Which one of the following statements about fixed automation is TRUE?
A) Operations managers consider fixed automation when demand volumes are high, product designs are unstable, and product life cycles are short.
B) The primary drawbacks of fixed automation are its large initial investment cost and its relative inflexibility.
C) It is an automatic process that can be reprogrammed to handle various products.
D) The equipment performs complicated operations in a flexible sequence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fixed automation refers to a system where the sequence of processing operations is fixed, and the equipment is dedicated to producing only one type of product. The primary drawbacks of fixed automation are its large initial investment cost and its relative inflexibility. Option A refers to flexible automation, where the system can handle a variety of products with little reprogramming. Option C is not true because fixed automation cannot be reprogrammed to handle different products. Option D refers to flexible manufacturing systems where the equipment can perform complicated operations in a flexible sequence.

Which One of the Following Statements About Fixed Automation Is