In which of the following factory layout configurations is line balancing strictly required_______________?
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Answer: B. product layout
Explanation
Product layouts feature machines arranged in a strict sequential order matching the manufacturing steps of a specific product. Line balancing is strictly required in this configuration to ensure that every workstation operates at a synchronized production rate. Without proper line balancing, severe bottlenecks occur where intermediate workpieces accumulate and stall the entire manufacturing line. Line balancing is an analytical technique used to assign tasks to workstations so that idle time and equipment starvation are minimized. Product layouts are designed for mass production of standardized goods where high volume justifies dedicated sequential machinery setups. Achieving smooth material flow requires careful coordination of cycle times across all workstations linked by conveyor systems.
Process layouts group similar machines together and do not require strict line balancing because products follow varied routing paths. Fixed position layouts involve stationary mega-products where workers move around the structure rather than balancing a sequential production line. Functional layouts are synonymous with process layouts and therefore do not require the strict pacing characteristic of product assembly lines.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Mechanical Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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