BLK321 Semester Test 1 2025

The document is an examination paper for a Supply Chain Engineering course at the University of Pretoria, comprising five questions that cover topics such as master production scheduling, sales and operations planning, and material requirements planning. It includes specific case studies related to the manufacturing of computer mice and requires students to analyze and provide solutions based on given data. The test is closed-book and allows the use of calculators, with a total of 85 marks available.

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BLK321 Semester Test 1 2025

Uploaded by

Lane Smit

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Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

University of Pretoria

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Supply Chain Engineering BLK 321

Lecturer: Dr. Tshinangi Kapya
External examiner: Mr. Thabang Ngwenya
Date: 29 August 2025
Duration: 90 minutes

This paper comprises 5 question(s). Please answer all the questions.

Marks for each question (or sub-question) are indicated in a square frame next to the
question in the left margin.

This is a closed-book test.

Calculators are allowed.

Complete all 5 questions for 85 marks

BLK 321 1 of 6 ISy Eng

7 1. Many companies have come to view their master production schedulers as key people
in profitably meeting the firm’s strategic goals. Would you agree? What qualities would
you look for in a master production scheduler?

7 2. Why must we have effective MPC systems in place before we can anticipate the adoption
of sales and operations planning concepts?

6 3. You are a consultant to a company and the manufacturing manager just mentioned that
his team members are frustrated because there are too frequent changes like expediting,
cancellation and changes in quantity to the manufacturing orders. This is said to be due
to the over-bearing character of the marketing manager, a senior manager who seems
not to respect the production manager who is a junior manager. Suggest one issue that
might have not been properly done in the planning process of this company and what
your suggestion to fix such might be.

4. SAComp manufactures six types of computer mice. A mouse consists of three main
subassemblies: the body, the motion sensor and the connector. All mice use the same
type of body assembly, but have different options of motion sensors and connectors. The
sensor can be of either the optical or the laser type, while the connector comes in 3 types:
cable, dongle and Bluetooth. The summary of the main sub-assemblies is presented in
Table 1.

Table 1: Options for mouse types and their material numbers

Components
Subassembly
Mouse Body Connector Sensor
Cable Dongle Bluetooth Optical Laser
Connection Connection Connection Sensor Sensor
Material Number B00 C01 C02 C03 S01 S02

The six types of mice with their options and proportions are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Mouse types, options and proportions

Mouse Types Connector Motion sensor Proportion
Type A C01 Cable S01 Optical 0.20
Type B C01 Cable S02 Laser 0.10
Type C C02 Dongle S01 Optical 0.15
Type D C02 Dongle S02 Laser 0.25
Type E C03 Bluetooth S01 Optical 0.20
Type F C03 Bluetooth S02 Laser 0.10

The common parts and the laser sensor are manufactured at constant weekly rates, while
other components are made in batches as shown in Table 3. The relevant master data
information for all materials are also provided on this table.
The cable connector and optical sensor options are also produced for external supply and
have weekly demands of 15 and 20 units, respectively. Management has decided that the

BLK 321 2 of 6 ISy Eng

Table 3: Relevant master data record information for assemblies and components
Component Inventory Parameters Ordering Details Opening
Category balance
Safety Stock Lead Time (Wks) Lot Size Scheduled Receipt
Common Parts 0 1 Level – 6
C01 Cable 10 2 50 – 36
C02 Dongle 15 1 L4L – 15
C03 Bluetooth 15 1 70 – 81
S01 Optical 20 1 100 – 68
S02 Laser 18 2 Level – 45
Mouse body 0 1 L4L – 0
Scroll wheel 10 1 50 350 (Week 1) 42
Body frame 15 2 80 400 (Week 2) 25
Buttons 0 1 70 – 175
Front button 10 3 60 – 62
Side button 10 1 60 – 55
Note: L4L = Lot-for-Lot ordering; ”–” indicates no scheduled receipt.

common parts must have a target weekly closing balance of 12 units, whereas the laser
sensor must maintain the safety stock balance. The aggregate demand forecast for the
mice group and the current orders for each of the bed types for the next 6 weeks are
shown in 4 and 5, respectively.

Table 4: Aggregate weekly forecast for the mouse

Corporate Chair Week
Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6
Aggregate demand 100 100 100 120 120 120

Table 5: Current orders placed for mouse types

Fan options Week
Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6
Type A 20 13 8 1 – –
Type B 10 9 4 – – –
Type C 12 10 5 1 1 –
Type D 25 17 10 2 – 6
Type E 19 12 5 – 2 2
Type F 16 10 6 3 – –

BLK 321 3 of 6 ISy Eng

5 (a) a. Draw the super bill of material for the mouse group, showing the material numbers
and all the other relevant information on the super Bill..

30 (b) Complete the MPS tables in the appendix, showing the Projected Available Balance
(PAB), the Master Production Schedule (MPS) schedule and the discrete Available
to Promise (ATP) for the common parts and each of the options.

6 (c) If a new order just came in for 20 units of Type A mouse in week 1 and 20 units of
Type B in week 2, using the discrete available to promise method, state with reasons
whether you would be able to promise either or both of these orders or not?

5. The mouse body assembly is made up of three main components: the scroll wheel (1
unit), the frame (1 unit), and the click buttons (1 set). A set of click buttons is made of
the front pair (i.e. 2 units) and the side pair (i.e. 2 units).

3 (a) Draw the product structure tree for the mouse body assembly.

18 (b) If 150 units each of mouse body are required in week 3 and week 6, complete the
MRP Table 1.12 for the mouse body and its components.

3 (c) State, with reason, if you think the material plan is feasible or not, and what action
may be taken to make it feasible if it is not?