Inventory & Supply Management Flashcards

A housekeeping manager wants to reduce the cost of cleaning supplies by 10% without compromising quality. Which strategy is MOST appropriate to evaluate first?

Answer: Analyzing current usage rates to identify overuse or waste before renegotiating vendor contracts

Analyzing usage data first identifies where waste or overuse occurs, enabling targeted reductions without automatically sacrificing product quality.

What is the primary purpose of conducting a 'cycle count' in inventory management?

Answer: Counting a rotating subset of inventory items regularly to maintain accuracy without full shutdowns

Cycle counting involves regularly counting a portion of inventory on a rotating schedule, catching errors early without requiring a complete operational shutdown.

Which condition would MOST likely trigger an emergency purchase outside the normal procurement process?

Answer: An unexpected stockout of critical supplies during peak occupancy

A critical stockout during peak demand requires immediate action to restore operations, justifying the higher costs associated with emergency procurement.

When evaluating a new supplier for housekeeping chemicals, which criterion relates DIRECTLY to product safety compliance?

Answer: Whether the supplier provides current SDS documents and meets regulatory requirements

Regulatory compliance and current SDS documentation ensure that chemical products meet OSHA and EPA safety standards required for workplace use.

A supply manager notices that one cleaning product is used in far smaller quantities than originally budgeted. What is the BEST first step?

Answer: Investigate whether the product is being used correctly, hoarded, or is genuinely less needed

Understanding why usage is lower than expected—whether due to misuse, pilferage, changed procedures, or genuinely reduced need—informs the appropriate corrective action.

Which factor MOST directly determines how much safety stock a housekeeping department should maintain?

Answer: Demand variability and supplier lead time variability

Safety stock buffers against uncertainty in both demand (usage fluctuations) and supply (delivery delays), so variability in both determines the appropriate buffer level.

In a housekeeping context, what does 'green procurement' primarily focus on?

Answer: Selecting environmentally responsible products that reduce chemical impact and waste

Green procurement prioritizes environmentally sustainable products—such as biodegradable cleaners, recycled content items, and reduced-packaging options—to minimize environmental impact.