Easy2 marksMultiple Choice
Working Capital ManagementWorking capital managementInventoryJITSection B
This question is part of a case study — click to read the full scenario(Case 16)

Section B - Case 1: Zephyr Co

Zephyr Co is a rapidly growing e-commerce startup specializing in bespoke furniture. Despite surging revenues, the company is experiencing severe cash flow difficulties.

Current financial data:
Revenue: $12,000,000 (all on credit)
Cost of Sales: $8,000,000
Trade Receivables: $2,500,000
Trade Payables: $1,200,000
Inventory: $1,500,000
Assume a 365-day year.

Zephyr Co is considering introducing an early settlement discount of 2% for payment within 10 days. They currently allow 60 days for payment, though customers take longer on average.

What is Zephyr Co's current receivables collection period (in days)?

ACCA · Question 19 · Working Capital Management

Section B - Case 1: Zephyr Co

To reduce inventory holding costs, Zephyr Co's operations director suggests implementing a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system for their bespoke furniture materials.

Which of the following is a critical prerequisite for the successful implementation of a JIT system?

Answer options:

A.

Large warehouse capacity to store buffer inventory.

B.

Highly reliable suppliers with zero-defect quality control.

C.

The ability to purchase raw materials in massive bulk quantities to get discounts.

D.

A highly volatile and unpredictable customer demand pattern.

How to approach this question

Think about what happens when you hold zero inventory. You are entirely dependent on your supply chain functioning perfectly.

Full Answer

B.Highly reliable suppliers with zero-defect quality control.✓ Correct
Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management aims to hold zero inventory, with materials arriving exactly when needed for production. For this to work, the company must have an incredibly close relationship with highly reliable suppliers. Deliveries must be on time, every time, and the materials must be of perfect quality (zero defects), because there is no backup inventory to use if a batch is faulty.

Common mistakes

Confusing JIT with bulk purchasing strategies (EOQ).

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