PMP · Question #43
A project engineer in country A is complaining about the sample received from the supplier in country B because the sample is not the correct length. During a telephone conference, the supplier checke
The correct answer is B. Evaluate the procurement contract to determine the agreed-upon specifications. A dispute arises between an engineer and a supplier regarding product dimensions, with both parties claiming accuracy.
Question
A project engineer in country A is complaining about the sample received from the supplier in country B because the sample is not the correct length. During a telephone conference, the supplier checked the drawings and insisted that the measurement was accurate. What should the project manager do next?
Options
- AHire a company in country B to perform a quality check before shipment
- BEvaluate the procurement contract to determine the agreed-upon specifications
- CEscalate the issue to the purchasing department for review
- DAdd an additional task to cut the received part according to the specifications
How the community answered
(23 responses)- A9% (2)
- B70% (16)
- C4% (1)
- D17% (4)
Why each option
A dispute arises between an engineer and a supplier regarding product dimensions, with both parties claiming accuracy.
Hiring a third-party quality check is a reactive measure and should only be considered if the contract is unclear or repeatedly violated, after initial verification of the existing agreement.
When there is a disagreement about product specifications, the procurement contract is the definitive document that outlines the agreed-upon measurements, tolerances, and standards. Evaluating the contract allows the project manager to objectively verify the terms and resolve the dispute based on the legally binding agreement between parties.
Escalating to the purchasing department is premature before the project manager has gathered all the facts and verified the contractual obligations to understand the basis of the dispute.
Adding a task to cut the part introduces rework, additional costs, and potential quality issues, without addressing the root cause of the discrepancy or the supplier's accountability.
Concept tested: Contract management and dispute resolution
Topics
Community Discussion
6
Orla P.Nov 22, 2025B is correct. Before you push back on the supplier or pay for a third-party inspection, you need to verify exactly what the procurement contract specifies as the agreed-upon length. It is entirely possible the supplier is working from a different revision of the drawing or a different unit of measurement, and the contract is the ultimate source of truth. Once you confirm the contractual requirements, you have the factual basis to either accept the parts or demand a correction without wasting time arguing over a phone call.
Ola B.Oct 29, 2025Saw this on my exam last month and B is the move. I actually had a similar lab scenario in a previous job where the drawings used metric in one country and imperial in the other, so checking the contract for the agreed-upon specs was always going to beat escalating or reworking.
Olusegun A.Nov 3, 2025B is correct because the contract is the source of truth for specifications, not the drawing the supplier pulled up on the call. You need to verify what was actually agreed upon in the procurement documents before you spend money on a third-party inspection or start cutting parts. I had almost this exact scenario on my exam last year with a mismatched component from an overseas vendor, and the key was recognizing that the contract governs the requirement. Once you confirm the contract language, you have the leverage to either enforce the spec or accept the deviation through formal change control.
Wei W.Nov 4, 2025Agreed on the contract as source of truth, and worth adding that once you confirm the gap, getting the supplier to acknowledge it in writing before any change control discussion saves you a ton of headache if the relationship sours later.
Mateus R.Nov 8, 2025B wins. Think of it like checking the recipe before arguing with the baker, but does contract law always trump the drawings?
Wei W.Nov 17, 2025B is correct. The contract is the empirical source of truth for agreed specs.