CPM Plant Layout & Material Flow 2

Question 1

Which layout type is BEST suited for high-volume, low-variety production?

Accepted Answer

Product (line) layout

Answer

Product layouts arrange equipment in the sequence of operations for a specific product, enabling efficient high-volume, low-variety production.

Question 2

In a from-to chart used for plant layout, what does each cell value typically represent?

Accepted Answer

Number of trips between departments per period

Answer

A from-to chart records the number of loads or trips moved between each pair of departments, helping planners minimize total material handling.

Question 3

Which of the following is a primary advantage of a U-shaped production line over a straight line?

Accepted Answer

Easier balancing and flexible staffing levels

Answer

U-shaped lines allow workers to cover multiple stations and adjust headcount easily while keeping material flow compact.

Question 4

A plant manager wants to reduce aisle congestion. Which metric should be analyzed first?

Accepted Answer

Aisle traffic density (loads per hour per aisle segment)

Answer

Measuring loads per hour through each aisle segment identifies bottleneck aisles and guides redesign decisions.

Question 5

The 'closeness rating' in a Relationship Chart (REL chart) is used to indicate:

Accepted Answer

Desirability of locating two departments close together

Answer

REL chart closeness ratings (A, E, I, O, U, X) express how important it is for two departments to be adjacent based on workflow and safety.

(CPM) Certified Plant Manager Practice Test