Question

A product requires 32 distinct steps to manufacture, with a total work content of 67 minutes. Demand for the product requires that the single assembly line must produce one unit every 6 minutes. If it is possible to balance the line using the theoretical minimum number of workstations, what level of throughput efficiency (TE) will be achieved?

	A.	100% TE
	B.	between 94.6% TE and 99.9% TE
	C.	between 92.1% TE and 94.5% TE
	D.	between 90.0% TE and 92.0% TE
	E.	less than 90.0% TE

Which of the following is not one of the seven characteristics of a well-designed service system?

	A.	It is robust.
	B.	It ensures complete independence and separation between the "back office" and the "front office."
	C.	It is cost-effective.
	D.	It manages the evidence of service quality so that customers see the value of the service provided.
	E.	Select this answer if you think that all of the above (a,b,c,d) are characteristics of a well-designed service system.

Which of the following answers characterizes a continuous flow process most accurately?

	A.	high volume production, limited variety of products, and high labor cost per unit
	B.	high volume production, large variety of products, and low labor cost per unit
	C.	low volume production, limited variety of products, and low labor cost per unit
	D.	low volume production, large variety of products, and high labor cost per unit
	E.	high volume production, limited variety of products, and low labor cost per unit

Answer 1

1. C

between 92.1% TE and 94.5% TE

Theoritical minimum number of workstations = sum of task time/ cycle time

= 67 / 6 = 11.16

therefore minimum number of workstations = 12

efficiency = Sum of task time x 100 / (actual number of workstations x workstation cycle time) %

= 67x 100 / 12 x 6 = 93.05 %

thus the correct answer is C i.e. between 92.1% TE and 94.5% TE

2. B.

It ensures complete independence and separation between the "back office" and the "front office."

Since, the back office and the front office should be linked and their activities should align with each other so as to provide the best customer service. Example: in a bank the computer applications, the front interface with cashier and the accounts all align with each other to give uninterrupted services.

The service should be robust so that it should cope with variable demands and it should not fail. eg if a computer fails there are backup systems to provide service.

A service should be cost effective - minimum waste of time and resources

It manages the evidence of service quality so that customers see the value of the service provided. - there are often changes made in a system and those changes should be communicated with the customers.

3. E

high volume production, limited variety of products, and low labor cost per unit

Since, Continuous flow processes are implemented in high volume and standardized products and the labor cost is low because of low variety product (customization is minimal and benefit of scale). Eg petroleum, chemicals and drugs