Plant Operations Management Flashcards

Which metric best measures the overall effectiveness of manufacturing equipment by combining availability, performance, and quality?

Answer: Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

OEE multiplies availability, performance, and quality rates to give a single composite score of equipment effectiveness.

A plant manager notices that cycle time on a production line exceeds takt time. What is the most appropriate immediate corrective action?

Answer: Identify and eliminate bottleneck constraints to reduce cycle time

When cycle time exceeds takt time, the line cannot meet customer demand, so eliminating bottlenecks is the priority corrective action.

In a pull production system, what triggers the release of a work order or production signal?

Answer: Downstream consumption or a kanban signal

Pull systems are driven by actual downstream consumption, often signaled through kanban cards or electronic equivalents.

Which type of plant layout groups equipment by process function (e.g., all drilling machines together)?

Answer: Process layout

A process layout organizes equipment by type or function, offering flexibility for varied job routings.

A plant is implementing 5S. Which step involves creating a designated place for every item and ensuring every item is in its place?

Answer: Set in Order (Seiton)

Set in Order (Seiton) establishes and labels specific locations for all tools and materials to minimize search time.

What is the primary purpose of a production capacity study in plant operations?

Answer: To identify the maximum sustainable output rate and pinpoint constraints

A capacity study measures maximum sustainable throughput and reveals where constraints limit output.

Which scheduling rule gives priority to the job with the least slack time remaining?

Answer: Least Slack Time (LST)

The Least Slack Time rule prioritizes jobs whose due dates are closest relative to remaining processing time, minimizing late completions.