CPIM Practice Exam

In an intermittent manufacturing scenario, what is likely true regarding the constraint?

1. Elevating the constraint will resolve most issues.

2. The constraint may shift spontaneously.

3. Drum-buffer-rope scheduling will not be beneficial.

4. Adding a time buffer before the constraint will reduce WIP inventory.

The correct answer is: The constraint may shift spontaneously.

In an intermittent manufacturing scenario, it is likely that the constraint may shift spontaneously due to the variability in production processes, demand fluctuations, and changes in resource availability. This type of environment does not operate consistently and can experience changes in the workload and flow, which may lead to different resources becoming the bottleneck at different times. Recognizing that constraints can shift allows management to be more flexible in addressing production issues, as the focus should not solely be on a fixed bottleneck but rather on monitoring and managing the various factors that may influence where the constraint exists at any given time. This adaptability is crucial in intermittent manufacturing, where diverse products are manufactured in varying quantities and the systems are not as predictable as in continuous manufacturing scenarios. In contrast, elevating the constraint may not always resolve issues in this dynamic environment, as doing so could simply lead to a new constraint appearing elsewhere. Drum-buffer-rope scheduling, commonly used in Theory of Constraints environments, may still hold benefits even if the environment is intermittent, as its principles can help manage workflow and inventory. Lastly, adding a time buffer before the constraint might actually mitigate WIP inventory levels rather than reduce them, since it can allow for a smoother flow of materials leading up to that point.