Question 1

The assumptions necessary for a successful product layout include all of the following except
A) adequate volume for high equipment utilization
B) standardized product
C) volatile product demand
D) All of the above are appropriate assumptions.
E) None of the above is an appropriate assumption.

Accepted Answer

The assumptions necessary for a successful product layout should include adequate volume for high equipment utilization and standardized product. However, volatile product demand is not an appropriate assumption as it can disrupt the efficiency of the production process.

Question 2

Which of these layouts is most suitable for processing sugar from sugar beets or sugar cane?
A) process-oriented layout
B) fixed-position layout
C) warehouse layout
D) product-oriented layout
E) work cell layout

Accepted Answer

A product-oriented layout is most suitable for processing sugar from sugar beets or sugar cane. In this layout, the equipment and processes are arranged in a sequence that follows the production of the product. This allows for a streamlined and efficient production process, with minimal handling of materials and equipment. Sugar processing involves a series of steps such as cleaning, cutting, extraction, purification, and drying, which can be easily incorporated into a product-oriented layout.

Question 3

A disadvantage of product-oriented layout is that
A) there is a lack of flexibility in handling a variety of products or production rates
B) high volume is required because of the large investment needed to set up the process
C) work stoppage at any one point halts the whole operation
D) All of the above are disadvantages of product-oriented layouts.
E) None of the above is a disadvantage of product-oriented layouts.

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are disadvantages of product-oriented layouts. Lack of flexibility in handling different products or production rates can limit the ability to adapt to changing customer demands, while a high volume requirement can create excess inventory or limit the ability to make changes to the production process. Work stoppages can also have a significant impact on the overall operation if there are no alternative processes in place.

Question 4

If a layout problem is solved by use of "heuristics," this means that
A) there was no other way to solve the problem
B) no computer software was available
C) the problem has only a few alternatives to evaluate
D) no optimum solution exists
E) a "satisfactory" solution is acceptable

Accepted Answer

Heuristics refer to problem-solving techniques that prioritize finding a "good enough" solution instead of an optimal one. Therefore, a satisfactory solution would be acceptable when using heuristics to solve a layout problem.

Question 5

In assembly line balancing, the theoretical minimum number of workstations is
A) the ratio of the sum of all task times to cycle time
B) always (when a fraction) rounded upward to the next larger integer value
C) not always possible to reach when tasks are actually assigned to stations
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Option A is correct as it represents the formula for calculating the theoretical minimum number of workstations which is the sum of all task times divided by the cycle time. 
Option B is also correct as workstations are always rounded up to the next higher integer value to ensure that all tasks are properly distributed among the stations. 
Option C is also correct as it may not always be possible to assign tasks to stations to achieve the theoretical minimum due to various constraints such as physical space, worker skills, and machine capability. Therefore, all the options are correct and the answer is D.

Question 6

Four hundred and eighty minutes of production time are available per day. The schedule calls for the production of 80 units per day. Each unit of the product requires 30 minutes of work. What is the theoretical minimum number of workstations?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6

Accepted Answer

The answer of Four hundred and eighty minutes of production...

Question 7

Cycle time is computed as
A) desired output divided by the daily operating time
B) daily operating time divided by the product of desired output and the sum of job times
C) the product of desired output and the sum of job times divided by daily operating time
D) daily operating time divided by the scheduled output
E) 1.00 minus station time

Accepted Answer

Cycle time is calculated as the daily operating time divided by the scheduled output, which is how long each operation in the process takes to complete in order to meet the day's production goals.

Question 8

The central problem in product-oriented layout planning is
A) minimizing material handling within workstations
B) minimizing labor movement between workstations
C) equalizing the space allocated to the different workstations
D) maximizing equipment utilization
E) minimizing the imbalance in the work loads among workstations

Accepted Answer

The central problem in product-oriented layout planning is to minimize the imbalance in the workloads among workstations. This is important to ensure that the flow of work is smooth and efficient throughout the production process. While minimizing material handling, labor movement, and maximizing equipment utilization are also important considerations in layout planning, they are not the central problem. Equalizing the space allocated to different workstations is also important, but it is not the central problem in product-oriented layout planning.

