CPM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. In supply chain management, what does 'demand amplification' (the bullwhip effect) result from? → Small demand fluctuations that cause increasingly larger order swings upstream
2. What is the purpose of a 'red-tag' exercise during a 5S Sort phase? → Identify and quarantine items whose necessity at the workstation is uncertain
3. A process produces 45 defects per million opportunities. What sigma level does this approximately correspond to? → Five sigma
4. In VPP, what does the 'Star' status signify compared to 'Merit' status? → Star sites fully meet all VPP requirements; Merit sites are working toward Star
5. When counting days away from work on the OSHA 300 log, what is the maximum number of days that must be recorded for a single case? → 180 days
6. An employer with 10 or fewer employees is generally exempt from OSHA recordkeeping unless: → OSHA or BLS specifically notifies them to keep records
7. In vibration analysis, what does a high amplitude at the fundamental frequency (1X) typically indicate? → Imbalance
8. A CPM professional encounters an unfamiliar situation while performing procurement & jit inventory duties. What is the most appropriate first action? → Consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor before proceeding
9. Which lean waste category is represented when a skilled technician spends significant time searching for tools and materials? → Motion
10. What does the 'maintenance prevention' pillar of TPM aim to achieve during the equipment design phase? → Design equipment that requires minimal maintenance and is easy to maintain
11. In MRP II, what does the 'resource planning' module address that basic MRP does not? → Long-range capacity planning including capital equipment and workforce needs
12. What is the primary purpose of power factor correction in industrial facilities? → Reduce reactive power and lower utility demand charges
13. What is the primary purpose of a Process FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) in a QMS? → To proactively identify and prioritize potential process failure modes before they occur
14. In lean manufacturing, 'point-of-use storage' means: → Keeping materials and tools at or near the point where they are consumed
15. Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in mrp & production control to verify that CPM professional standards are being met? → Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks
16. In ISO 9001:2015, 'risk-based thinking' replaced which older concept from the 2008 version? → Preventive action
17. Under OSHA's Emergency Action Plan standard (29 CFR 1910.38), a written plan is required when the workplace has: → More than 10 employees
18. Takt time is calculated as: → Available production time divided by customer demand rate
19. Which ergonomic guideline should govern workstation height design at assembly stations? → Height should be adjustable or set to elbow height of the target population
20. The primary advantage of a combined heat and power (CHP) system over separate heat and power generation is: → Overall system efficiency of 70–90% by utilizing waste heat from power generation
21. The Simple Payback Period (SPP) for an energy efficiency project is calculated as: → Project cost divided by annual energy savings
22. How does process standardization improve quality control? → It helps improve consistency and ensures product quality.
23. Which MRP planning concept uses the idea that items at the same low-level code are netted together before planned orders are exploded to child components? → Low-level coding and netting
24. How does plant operations management contribute to environmental sustainability? → By optimizing processes to reduce waste and environmental impact.
25. Which of the following injuries is automatically recordable regardless of treatment or outcome? → Any needle-stick or sharps injury contaminated with another person's blood
26. In a JIT system, what is the primary role of a kanban card? → Authorize replenishment of a specific part or material
27. In a Value Stream Map (VSM), what does the 'push' arrow symbol indicate? → Material or information pushed regardless of downstream need
28. A maintenance planner notices that a pump's MTTR has doubled over six months. What does this most likely indicate? → Repairs are taking longer, possibly due to parts availability or skill gaps
29. A plant manager discovers that the facility generates more than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month. Under RCRA, this facility is classified as a: → Large Quantity Generator (LQG)
30. A plant manager implements Kaizen events. What is the typical duration and focus of a Kaizen event? → 3–5 day rapid improvement workshop focused on a specific process problem