← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
Gears are best mass produced by
A)
milling
B)
hobbing
C)
shaping
D)
casting
Gears are best mass produced by hobbing because it is a fast, continuous, and efficient gear-cutting process suitable for large-scale production. In hobbing, both the hob and gear blank rotate in a coordinated manner, allowing repeated accurate tooth generation with high productivity. Milling and shaping are slower and are generally used for smaller batches or special cases. Casting is not the preferred method for producing accurate gear teeth for general use.
Which of the following is the basic tool in work study?
A)
process chart
B)
stop watch
C)
bar chart
D)
activity chart
In work study, the basic tools are process charts used to record and analyze the sequence of operations, inspections, transports, delays, and storages in a job. A process chart is the fundamental recording tool for method study. A stop watch is mainly used in time study, while bar chart and activity chart are not the basic tools of work study.
Hardness of steel depends on
A)
amount of carbon it contains
B)
the shape and distribution of the carbide in iron
C)
contents of alloying elements
D)
none of these
The hardness of steel mainly increases with the carbon content. Carbon strengthens steel by forming harder microstructures, so higher carbon generally means higher hardness. While carbide shape/distribution and alloying elements can also influence hardness, the most direct and standard answer in basic material science is the amount of carbon it contains. Hence, option (a) is correct.
The simplex method is the basic method for
A)
queuing theory
B)
network analysis
C)
value analysis
D)
linear programming
The simplex method is the standard algorithm used to solve linear programming problems, especially when there are multiple constraints and an objective function to maximize or minimize. It works by moving from one feasible corner point to another until the optimal solution is reached. The other options are incorrect because queuing theory deals with waiting lines, network analysis with project scheduling/PERT-CPM, and value analysis with cost reduction and functional improvement.
Wax pattern is used in
A)
die casting
B)
investment casting
C)
shell moulding
D)
plaster moulds
Wax patterns are a key feature of investment casting (also called lost-wax casting). A wax model of the part is made first, coated with refractory material, and then the wax is melted out to leave a cavity for metal pouring. Die casting uses permanent metal dies, shell moulding uses resin-coated sand on a heated pattern, and plaster moulds use plaster, not wax patterns.
There is no electrode consumption for which of the following processes?
A)
TIG welding
B)
gas welding
C)
laser welding
D)
arc welding
Electrode consumption means the electrode itself is melted and added to the weld pool. In laser welding, heat is produced by a laser beam, so no electrode is used at all, hence no electrode consumption. TIG welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode, so it also does not consume the electrode, but among the given options the standard answer expected is laser welding because it uses no electrode. Gas welding does not use an electrode, but it uses a filler rod if needed. Arc welding generally uses a consumable electrode, so electrode consumption occurs.
Depreciation of machines is considered as
A)
direct expense
B)
indirect expense
C)
direct material cost
D)
indirect material cost
Depreciation on machines is treated as an overhead cost, because it cannot be traced directly to a specific unit of production. It is therefore classified as an indirect expense. It is not direct material cost, and it is not a direct expense because it does not relate directly to a single product or job.
In a network analysis technique under project management, CPM is based on
A)
single time
B)
two times
C)
three times
D)
none of these
CPM (Critical Path Method) is a deterministic network analysis technique. It assumes a single, fixed time estimate for each activity. In contrast, PERT uses three time estimates (optimistic, most likely, pessimistic). Therefore, CPM is based on single time.
The total number of atoms in body centred cubic (BCC) structure unit cell is
A)
1
B)
2
C)
3
D)
4
In a body-centred cubic (BCC) unit cell, there are 8 corner atoms, each contributing 1/8 to the unit cell, so total from corners = 8 × 1/8 = 1 atom. There is also 1 atom completely inside the cube at the body center, contributing 1 atom. Therefore, total atoms per BCC unit cell = 1 + 1 = 2. Hence, option (b) is correct. Options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect because they do not match the standard atomic count of a BCC unit cell.
Which of the following is preferred for welding of non-ferrous metals by arc welding?
A)
A.C. low frequency
B)
A.C. high frequency
C)
D.C.
D)
all of these
For arc welding of non-ferrous metals, D.C. is generally preferred because it provides a more stable arc and better control of heat input. Non-ferrous metals often require smoother arc characteristics and less spatter. A.C. is less preferred due to arc instability, and the frequency options are not the standard preference here. Therefore, the correct answer is D.C.
Silicon, when added to copper increases
A)
strength
B)
hardness
C)
strength and hardness
D)
strength and ductility
Silicon is an alloying element in copper that improves the alloy’s mechanical properties, especially strength and hardness. It generally increases resistance to wear and deformation. Options (a) and (b) are only partially correct, while (d) is wrong because ductility usually decreases when silicon is added to copper.
Queuing theory is associated with
A)
sales
B)
inspection time
C)
waiting time
D)
production time
Queuing theory deals with lines or queues and studies how customers/jobs wait for service, the number of waiting units, and service efficiency. Hence it is associated with waiting time. The other options are not the main focus of queuing theory: sales, inspection time, and production time belong to different areas of management/production analysis.
