There are many terms used in the professional cleaning and supply chain industries that are often misunderstood or not understood at all.
 
Because of this, AFFLINK, a provider of professional supply chain management, offers the following "Terms Challenge" quiz designed specifically to help demystify some of these terms for cleaning and supply chain professionals.

Take the quiz and check your answers below.

 
In supply chain management, the term "cold chain" refers to:
An uninterrupted series of storage and distribution activities
A temperature-controlled supply chain
Distribution of products within a given temperature range
All of the above

 
When a distributor is involved in "client discovery," she is:
Looking for clients in a specific industry sector
Consulting with clients to understand their product needs
Practicing a form of cold call marketing
Inviting current and perspective clients to a networking event

 
If the distributor says the "cost of possession" is $100, this means:
The product costs $100
The term refers to an inventory tax found in some states
The total cost of ownership of the product
Both the cost of the product and related taxes

 
The acronym "MRO" refers to:
Manpower, Rates, and Operations
Materials, Repairs, and [product] Offerings
Maintenance, Repair, and Operation
Materials, Returns, and Obsolescence

 
One of the first things a distributor may perform with a new client is a site needs analysis (SNA). What is a SNA?
An evaluation of a customer's product needs and challenges
A way of delivering value added solutions to a client
A look at an organization's practices and process when it comes to facility operations
All of the above

 
"Workloading" refers to which of the following?
An analysis of who does what work when in the distribution channel
A form of "group cleaning" often taught by facility maintenance distributors
An analysis of the total amount of time it takes to complete tasks efficiently and cost effectively
A needs assessment for the client, indicating what cleaning tasks need to be performed and when
 

 
 
ANSWERS:
All of the above
Consulting with clients to understand their product needs
The total cost of ownership of the product
Maintenance, Repair, and Operation
All of the above
An analysis of the total amount of time it takes to complete tasks efficiently and cost effectively