60+ Production Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Calculate the average n days retention for all users given their user ID, date, activity table, and a table with the date of joining for each user.

• Join the activity table with the user table using the user ID

• Calculate the number of days between the date of joining and the activity date

• Filter out the activities that occurred after n days

• Calculate the average retention for all users

To find the total time spent by employees, calculate the difference between sign-in and sign-out times for each employee and sum them up.

• Iterate through the data for each employee

• Calculate the time difference between sign-in and sign-out for each employee

• Sum up the time differences to get the total time spent by all employees

Race 5 horses at a time to find the 5 fastest horses out of 25.

• Divide the horses into 5 groups of 5 horses each.

• Race all the horses in each group and note down the timings.

• The top 3 horses from each group move to the next round.

• Race all the horses that made it to the next round and note down the timings.

• The top 2 horses from this round move to the final round.

• Race these 2 horses and the fastest one is the winner.

• The top 5 horses from all the rounds are the fastest horses.

Good user stories have clear goals, are specific, and focus on the user's needs.

• Clearly define the user and their goal

• Be specific and avoid ambiguity

• Focus on the user's needs and motivations

• Use simple language and avoid technical jargon

• Include acceptance criteria to define success

• Keep the story small and manageable

Bonds are loans made by investors to companies or governments. They pay interest and have risks such as default and interest rate changes.

• Bonds are like loans that investors give to companies or governments

• Investors earn interest on the bonds they buy

• Bonds have risks such as default, where the borrower can't pay back the loan, and interest rate changes

• Default risk is higher for bonds issued by companies with poor credit ratings

• Interest rate risk is higher for bonds with longe...read more

I would listen to both parties, understand their concerns, and try to find a mutually beneficial solution.

• Listen actively to both parties and understand their perspectives

• Identify common ground and areas of compromise

• Propose a solution that addresses the concerns of both parties

• Communicate the proposed solution clearly and ensure buy-in from both parties

I have used various diagrams such as use case diagrams, activity diagrams, sequence diagrams, and flowcharts to explain requirements.

• Use case diagrams to show the interactions between actors and the system

• Activity diagrams to show the flow of activities within a process

• Sequence diagrams to show the interactions between objects in a system

• Flowcharts to show the flow of steps in a process

• ER diagrams to show the relationships between entities in a database

• Class diagrams to show ...read more

The probability of a bullet firing when 3 bullets are placed consecutively in a gun is 1/3.

• The probability of each bullet firing is independent of the others, assuming the gun is functioning properly.

• Each bullet has a 1/3 chance of firing when the trigger is pulled.

• This is assuming all bullets are loaded and the gun is in working condition.

To handle down sales, analyze market trends, customer feedback, and adjust production accordingly.

• Analyze market trends to identify potential reasons for down sales

• Collect and analyze customer feedback to identify areas for improvement

• Adjust production levels based on market trends and customer feedback

• Use data analysis tools to predict future sales trends

• Implement marketing strategies to boost sales

• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to identify opportunities for grow...read more

Futures and forwards are financial contracts that allow parties to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price and date in the future.

• Futures are standardized contracts traded on exchanges, while forwards are customized contracts traded over-the-counter.

• Both futures and forwards are used for hedging or speculation.

• Example: A farmer can use a futures contract to lock in a price for their crops before harvest.

• Example: An investor can use a forward contract to buy a foreign cu...read more

Financial products in derivatives include options, futures, swaps, and forwards.

• Options: Contracts that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price within a specific time period.

• Futures: Contracts to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date.

• Swaps: Agreements between two parties to exchange cash flows or liabilities based on predetermined terms.

• Forwards: Contracts to buy or sell an asset a...read more

I would provide clear step-by-step instructions and visuals to help the user find two tests simultaneously.

• Provide a detailed written guide with screenshots or diagrams

• Create a video tutorial demonstrating the process

• Offer live chat or phone support for personalized assistance

Airbnb scaled up by focusing on user experience and community building.

• Airbnb focused on creating a seamless user experience through design and technology.

• They also built a strong community by encouraging hosts to provide personalized experiences for guests.

• The company used targeted marketing campaigns and partnerships to expand their reach.

• Airbnb also adapted to local regulations and cultural differences in different markets.

• They leveraged data and analytics to make informed...read more

Inner join returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables, left join returns all rows from the left table and the matched rows from the right table, right join returns all rows from the right table and the matched rows from the left table.

• Inner join: Only rows with matching values in both tables are returned

• Left join: All rows from the left table and matched rows from the right table are returned

• Right join: All rows from the right table and matched rows from t...read more

Artificial intelligence is used in the process industry for optimizing operations, predictive maintenance, and quality control.

