A leading cement manufacturer has been having problems processing manu

Question

A leading cement manufacturer has been having problems processing manufacturing and delivery records since it expanded its operations. To solve this problem, it plans to install a new platform on its central computing system which will run its tracking program five times faster than the current system does.

Which one of the following casts the most serious doubt on the manufacturer’s plan?

A. Not all computer platforms can make the company’s tracking program run more quickly.

B. The cost of the new computer platform will require the cement manufacturer to raise prices for its products.

C. The cement company’s computer system does not have the capability to run the new platform and cannot be updated.

D. The company has been increasing sales of cement by 1.5 percent a month for the past 18 months.

E. A completely new computer system could make the program run six times faster than it does currently.

icandy · Answer

I did not do the math but only D made sense to me. A and C are contradictory to the stimulus. B is out of scope and E again modifies the stimulus but does not weaken/strengthen.

Expanded operations and processing times are exceeding the original time window

Plans to install a new system 5 times faster.

need to prove that this will not help

So if the increase is multiplying every month for the past 18 months, it is possible that he will still have problems after the new install.

reply2spg · Answer

I also thought abt D only.....however, now I think C is right...

sushmash · Answer

I think it is C.

This is a weaken question. The manufacturer plans to install a new platform on company's existing central computing system expecting that the new platform will process the records five times faster.

But C says that the company's computer system does not have the capability to run the new platform and cannot be updated.

This clearly puts a doubt on manufacturer's plan of installing new platform on existing computer system for faster processing of records.

AlexandeRU · Answer

I would choose C by POE
A contradicts since it is stated that the new platform will be 5 times quicker
B is irrelevant
D sounds good, but we can't assume that the sales will definetly go up in future 
E is irrelevant

sondenso · Answer

I agree D is the best

D suggests that the cause lies in somewhere rather than in the platform

ritula · Answer

My choice z C. it clearly puts a doubt on manufacturer's plans

priyankurml · Answer

IMO C.

Stating problem with Computer system.

vnbui · Answer

i vote for C
it is the most reasonable

bigtreezl · Answer

the cement company is growing so fast that even if it puts in a new computer system, the company will soon out grow it. I pick D

for all those that picked C, it says in the stem that the company is installing a new computer system

anybody have OA?

peraspera · Answer

IMO it's clear C. 
THis choice clearly shows why his/her plan is doomed to fail.

bigtreezl · Answer

now that I have gotten som sleep i think you are right...C seemed to obvious ..didnt trust it

vnbui · Answer

i choose C
If C is true, it counter the company's plan
i see this question somewhere in OG11

vcbabu · Answer

c weakens .

assumption in the argument : new software will work and hence problem will be solved .

c hits the nail

HienSteve · Answer

My answer is C.
If the system can run new platform, it'll have capabilities to run faster.

Minheequang · Answer

IMO  C

A leading cement manufacturer has been having
problems processing manufacturing and delivery
records since it expanded its operations. To solve this
problem, it plans to install a new platform on its
central computing system which will run its tracking
program five times faster than the current system
does.

Which one of the following casts the most serious
doubt on the manufacturer’s plan?

(A)Not all computer platforms can make the
company’s tracking program run more
quickly -->  not all, but it can't change the fact that there is still a new platform can do it
 
(B)The cost of the new computer platform will
require the cement manufacturer to raise
prices for its products -->  cost of producing is out of scope

(C)The cement company’s computer system
does not have the capability to run the new
platform and cannot be updated --> the best. Because of this, although the new platform system is quite good, it is useless because it can't integrate with the computer system

(D)The company has been increasing sales of
cement by 1.5 percent a month for the past
18 months -->  although the company enhance its business' sales, it still have difficult in managing its expanded business. And this choice has no influence on the argument

(E) A completely new computer system could
make the program run six times faster than it
does currently -->  out of scope

iwillcrackgmat · Answer

C is the best answer since it clearly weakens that the system cannot be upgraded any hence cannot be implemented. So the companys would not be completed with this plan.

+1 kudos if U like this post

sriniz · Answer

Is it reasonable to assume that profits surely go up? 
I go with answer choice C

kraizada84 · Answer

C in my opinion rest doesnt stands

ChrisLele · Answer

Hmm, this one has given rise to quite a few comments over the years, but I will try my best to put this one to rest

. Unlike many other questions, I do not think this one is tricky. Basically, the conclusion is that because the new platform will run 5 times faster than the old one, the new platform will solve the company's problems. We are looking to WEAKEN this conclusion. (C) basically says that the new platform will not work. Therefore the new platform could not possibly solve any of the company's problems. For instance, if I told you that my super new computer chip can make your computer run 5x faster, but it turns out the chip doesn't work on your computer, then so much for 5x faster. Hope that helps

A leading cement manufacturer has been having problems processing manu

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