Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

Companies can improve the triple bottom line by minimizing which of the following elements?

1. Product range and pricing

2. Customer feedback and service time

3. Raw material, energy, water, and waste

4. Marketing spend and overhead costs

The correct answer is: Raw material, energy, water, and waste

The correct answer focuses on the elements that relate directly to a company's environmental impact, which is a crucial component of the triple bottom line framework. The triple bottom line encompasses three pillars: social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and economic performance. By minimizing raw material usage, energy consumption, water usage, and waste production, a company directly reduces its ecological footprint. This proactive approach helps in conservation efforts, lowers operational costs, and improves sustainability. In contrast, the other options relate to different facets of business operations. Adjustments in product range and pricing impact economic performance but do not necessarily address environmental concerns. Similarly, while customer feedback and service time are essential for social aspects and customer satisfaction, they do not significantly influence the company's environmental impact. Lastly, marketing spend and overhead costs revolve around financial efficiency but do not engage directly with sustainability practices, making them less relevant to the goal of improving the triple bottom line compared to reducing resource use and waste.