COM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield COM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the purpose of demand forecasting in supply chain management? → To ensure product availability and minimize waste
2. Which term refers to the maximum output a facility can produce under ideal, theoretical conditions? → Design capacity
3. A vendor-managed inventory (VMI) arrangement means the: → Supplier monitors customer inventory levels and triggers replenishment
4. Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), what must be included on a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)? → 16 standardized sections covering hazard identification, composition, and handling
5. What is the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) used for in capital budgeting? → To set the discount rate for evaluating investment projects
6. A service center's average handle time improves by 15%, but first-call resolution drops by 10%. What does this scenario illustrate? → A suboptimization trade-off between speed and quality
7. A plant manager wants to determine whether a new scheduling system actually improved throughput. Which approach provides the strongest evidence? → Comparing throughput data from before and after implementation using control charts
8. A 'risk owner' in an operational risk framework is responsible for: → Monitoring, managing, and reporting on a specific assigned risk
9. A team member consistently underperforms despite receiving feedback. Which management approach should an Operations Manager prioritize first? → A structured performance improvement plan (PIP)
10. A project manager uses fast tracking to compress the project schedule. What does this involve? → Performing activities in parallel that were originally planned sequentially
11. Which of the following is an example of inbound logistics? → Managing supplier relationships
12. A company's debt-to-equity ratio increases from 0.5 to 1.8 after taking on significant new debt. The most immediate concern for an operations manager would be: → Higher financial risk and potential difficulty meeting interest obligations
13. Which concept describes the point in a supply chain where a customer order first influences production or procurement decisions? → Customer order decoupling point
14. An operations manager reviewing the external environment would use PESTLE analysis to examine: → Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors
15. Which project management process group includes activities to complete the work defined in the project management plan? → Executing
16. Which ISO standard provides guidelines for risk management applicable to operations? → ISO 31000
17. The 'residual risk' in operations refers to: → Risk remaining after controls and mitigation measures have been applied
18. What is effective delegation in COM management? → Assigning authority and tasks while maintaining accountability
19. What is the primary function of inventory management in supply chain management? → To keep track of product orders
20. Which scheduling technique allows the project manager to determine the amount of float on non-critical activities? → Critical Path Method (CPM)
21. A newly appointed Operations Manager inherits a high-performing team. Which leadership approach is MOST appropriate initially? → Observing, listening, and building relationships before making changes
22. What are consequences of non-compliance in COM practice? → Fines, license revocation, legal liability, and reputation damage
23. Which quality improvement cycle, developed by W. Edwards Deming, emphasizes iterative testing and learning? → PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
24. What is the primary purpose of a Quality Management System (QMS) in an operations environment? → Ensure consistent product/service quality and continuous improvement
25. What does a p-value below 0.05 indicate in an operational hypothesis test? → The result is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level
26. A project manager identifies that a risk could yield a positive outcome for the project. How should this type of risk be classified? → Opportunity
27. Which budgeting approach is best suited to an organization operating in a rapidly changing, unpredictable environment? → Rolling budget with frequent re-forecasting
28. An Operations Manager must present a process change to a resistant team. Which influence tactic is MOST effective for building acceptance? → Rational persuasion with data and evidence
29. Why is resource allocation crucial in operations planning? → To optimize resource use and meet production targets
30. An Operations Manager must reduce headcount due to budget cuts. Which approach BEST preserves team morale and trust? → Transparent communication about reasons and supporting affected employees