ITPEC FE Morning April 2020 Question 73
When a production plan is created, it is important to select an appropriate production system. Which of the following is a suitable production system for varied and flexible high-mix low-volume production by single or several operators in charge of all processes?
Explanation
Cell production system — one worker or a small team assembles the whole product inside a compact cell, which suits high-mix, low-volume output.
Instead of a long conveyor line where each worker repeats one step, the parts and tools are arranged in a U-shaped or similar cell and one or a few multi-skilled operators carry out every process. Switching the cell to another product is quick, so many product types can be made in small quantities without idle line capacity.
Answer (b)
Why not others:
- •(a) Build-to-order production system — defines when production starts (after an order is received), not how operators and processes are organised on the floor
- •(c) Continuous production system — the same product flows through the process without interruption, the low-mix, high-volume opposite
- •(d) Individual production system — one-off production of a unique item to a customer's specification, such as a ship or a building, rather than a flexible layout for many small lots
Key rule: High-mix, low-volume with multi-skilled workers doing every step points to cell production; low-mix, high-volume points to line or continuous production.
Business Industry · AI-written, may contain errors
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