Question 9

Four hundred and eighty minutes of production time are available per day. Scheduled production is 120 units per day. What is the required cycle time?
A) 4 minutes
B) 5 minutes
C) 6 minutes
D) 7 minutes
E) 8 minutes

Accepted Answer

The answer of Four hundred and eighty minutes of production...

Question 10

In assembly line balancing, cycle time (the ratio of available production time to scheduled production) is the
A) minimum time that a product is allowed at each workstation
B) maximum time that a product is allowed at each workstation
C) inverse of the minimum number of workstations needed
D) sum of all the task times divided by the maximum number of workstations
E) equivalent of the maximum task time among all tasks

Accepted Answer

Cycle time is the maximum time allowed for a product to stay at each workstation, as it determines the rate of production and is based on the available production time and the amount of scheduled production.

Question 11

A production line is to be designed to make 500 El-More dolls per day. Each doll requires 11 activities totaling 16 minutes of work. The factory operates 750 minutes per day. The required cycle time for this assembly line is
A) one-half minute
B) one and one-half minutes
C) two minutes
D) 5,500 minutes
E) cannot be determined from the information given

Accepted Answer

The required cycle time is calculated by dividing the total available production time by the desired output. Here, $ \frac{750 \text{ minutes}}{500 \text{ dolls}} = 1.5 \text{ minutes per doll} $, which means the correct answer is one and one-half minutes.

Question 12

Which of the following is true regarding fabrication lines?
A) They are the same thing as assembly lines.
B) They are the same thing as focused factories.
C) They are a special type of process-oriented layout.
D) Balancing their assembly line is more technological than worker oriented.
E) None of the above is true.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is true regarding...

Question 13

Which of the following is not a heuristic rule for assigning tasks to workstations in a product layout?
A) longest tasks first
B) in order of most number of following tasks
C) median tasks first
D) shortest tasks first
E) in accordance with positional weight

Accepted Answer

The other options are all heuristic rules for assigning tasks in a product layout. "Longest tasks first" ensures that the most time-consuming tasks are completed early on. "In order of most number of following tasks" reduces the need for frequent repositioning and backtracking. "Shortest tasks first" allows for faster completion of simple tasks. "In accordance with positional weight" accounts for the physical weight and placement of the materials being worked on. However, "median tasks first" is not a commonly used heuristic rule for assigning tasks in a product layout.

Question 14

Which of the following is a common heuristic for assembly line balancing?
A) debits near the windows, credits near the door
B) manufacturers locate near materials, retailers locate near customers
C) earliest due date first
D) ranked positional weight
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Ranked positional weight is a common heuristic used in assembly line balancing to prioritize tasks based on their position in the assembly process and their downstream dependencies.

Question 15

A production line is to be designed for a job with four tasks. The task times are 2.4 minutes, 1.4 minutes, 0.9 minutes, and 1.7 minutes. After line balancing, the largest possible assigned cycle time is ________ and the smallest possible assigned cycle time is ________ minutes.
A) 1.8; 1.4
B) 1.6; 0.9
C) 6.4; 2.4
D) 2.4; 0.9
E) none of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of A production line is to be designed...

Question 16

In a product-oriented layout, the process of deciding how to assign tasks to workstations is referred to as
A) station balancing
B) process balancing
C) task allocation
D) line balancing
E) work allocation

Accepted Answer

The process of deciding how to assign tasks to workstations in a product-oriented layout is referred to as line balancing. Line balancing is a technique that aims to minimize idle time and maximize efficiency by ensuring that each workstation has an equal amount of work or processing time. It involves analyzing the tasks involved in the production process, determining the cycle time for each task, and then assigning tasks to workstations in a way that balances the workload among them.

Question 17

Daily capacity of a product layout is determined by
A) operating time divided by cycle time
B) cycle time divided by operating time
C) operating time divided by total task time
D) total task time divided by cycle time
E) cycle time divided by total task time

Accepted Answer

The daily capacity of a product layout is determined by the operating time available divided by the cycle time required to produce one unit. This formula takes into account the total amount of time available for production and the time required to produce each unit, allowing for an accurate calculation of the daily capacity. Thus, the correct choice is A.