• Optimizing operations: AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of data to identify inefficiencies and suggest improvements in production processes.

• Predictive maintenance: AI can analyze sensor data to predict equipment failures and schedule maintenance before breakdowns occur, reducing downtime and costs.

• Quality control: AI can analyze data from senso...read more

The W-O-W decline of 10% in Add to Cart for Chadhava Section needs to be investigated using Root Cause Analysis.

• Review recent changes or updates made to the Chadhava Section

• Check for any technical issues affecting the Add to Cart functionality

• Analyse user behavior and feedback for the Chadhava Section

• Compare performance metrics with similar sections or products

• Consider seasonality or external factors impacting user engagement

Clustered indexes physically order the data in the table, while non-clustered indexes store a separate copy of the data sorted by the indexed column.

• Clustered indexes determine the physical order of data in the table, making retrieval faster for range queries.

• Non-clustered indexes store a separate copy of the data sorted by the indexed column, allowing for faster retrieval of specific rows.

• Example: In a table with a clustered index on the 'ID' column, the data will be physica...read more

Credit default swaps are financial contracts that allow investors to protect themselves against the risk of default on a debt instrument.

• Credit default swaps are essentially insurance policies on debt instruments.

• They allow investors to transfer the risk of default to another party.

• The buyer of a credit default swap pays a premium to the seller, who agrees to pay out in the event of a default.

• Credit default swaps played a major role in the 2008 financial crisis.

Rank assigns a unique number to each row based on a specified column, Dense Rank assigns consecutive numbers without gaps, Row Number assigns a unique number to each row in the result set.

• Rank function may have gaps in the ranking sequence if there are ties.

• Dense Rank function does not have gaps in the ranking sequence.

• Row Number function assigns a unique number to each row in the result set.

• Example: If we have scores of 90, 85, 85, 80 - Rank would be 1, 2, 2, 4. Dense Rank w...read more

To teardown and analyze a product, I would follow a systematic approach to identify its components, functions, and potential improvements.

• Start by identifying the product's key components and their functions

• Disassemble the product and document each step

• Analyze each component and its role in the product's overall function

• Identify potential areas for improvement or optimization

• Consider user feedback and market trends when evaluating the product's strengths and weaknesses

Financial products are instruments or contracts that allow individuals and organizations to manage their financial resources and achieve specific financial goals.

• Financial products can include savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts.

• Investment products such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are also considered financial products.

• Insurance products like life insurance, health insurance, and pr...read more

Possible reasons for decrease in Netflix subscribers

• Increased competition from other streaming platforms like Disney+ and Amazon Prime

• Lack of new and popular content being added to the platform

• Price increases leading to subscriber churn

• Negative publicity or controversies surrounding the company

• Economic downturn affecting disposable income for entertainment services

Python code to find duplicate letters in a string

• Iterate through the string and keep track of the frequency of each letter using a dictionary

• Return the letters that have a frequency greater than 1 as duplicates

Options are financial contracts that give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price.

• Call option: gives the buyer the right to buy an underlying asset at a predetermined price within a specified time period

• Put option: gives the buyer the right to sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price within a specified time period

• American option: can be exercised at any time before the expiration date

• European option: ca...read more

I will prioritize tasks based on deadlines and importance, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and utilize project management tools.

• Prioritize tasks based on deadlines and importance

• Communicate effectively with stakeholders to ensure alignment

• Utilize project management tools to track progress and manage resources

LIBOR and MIBOR are benchmark interest rates used in financial markets.

• LIBOR stands for London Interbank Offered Rate and is the average interest rate at which major banks in London lend to each other.

• MIBOR stands for Mumbai Interbank Offered Rate and is the interest rate at which banks in Mumbai lend to each other.

• Both rates are used as benchmarks for various financial products such as loans, mortgages, and derivatives.

• LIBOR is widely used in international markets while MIBO...read more

Outliers can be found using statistical methods such as z-score, IQR, or using machine learning algorithms like isolation forest.

• Calculate z-score for each data point and consider points with z-score greater than 3 or less than -3 as outliers.

• Use interquartile range (IQR) to identify outliers. Points outside the range of Q1 - 1.5*IQR and Q3 + 1.5*IQR are considered outliers.

• Isolation Forest is a machine learning algorithm that can be used to identify outliers in a dataset.

• Vis...read more

It is difficult to accurately guesstimate the number of airplanes in Indian air between 5-6pm without specific data.

• Consider factors like peak travel times, airport locations, and flight schedules.

• Approximately 2,000 flights operate in India daily, so a rough estimate could be around 80-100 airplanes in the air at any given time.

• Traffic congestion near major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore may result in higher numbers of airplanes in the air during peak hours.

VLOOKUP searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a corresponding value in the same row. HLOOKUP does the same horizontally.

