Manufacturing and Production Production Planning and Scheduling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Theory of Constraints (TOC) prescribes which sequence of steps?
- Plan, Do, Check, Act
- Identify, Exploit, Subordinate, Elevate, Repeat (Correct answer)
- Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, Sustain
- Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control
Correct answer: Identify, Exploit, Subordinate, Elevate, Repeat
TOC's five focusing steps guide organizations to identify and systematically improve their production constraints.
Question 2: What is 'work-in-process' (WIP) inventory?
- Finished goods awaiting shipment
- Materials that have been started but not yet completed (Correct answer)
- Raw materials at the receiving dock
- Scrap and rework materials
Correct answer: Materials that have been started but not yet completed
WIP consists of partially completed products currently being processed or waiting between production steps.
Question 3: Forward scheduling in production means:
- Scheduling jobs backward from the due date
- Scheduling jobs as early as possible from the current date (Correct answer)
- Planning only future expansion projects
- Scheduling maintenance during forward production runs
Correct answer: Scheduling jobs as early as possible from the current date
Forward scheduling starts from the earliest available date and schedules each operation forward in time.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a 'dispatch list' in production scheduling?
- A list of shipping carriers
- A prioritized list telling operators which jobs to work on next at each work center (Correct answer)
- A list of supplier contacts
- A daily employee assignment list
Correct answer: A prioritized list telling operators which jobs to work on next at each work center
A dispatch list tells shop floor operators the priority sequence of jobs to process, ensuring the right work is done in the right order.
Question 5: Machine utilization is calculated as:
- Actual output / planned output
- Actual run time / available time × 100% (Correct answer)
- Number of machines / total floor space
- Defect rate / total production rate
Correct answer: Actual run time / available time × 100%
Machine utilization measures the percentage of available time that a machine is actually producing, excluding downtime.
Question 6: What is 'changeover time' in production scheduling?
- Time to change work shifts
- The time required to switch production from one product to another (Correct answer)
- Time to update production records
- Time for employee orientation
Correct answer: The time required to switch production from one product to another
Changeover time is the non-productive time spent reconfiguring equipment between different production runs.
Manufacturing and Production Production Planning and Scheduling 2
The Theory of Constraints (TOC) prescribes which sequence of steps?