Motion study involves analysis of
A)
actions of operator
B)
layout of work place
C)
tooling and equipment
D)
all of these
Motion study is the detailed analysis of the movements made by a worker while performing a job. Its main purpose is to eliminate unnecessary motions and improve efficiency. Therefore, it involves analysis of the actions of the operator. Layout of the workplace and tooling/equipment are related to method study or work design, but not the core definition of motion study.
NC machine tools are operated by
A)
input-output module
B)
series of coded instructions
C)
feedback system
D)
close loop system
NC (Numerical Control) machine tools are operated using a series of coded instructions prepared on a program medium. These instructions tell the machine what movements and operations to perform. Option (c) feedback system and (d) close loop system are more associated with CNC/servo-controlled systems, not basic NC. Option (a) input-output module is a component, not the operating principle.
Automobile bodies can be manufactured by employing
A)
rod drawing
B)
tube drawing
C)
wire drawing
D)
deep drawing
Automobile bodies are commonly made from sheet metal by the process of deep drawing, where a flat sheet blank is pressed into a die to form complex hollow shapes. Rod drawing, tube drawing, and wire drawing are all drawing processes used to reduce cross-section of rods, tubes, and wires, not for making car body panels.
The most economical furnace to melt cast iron in large volume is
A)
reverberatory furnace
B)
cupola furnace
C)
induction furnace
D)
electric furnace
A cupola furnace is the most economical furnace for melting cast iron in large quantities. It is widely used in foundries because it has a high melting rate, low operating cost, and is suitable for continuous production. Reverberatory furnaces are less efficient for cast iron, while induction and electric furnaces are generally costlier for this specific large-volume melting application.
Which of the following is a ceramic material?
A)
silicon carbide
B)
zinc
C)
iron
D)
wood
Silicon carbide is a ceramic material because it is a hard, brittle, non-metallic compound used in abrasives and high-temperature applications. Zinc and iron are metals, while wood is an organic material, not a ceramic.
Machining properties of steel are improved by adding
A)
phosphorous, lead and sulphur
B)
silicon, aluminium and titanium
C)
vanadium and aluminium
D)
chromium and nickel
Machining properties (machinability) of steel are improved by adding elements that help chip breakage and reduce cutting resistance. Sulphur and lead are classic free-machining additions; phosphorus also improves machinability to some extent. Hence option (a) is correct. Silicon, aluminium and titanium are not primarily used for improving machinability, while vanadium, chromium and nickel generally increase strength/hardness and are not added mainly for machinability.
Which of the following are goals of JIT?
A)
increasing efficiency
B)
reducing wastage
C)
reducing lead time
D)
all of these
Just-In-Time (JIT) aims to improve overall production performance by increasing efficiency, reducing wastage, and minimizing lead time. Since all three are standard goals of JIT, the correct answer is 'all of these'.
Permeability of a moulding sand is increased with
A)
increasing the moisture content
B)
coarse grain size
C)
increasing the compact factor
D)
fine grain size
Permeability is the ability of moulding sand to allow gases to escape through its voids. It increases when the sand has larger grains, because coarse grains create larger inter-granular spaces for air and gases to pass through. In contrast, increasing moisture content or compacting the sand reduces pore spaces and hence lowers permeability. Fine grain size also decreases permeability because it packs more tightly and leaves smaller voids.
If normal time is N, idle time is I and allowance is A, then standard time is equal to
A)
N+I+A
B)
N+I-A
C)
N-A
D)
N+A
Standard time is the normal time plus allowances. If normal time is N and allowance is A, then standard time = N + A. Idle time is not added separately here because it is already accounted for in the allowance concept or is not part of the standard time formula given in the options. Hence, the correct option is (d) N+A.
The purpose of annealing is to
A)
induce stresses
B)
remove stresses
C)
harden surface
D)
none of these
Annealing is a heat treatment process used to soften metal, improve ductility, and relieve internal/residual stresses developed during prior processing. Therefore, its purpose is to remove stresses. Option (a) is wrong because annealing does not induce stresses; option (c) refers to surface hardening processes like carburizing, nitriding, or quenching, not annealing; hence (d) is also incorrect.
A 3-jaw chuck is used in a lathe to clamp
A)
cylindrical work-piece to locate the axis of rotation
B)
eccentric work-piece to locate the axis of rotation
C)
square bar to locate the axis of rotation
D)
any type of work-piece to locate the axis of rotation
A 3-jaw self-centering chuck is mainly used for holding round or cylindrical workpieces. All three jaws move simultaneously, so the work is centered automatically and the axis of rotation is located at the center. It is not suitable for eccentric workpieces, and square bars are generally held in a 4-jaw chuck or special chuck.
Which of the following is always a cold-working operation?
A)
rolling
B)
wire drawing
C)
forging
D)
extrusion
Wire drawing is always a cold-working process because it is carried out by pulling metal through a die at room temperature to reduce its cross-section. In contrast, rolling, forging, and extrusion can be done either hot or cold depending on the material and process requirements. Therefore, the operation that is always cold-working is wire drawing.
The order in which different jobs are being taken up in a machine or process is called
A)
scheduling
B)
sequencing
C)
routing
D)
aggregate planning
The order in which different jobs are taken up on a machine or process is called sequencing. It decides the job priority and the sequence of operations. Scheduling is broader and deals with assigning time slots and dates; routing is the path/process flow a job follows; aggregate planning is a medium-term production planning activity.