CPIM Practice Exam

Which of the following operations would most likely require increased resources in an I-type production system?

1. Operation with highest output

2. Operation with lowest output

3. Operations not connected to the constraint

4. All operations equally

The correct answer is: Operation with lowest output

In an I-type production system, which typically refers to an integrated production system where various operations are interdependent and can be influenced by constraints, operations that have the lowest output are often those that will require increased resources. This is because low output operations may need additional resources such as manpower, machinery, or materials to help boost their productivity and align more closely with the overall production goals of the system. When an operation is producing at a lower capacity, it creates a bottleneck that can hamper the flow of materials through the entire system. To address this issue, organizations tend to allocate more resources to that specific operation to enhance its efficiency and output. This focus on increasing resources where they are most needed helps maintain smoother overall operations and minimizes the impact of low-output bottlenecks on the production process. In contrast, operations with high outputs may already be functioning efficiently, operations not connected to the constraint may not directly impact the flow of production, and treating all operations equally might not address specific areas that genuinely need resource augmentation. Thus, focusing resources on low-output operations is a strategic approach to improve productivity in an I-type production system.