Question 1

Which of the following is not true about process design?

Accepted Answer

Process design is not limited to new products and services. It can also involve revisiting existing processes to improve efficiency and quality.

Question 2

None of the techniques for line balancing guarantee an optimal solution.

Accepted Answer

None of the techniques for line balancing can guarantee an optimal solution due to factors such as variability in task times and the complexity of the problem. However, these techniques can help achieve a balanced solution that is close to optimal.

Question 3

An advantage of a U-shaped production line is that it facilitates teamwork and flexibility in work assignments.

Accepted Answer

A U-shaped production line allows workers to easily communicate and work together on tasks, promoting teamwork. It also allows for flexibility in assigning tasks as workers can easily move around the U-shape to different workstations.

Question 4

The type of processing system which is used for high volume,highly standardized products is:

Accepted Answer

A continuous processing system is designed for the high volume, highly standardized production of products. This type of system operates continuously, with products moving through the system without interruption, and is typically used for products such as chemicals, petroleum, and plastics. The other options (intermittent, job-shop, batch, and unit) are better suited for lower volume, more customized production.

Question 5

Heuristic approaches to line balancing guarantee an optimal solution.

Accepted Answer

Heuristic approaches are problem-solving methods that do not guarantee an optimal solution but aim to provide a satisfactory solution in a reasonable amount of time.

Question 6

In which type of operations process are you likely to see products or services produced in low to moderate volumes,with some degree of standardization,and moderate flexibility of the processing equipment used?

Accepted Answer

Batch processing is characterized by producing items in low to moderate volumes with some degree of standardization, using moderately flexible processing equipment. In batch processing, different products can be produced in batches and the equipment can be adapted to accommodate the different requirements of each batch. This is a common type of operations process in industries such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical production.

Question 7

Which type of automation is least suited for a wide variety of products?

Accepted Answer

Fixed automation is least suited for a wide variety of products because it is designed for a specific product or process and cannot be easily modified to handle different products.

Question 8

"Balance delay" is another name for the percentage of idle time in a product layout.

Accepted Answer

The answer of "Balance delay" is another name for the...

Question 9

Which of the following is a factor considered in make-or-buy decisions?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed are factors that are considered in make-or-buy decisions. Available capacity is considered to determine whether a company has the resources to produce an item in-house. Core capabilities are assessed to determine whether the company has the necessary skills and expertise to produce the item. The pattern of demand is taken into consideration to determine whether the demand is steady enough to justify in-house production or if it is more cost-effective to outsource production. The secrecy of technology is evaluated to determine whether it is feasible to outsource production without compromising competitive advantage.

Question 10

In which type of processing system would sugar refining be done?

Accepted Answer

Sugar refining involves a continuous process, where raw sugar is continuously fed into a processing system and refined sugar is continuously produced in large quantities without interruption. This is done in a continuous processing system.

Question 11

The overall efficiency of a production line is equal to the percentage idle time times the number of workstations.

Accepted Answer

The overall efficiency of a production line is equal to the percentage of productive time (1 minus the percentage idle time) multiplied by the number of workstations.

Question 12

The substitution of human labour with machinery that has sensing and control devices is best described by the term:

Accepted Answer

The substitution of human labour with machinery that has sensing and control devices is best described as automation, which involves the use of machines to perform tasks that were previously performed by humans.

Question 13

The closeness ratings approach to design process layouts focuses on one main objective,minimizing the total transportation cost.

Accepted Answer

The closeness ratings approach to design process layouts focuses on arranging departments or workstations to minimize the costs of material handling and to improve communication and interaction, rather than solely on minimizing total transportation cost.

Question 14

Cycle time is the maximum time allowed at each workstation to complete its assigned tasks on each unit of production before it moves on.

Accepted Answer

Cycle time is defined as the maximum time allowed at each workstation to complete its assigned tasks on each unit of production before it moves on.

Question 15

For a production line,daily capacity can be determined by dividing the daily operating time by the line's cycle time.

Accepted Answer

Daily capacity is calculated by dividing the daily operating time by the line's cycle time.

Question 16

The advantages of automation include:
I.Reduced output variability
II.Reduced variable costs
III.Machines don't strike or file grievances.
IV.Machines are much more flexible than human labour.

Accepted Answer

Automation reduces output variability, lowers variable costs by replacing human labor, and machines do not strike or file grievances. However, machines are generally less flexible than human labor.

Question 17

The theoretical minimum number of workstations for a production line is a function of the sum of task times and the cycle time.

Accepted Answer

The minimum number of workstations is determined by dividing the total task time by the cycle time. This is known as the theoretical minimum number of workstations or the assembly line balancing problem.

Question 18

The goal of line balancing is to assign equal allocations of idle time to all work stations.

Accepted Answer

The goal of line balancing is to minimize idle time and achieve a smooth flow of work among all workstations. The allocation of idle time can vary depending on the specific production requirements and constraints.

Question 19

Which type of processing system tends to produce the most product variety?

Accepted Answer

Job shop processing systems tend to produce a wide range of product variety as they are designed to handle a variety of customized products. They operate on a made-to-order basis and each product requires a unique sequence of processing steps. This system is ideal for small scale manufacturing with low volume, high variety products. In contrast, assembly, batch, continuous, and repetitive processing systems tend to produce a limited range of product variety due to their standardized procedures and high production volumes.

Question 20

Which of the following is not generally considered to be a kind of automation?

Accepted Answer

Manual automation doesn't involve any level of automation as it's dependent on human effort and doesn't involve the use of machines or technology to perform tasks. Therefore, it's not generally considered to be a kind of automation.

Quiz 6: A: Process Design and Facility Layout