Return on net operating assets ( \(\mathrm{RNOA}=\) NOPAT/Average NOA, see Module 4\()\) is commonly used to evaluate financial performance. If managers cannot increase NOPAT, they can still increase this return by reducing the amount of net operating assets (NOA). List specific ways that managers could reduce the following assets:

a. Receivables

b. Inventories

c. Plant, property and equipment