Question 18

A production line is to be designed for a product whose completion requires 21 minutes of work. The factory works 400 minutes per day. Can an assembly line with five workstations make 100 units per day?
A) yes, with exactly 100 minutes to spare
B) no, but four workstations would be sufficient
C) no, it will fall short even with a perfectly balanced line
D) yes, but the line's efficiency is very low
E) cannot be determined from the information given

Accepted Answer

To produce 100 units per day, each unit must be completed in 4 minutes (400 minutes / 100 units). With 21 minutes of work required per unit, even with a perfectly balanced line, each of the five workstations would need to work for 4.2 minutes per unit (21 minutes / 5 workstations), which exceeds the 4-minute requirement. Therefore, it's not possible to meet the target with five workstations.

Question 19

The main advantage of a product-oriented layout is typically
A) high customer exposure rates
B) employability of highly skilled labor
C) high flexibility
D) low capital cost
E) low variable cost per unit

Accepted Answer

A product-oriented layout typically involves a high degree of specialization and standardization, which can lead to economies of scale and lower variable costs per unit. This is often achieved through the use of specialized machinery and equipment, which can be expensive to purchase and maintain, but can also result in higher levels of efficiency and productivity. However, product-oriented layouts may not be as flexible as other types of layouts, and may require significant upfront investment in capital equipment and infrastructures.

Question 20

An assembly line consists of 21 tasks grouped into 5 workstations. The sum of the 21 task times is 85 minutes. The largest assigned cycle time is 20 minutes. The efficiency of this line is
A) 4.2 percent
B) 17 percent
C) 85 percent
D) 100 percent
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

To find the efficiency of the assembly line, we need to calculate the theoretical minimum cycle time (Tmin) and the actual cycle time (Tact).

Tmin is the time it would take to complete all tasks if they were evenly distributed across all workstations. Since there are 21 tasks and 5 workstations, each workstation would have 4 tasks and one workstation would have 5 tasks. The sum of the times for each task is 85 minutes, so:

Tmin = 85 / 5 = 17 minutes

Tact is the largest assigned cycle time, which is given as 20 minutes.

Efficiency = Tmin / Tact * 100%
Efficiency = 17 / 20 * 100%
Efficiency = 85%

Therefore, the efficiency of the assembly line is 85%, which corresponds to choice C.

Quiz 9: Layout Strategies

The assumptions necessary for a successful product layout include all of the following except

Which of these layouts is most suitable for processing sugar from sugar beets or sugar cane?

A disadvantage of product-oriented layout is that

If a layout problem is solved by use of "heuristics," this means that

In assembly line balancing, the theoretical minimum number of workstations is

Four hundred and eighty minutes of production time are available per day. The schedule calls for the production of 80 units per day. Each unit of the product requires 30 minutes of work. What is the theoretical minimum number of workstations?

Cycle time is computed as

The central problem in product-oriented layout planning is

Four hundred and eighty minutes of production time are available per day. Scheduled production is 120 units per day. What is the required cycle time?

In assembly line balancing, cycle time (the ratio of available production time to scheduled production) is the

A production line is to be designed to make 500 El-More dolls per day. Each doll requires 11 activities totaling 16 minutes of work. The factory operates 750 minutes per day. The required cycle time for this assembly line is

Which of the following is true regarding fabrication lines?

Which of the following is not a heuristic rule for assigning tasks to workstations in a product layout?

Which of the following is a common heuristic for assembly line balancing?

A production line is to be designed for a job with four tasks. The task times are 2.4 minutes, 1.4 minutes, 0.9 minutes, and 1.7 minutes. After line balancing, the largest possible assigned cycle time is and the smallest possible assigned cycle time is minutes.

In a product-oriented layout, the process of deciding how to assign tasks to workstations is referred to as

Daily capacity of a product layout is determined by

A production line is to be designed for a product whose completion requires 21 minutes of work. The factory works 400 minutes per day. Can an assembly line with five workstations make 100 units per day?

The main advantage of a product-oriented layout is typically

An assembly line consists of 21 tasks grouped into 5 workstations. The sum of the 21 task times is 85 minutes. The largest assigned cycle time is 20 minutes. The efficiency of this line is