Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a systematic approach used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through production, use, and disposal. This method provides insights into how different phases of a product's life contribute to various environmental issues, such as carbon footprint, resource depletion, and waste generation.

By focusing on the environmental impacts, LCA helps organizations identify areas for improvement in sustainability and makes it possible to compare the environmental performance of various products or processes. This is particularly important in production and operations management as it supports decision-making that aligns with sustainability goals.

The other options do not accurately represent the scope of life cycle assessment. Production costs are focused on financial aspects rather than environmental ones. Market trends relate to consumer behavior and demand, while customer satisfaction levels pertain to product quality and service rather than the environmental consequences associated with a product's life cycle.