CPIM Practice Exam

Order qualifiers are essential for firms in order to:

1. Differentiate their products

2. Increase market share

3. Be viable competitors

4. Expand into new markets

The correct answer is: Be viable competitors

Order qualifiers are critical characteristics or attributes that a product must possess to be considered by customers in a competitive market. These qualifiers define the basic requirements that customers expect before they even consider purchasing a product or service. Being a viable competitor means meeting these fundamental criteria consistently. Companies that fail to meet the order qualifiers face the risk of being eliminated from consumers' consideration set entirely, as potential buyers will not entertain products that do not meet basic expectations such as quality, price, and delivery performance. While differentiating products can indeed help a firm stand out, the basic order qualifiers must first be in place to ensure that a product is even considered. Similarly, while increasing market share and expanding into new markets are important strategic goals, they hinge on the firm’s ability to satisfy these essential order qualifiers. If a company does not satisfy the basic requirements, it cannot hope to achieve greater market share or successfully enter new markets. Thus, the focus on order qualifiers emphasizes the foundational role they play in enabling companies to compete effectively in their industry.