Supply Chain and Logistics Supply Chain Risk Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which framework uses a heat map plotting likelihood versus impact to prioritize supply chain risks?
- SWOT analysis
- Risk probability-impact matrix (Correct answer)
- Balanced scorecard
- Value stream mapping
Correct answer: Risk probability-impact matrix
A risk probability-impact matrix categorizes risks by their likelihood of occurrence and potential severity, helping teams focus mitigation resources.
Question 2: Geopolitical risk in supply chain management includes which of the following?
- Seasonal demand fluctuations
- Trade tariffs and export controls affecting cross-border sourcing (Correct answer)
- Internal warehouse theft
- Supplier payment terms
Correct answer: Trade tariffs and export controls affecting cross-border sourcing
Geopolitical risk encompasses government actions such as tariffs, sanctions, and export controls that can disrupt international supply flows.
Question 3: A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in supply chain management is primarily designed to:
- Maximize profit margins under normal operations
- Ensure critical supply chain functions continue during and after a major disruption (Correct answer)
- Reduce warehouse overhead costs
- Automate procurement processes
Correct answer: Ensure critical supply chain functions continue during and after a major disruption
A BCP outlines procedures to maintain or quickly restore supply chain operations when a significant disruption occurs.
Question 4: Which metric measures the time required for a supply chain to return to normal performance after a disruption?
- Perfect order rate
- Time-to-recover (TTR) (Correct answer)
- Cash-to-cash cycle time
- Fill rate
Correct answer: Time-to-recover (TTR)
Time-to-recover (TTR) quantifies how long it takes for supply chain performance to fully bounce back after a disruptive event.
Question 5: Cybersecurity threats are increasingly important in supply chain risk because:
- They only affect retail companies
- Digital systems and data sharing across partners create vulnerabilities to hacking and ransomware (Correct answer)
- They are fully covered by standard cargo insurance
- They do not affect physical goods movement
Correct answer: Digital systems and data sharing across partners create vulnerabilities to hacking and ransomware
Modern supply chains rely on interconnected digital platforms; a cyberattack on any node—such as an ERP system—can halt orders, shipments, and payments across the network.
Question 6: Which supply chain risk management approach involves identifying critical nodes whose failure would most severely disrupt the entire network?
- ABC analysis
- Critical path and node analysis (Correct answer)
- Vendor scorecard review
- FIFO inventory rotation
Correct answer: Critical path and node analysis
Critical node analysis identifies the suppliers, facilities, or routes whose failure would cause the greatest disruption, so mitigation efforts can be prioritized there.
Question 7: Near-shoring as a risk mitigation strategy refers to:
- Sourcing exclusively from domestic suppliers
- Moving production or sourcing to nearby countries to reduce lead times and geopolitical exposure (Correct answer)
- Storing inventory near customer delivery points
- Outsourcing logistics to a 3PL provider
Correct answer: Moving production or sourcing to nearby countries to reduce lead times and geopolitical exposure
Near-shoring relocates supply chain activities to neighboring or regionally close countries, balancing cost savings with reduced lead times and lower geopolitical risk compared to distant offshore sources.
Which framework uses a heat map plotting likelihood versus impact to prioritize supply chain risks?