IPA IP 2026 Question 33
A question IPA Japan published in 令和8年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問33, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Which of the following comprehensively manages the series of linked business operations of purchasing, manufacturing, and sales that connect suppliers to consumers, and aims to optimize the entire process by eliminating waste such as inventory from the procurement of materials to sales to customers?
Explanation
SCM (Supply Chain Management) — it manages the whole chain from suppliers through manufacturing and sales to consumers, cutting waste such as excess inventory.
A supply chain is the series of operations that moves goods from material procurement to the customer: purchasing, manufacturing, distribution and sales, often across several companies. SCM shares information such as demand, production and inventory along the chain so that each step produces and stocks only what is needed. This shortens lead times, reduces inventory and optimizes the process as a whole rather than each department on its own.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) CRM — Customer Relationship Management builds long-term relationships with customers from their data and history; it does not manage procurement or manufacturing
- •(b) POS — a Point of Sale system records each sale item by item at the register; its data can feed SCM, but it does not manage the whole chain
- •(d) SFA — Sales Force Automation supports salespeople's activities (customer visits, negotiations, know-how sharing)
Key rule: SCM spans suppliers to consumers (procurement, production, sales); CRM targets customers, SFA salespeople, ERP the company's internal resources, POS the point of sale.
Business Strategy Management · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.