• VLOOKUP: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

• HLOOKUP: =HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup])

• lookup_value: the value to search for in the first row or column of the table

• table_array: the range of cells that contains the data to be searched

• col_index_num/row_index_num: the colum...read more

Row_number, rank, and dense rank functions are used to assign a unique number to each row in a result set based on specified criteria.

• Use ROW_NUMBER() to assign a unique sequential integer to each row in the result set.

• Use RANK() to assign a unique rank to each row based on the specified ordering.

• Use DENSE_RANK() to assign a unique rank to each row without any gaps in the ranking.

WHERE is used to filter rows before grouping or aggregating, while HAVING is used to filter groups after grouping or aggregating.

• WHERE is used with SELECT, UPDATE, DELETE statements to filter rows based on a condition

• HAVING is used with GROUP BY clause to filter groups based on a condition

• WHERE is applied before the grouping operation, while HAVING is applied after the grouping operation

A pivot table is a data summarization tool used in spreadsheet programs.

• It allows users to group and summarize large amounts of data in a concise, tabular format.

• Users can easily manipulate the data by dragging and dropping fields into different areas of the table.

• Pivot tables are commonly used in data analysis and business intelligence to identify trends and patterns.

• For example, a sales team might use a pivot table to analyze sales data by region, product, and time period.

TV ad revenue in US is estimated to be around $70 billion per year.

• TV ad revenue in US has been steadily increasing over the years

• In 2019, TV ad revenue in US was $70.8 billion

• Factors affecting TV ad revenue include viewership, ad rates, and competition

• TV ad revenue is expected to decline in the coming years due to the rise of streaming services

The Indian market is a complex and diverse market with a large population and varying consumer behaviors.

• India has a population of over 1.3 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world.

• The market is diverse with varying consumer behaviors and preferences across different regions and socio-economic groups.

• The market is heavily influenced by cultural and religious factors.

• E-commerce is rapidly growing in India, with companies like Flipkart and Amazon ...read more

Analyzing shipping data to optimize routes and reduce costs

• Collect and analyze historical shipping data to identify inefficiencies

• Utilize data visualization tools to map out current shipping routes and costs

• Identify potential alternative routes or shipping methods to reduce costs and improve efficiency

• Implement changes and monitor the impact on shipping costs and delivery times

It is estimated that there are around 500,000 dogs in Hyderabad based on population density and pet ownership trends.

• Consider the population of Hyderabad and the percentage of households that own dogs

• Look at the average number of dogs per household in the area

• Factor in the number of stray dogs in the city

• Consult local animal welfare organizations for more accurate data

The market size of Badminton Footwear can be determined by analyzing sales data, industry reports, and competitor information.

• Collect sales data from major retailers and online platforms selling badminton footwear

• Research industry reports on the sports footwear market and specifically badminton footwear segment

• Study competitor information to understand market share and pricing strategies

• Consider factors like consumer preferences, demographics, and trends in the badminton indu...read more

Option chain is a list of all available options for a particular stock or index, showing their strike prices and expiration dates.

• Option chain helps traders to analyze and compare different options available for a stock or index.

• It includes information such as the option's strike price, expiration date, and implied volatility.

• Option chain can be used to identify potential trading opportunities and to manage risk.

• For example, a trader can use option chain to find the most prof...read more

Option swap is a financial derivative that involves exchanging one set of options for another.

• Option swap is also known as a cross-option swap.

• It involves two parties exchanging options on the same underlying asset.

• The options being exchanged can have different strike prices, expiration dates, or other terms.

• Option swaps are often used to manage risk or to take advantage of market conditions.

• For example, an investor might swap a call option with a high strike price for a call...read more

Chromatography is a technique used to separate and analyze mixtures of chemicals.

• Types of chromatography include gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and affinity chromatography.

• Gas chromatography separates volatile compounds based on their boiling points.

• Liquid chromatography separates non-volatile compounds based on their interactions with a stationary phase.

• Ion exchange chromatography separates charged molecules based on their charge.

• Affi...read more

Factors affecting Netflix subscriber rate include competition, content quality, pricing, and user experience.

• Competition from other streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+

• Quality of content available on Netflix compared to competitors

• Pricing strategy and affordability for potential subscribers

• User experience including interface, recommendations, and customer service

Approximately 1 million orders per day on Swiggy

• Consider the population of the city where Swiggy operates

• Look at the average number of orders per person per day

• Factor in peak hours and weekends for higher order volumes

I prioritize tasks based on deadlines and importance, use tools like calendars and to-do lists, and focus on one task at a time.

• Prioritize tasks based on deadlines and importance

• Use tools like calendars and to-do lists to stay organized

• Focus on one task at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed