view packaging as ____. a. irrelevant to the purchase decision b. one of the least important logistics activities c. deceptive d. a major environmental issue

Q: Which of the following is not a key piece of classification and labeling information provided by the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)? a. a signal word (e.g., "danger") b. a picture of the chemical or hazardous material c. a symbol d. a hazard statement (e.g., "severe projection hazard") e. all of the above are key pieces of GHS information

Q: The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) was developed by the ____. a. International Chamber of Commerce b. World Trade Organization c. World Bank d. United Nations

Q: As a general rule, labeling requirements and enforcement tends to be more stringent in ____ countries than in ____ countries. a. larger; smaller b. older; younger c. economically developed; economically developing d. smaller; larger

Q: Which of the following is false? a. package labeling is usually done at the end of the assembly line b. pictures are preferable to words for labeling a product c. labeling regulations may differ from country to country d. labeling requirements within a particular country can vary from state to state (province to province) e. all of the above are true

Q: Each of the following is a shipping hazard that a package may be exposed to except ____. a. retraction b. vibration c. compression d. rough handling e. all of the above are shipping hazards for a package

Q: ____ refers to materials used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery, and presentation of goods. a. materials management b. materials handling c. procurement d. packaging

Q: The building blocks concept is associated with which logistics function? a. warehousing b. packaging c. materials handling d. inventory management

Q: Which of the following statements regarding perishable products is false? a. they require special storage b. they require special monitoring c. they require special loading d. they require special packaging e. all of the above are true

Q: Which of the following statements is false? a. a product's chemical characteristics have little to no influence on the way the product is handled b. some products can be exposed to freezing weather; others cannot c. the various properties of goods must be made known to consumers to help them make the correct buying decision and properly care for the product d. perishable products require special packaging as they move from source to customer e. all of the above are true

Q: Product density refers to a product's ____. a. volume b. weight c. weight per volume d. fragility e. none of the above

Q: How might an organization's order picking and assembly system influence its decisions on materials handling equipment?

Q: Why is it important that materials handling be aligned with an organization's objectives, customers, and products?

Q: Of the 10 materials handling principles discusses in the chapter, which two are most surprising to you? Why?

Q: Discuss the various handling characteristics associated with bulk cargoes.

Q: Distinguish between weighing out and cubing out and explain how these concepts impact the logistician's job.

Q: What issues does the logistics manager face once unit loads have been placed onto a transportation vehicle?

Q: What trade-offs exist between wood, plastic, and metal pallets?

Q: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the unit load.

Q: How do transportation tariffs and classifications influence the type of packaging and packing methods?

Q: How can reducing packaging inefficiencies improve the performance of a logistics system?

Q: Discuss some of the potential challenges to adopting the metric system in the United States.

Q: What environmentally friendly packaging strategies might a firm adopt?

Q: What are some environmental disadvantages to plastic packaging?