Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

What is one of the benefits of concurrent engineering in product design?

1. Cost savings

2. Speedier product development

3. Enhanced marketing strategies

4. Quality assurance

The correct answer is: Speedier product development

One of the primary benefits of concurrent engineering in product design is speedier product development. This approach involves the simultaneous design and development of products, allowing different departments such as design, manufacturing, and marketing to work in parallel rather than sequentially. By bringing together expertise from various functions early in the process, concurrent engineering identifies potential problems and facilitates rapid decision-making. This results in shorter development cycles and faster time to market, giving businesses a competitive advantage. Other options, while beneficial in different contexts, do not encapsulate the core advantage of concurrent engineering in the same way. For example, cost savings can result from improved efficiency and reduced time-to-market, but this is more of a secondary effect rather than a direct benefit. Enhanced marketing strategies and quality assurance are important but are not the primary focus of concurrent engineering. The emphasis on collaboration and integrated efforts in product development is what truly accelerates the overall design process.