CPIM Practice Exam

Which is true of part numbers and their relationship on bills of material?

1. The same part number can be used to identify the same product at different stages of production before and after value has been added to it.

2. A part at a particular processing stage has one and only one part number.

3. The same part used on different bills of material will need different part numbers.

4. A part can be either a parent or a child but never both.

The correct answer is: A part at a particular processing stage has one and only one part number.

The statement that a part at a particular processing stage has one and only one part number is indeed accurate. Each part number uniquely identifies a specific part at a given point in the production process. This consistency is crucial for inventory management, tracking, and ensuring that the correct components are used at each stage of manufacturing. By having a single part number associated with a part at each processing stage, organizations can effectively maintain clarity and prevent confusion during production. In contrast, other options present scenarios that don't accurately reflect standard practices in managing part numbers. For instance, the same part number being used at different stages of production may not hold true, as a part's identity can change as it moves through the production process, which typically would require a distinction in part numbers. The idea that the same part used in different bills of material necessitates different part numbers is also not a common practice, as one part can be versatile enough to appear across various bills of materials without changing its part number. Lastly, the notion that a part can only be a parent or a child but not both overlooks the reality that parts can serve versatile roles in the assembly structure, making them both a parent to some components while being a child to others simultaneously.