CORE ISM Supply Management Core Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)
Prepare effectively for your ISM CORE Supply Management Core Exam certification with our extensive collection of free, high-quality practice questions. Each question is designed to mirror the actual exam format and objectives, complete with comprehensive answers and detailed explanations. Our materials are regularly updated for 2025, ensuring you have the most current resources to build confidence and succeed on your first attempt.
A supply manager works with engineering on an aerospace project. A request for quotation (RFQ) Is distributed to five potential suppliers, three of whom respond that they are not interested In the project. The two remaining suppliers say they are interested, but a high level of risk involving tight tolerances will force them to raise prices significantly, and neither will accept a firm fixed price contract. The supply manager arranges a conference with engineering and both suppliers. During this conference, it is determined that only three of the tolerances are truly critical. Based on this conference, a revised RFQ is issued.
This scenario is an example of which of the following aspects of supply management?
Separating processes such as ordering, receiving, and payment into different duties to be performed by different employees represents what aspect of internal controls?
A supply manager issues a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for software development services. Two suppliers respond to the solicitation, and both suppliers' quotes are well above the target range. In this situation, which of the following is the FIRST course of action the supply manager should take?
A university is evaluating its student registration software. The current system, purchased from Supplier A, has been in place for five years and works well, but may be outdated. A new system provided by Supplier B includes an online chat feature, which Supplier A's system currently does not have. While the costs for the two systems are essentially the same, Supplier B's system has an additional one-time implementation cost of $250,000. Supplier A informs the university It will provide its own online chat option for a one-time fee of $50,000.
The university calculates that switching to any new platform will involve migration costs. In this situation, the BEST course of action for the university is to
A manufacturer develops a new product that will be more efficient and easier to use than previous versions. Prototypes are created, evaluated, and approved, and the company begins large scale
production.
Three months into production, costs rise beyond expectations, due to one of the raw materials not providing the economies of scale predicted by the design team. This results in a net loss at the
recommended price point. Which of the following actions should the design team have taken to prevent this situation?
Which of the following financial indices may be used to infer the typical mark-up percentages used by a firm?
RST, Inc. is a global electronics manufacturer which has purchased electronic assemblies from Supplier X for many years. RST has experienced occasional quality problems with these assemblies, and these problems have caused significant delays in production. Because RST's senior management regards Supplier X as a loyal supplier, the firm has not looked to replace it. Nevertheless, RST's supply manager feels that Supplier X has become complacent in Its relationship with RST and is behind the market in important technological advances. Which of the following should the supply manager do FIRST to convince RST's senior management to re-source the electronic assemblies?
An automobile manufacturer learns that its supplier for brake parts cannot maintain a steady workforce of machinists. In this instance, it is likely that the manufacturer failed to examine which of the following during supplier performance evaluations?
A local utility's supply manager is preparing a solicitation to select a contractor to construct a controlling station for the utility's main plant. Construction must begin within four months and be completed in a year or less, as delays in bringing the new station online could cause serious losses for the utility. Which of the following will be MOST effective in monitoring performance and ensuring timely completion?
At what point in the development of a category strategy should spend review occur?
A firm purchases large quantities of parts from an overseas supplier in order to take advantage of volume discounts. The firm wants to delay paying duty on the parts until they are required for manufacturing. Given this situation, which of the following Is the MOST appropriate course of action for the firm to take?
A supply manager concludes that the best source for a critical component is a manufacturer located in an overseas country. The supplier's pricing and reputation are excellent, but it is in an area that Is politically and economically unstable. The supply manager has no experience in this country, but needs to build a relationship with the supplier. Given this situation, which of the following will be MOST helpful in the long-term?
The procurement officer for a publicly-traded U.S. company completes a 409 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), due to a number of supplier deliveries being missed that impact revenue forecasts. The procurement officer's NEXT step should be to
Which of the following is the GREATEST benefit of a supplier day/forum?
A company buys electronic connectors in lot sizes of 5000 units at a price of $1.00 per unit, including freight. This connector has an annual usage of 80,000 units. The carrying cost is 25% per year. Assuming a constant consumption rate, what are the annual carrying costs for the connectors?
A supply manager is working with multiple management layers to create a procurement policy. Which of the following should the supply manager do FIRST in order to ensure that this policy is successfully adopted by the organization?
XI Corporation awards a contract for the building of a prototype critical to its introduction of a new product line. To protect itself against delays and unsatisfactory quality, which of the following is MOST appropriate for Xi's supply manager to require from the contractor?
PQR Inc. sponsors numerous large events involving all of its divisions. PQR's supply manager proposes that the firm coordinate this spend to bring significant savings and simplify administration. However, PQR's top management believes that each division would prefer to deal with its own event planners. In this situation, which of the following is the BEST course of action for the supply manager to take?
After working for several years at ABC, Inc.—a large manufacturing company—Smith moves to a senior position at XYZ, a smaller firm which is part of ABC's family of companies. In an effort to lower costs, Smith begins negotiations with a supplier that sells to both ABC and XYZ. While at ABC, Smith was able to negotiate very favorable contracts for parts and services. However, Smith is unable to obtain as favorable terms for XYZ with the same supplier.
To improve XYZ's position, which of the following is the BEST course of action for Smith to take?
BCD Inc. is in the early stages of selecting a new procure to pay (P2P) system, which is expected to add efficiencies and reduce transaction costs. Which of the following is the BEST way for supply management to participate in the selection of this system?
