← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
When low carbon steel is heated up to upper critical temperature
A)
the grain size does not change
B)
the grain size increases rapidly
C)
the grain size increases slowly
D)
none of the above
In low carbon steel, heating up to the upper critical temperature causes austenite formation. As the temperature approaches and exceeds this point, grain growth becomes rapid. Therefore, the grain size increases rapidly. Option (a) is incorrect because grain size does change, and option (c) is incorrect because the increase is not slow at this stage.
All events on critical path have
A)
float > 1
B)
float < 1
C)
float=0
D)
none of these
In network analysis, the critical path is the longest-duration path in a project network. Any activity/event on the critical path has no scheduling flexibility, so its float (slack) is zero. If any critical activity were delayed, the whole project would be delayed. Therefore, the correct answer is float = 0.
When chromium is added to steel, its tensile strength
A)
decreases
B)
increases
C)
remains unaffected
D)
none of the above
Chromium is an alloying element that improves the strength and hardness of steel. When chromium is added to steel, it generally increases tensile strength by refining the structure and improving hardenability. So option (b) is correct. Option (a) is wrong because chromium does not decrease tensile strength, and option (c) is wrong because the property is affected.
The reason for low productivity of an organization is
A)
poor product design
B)
lack of standardization
C)
improper cutting tools
D)
all of these
Low productivity in an organization can result from poor product design, which makes manufacturing inefficient; lack of standardization, which increases variation and waste; and improper cutting tools, which reduce speed, accuracy, and output. Since all three factors contribute to low productivity, the correct answer is 'all of these'.
The permeability of soft magnetic material is
A)
low
B)
medium
C)
high
D)
all of these
Soft magnetic materials are designed to be easily magnetized and demagnetized. This means they have low coercivity and high permeability. Therefore, the permeability of a soft magnetic material is high. Option (a) low is incorrect, (b) medium is not the standard property, and (d) all of these is incorrect because only high is right.
Detailed work factor analysis under work study finds its wide application in
A)
electronic industry
B)
steel industry
C)
IT industry
D)
automobile industry
Work factor analysis is a motion study technique used to analyze manual work into basic motions and assign standard times. It is especially useful where jobs are repetitive, involve many short-cycle assembly operations, and require detailed motion-level study. This is why it finds wide application in the automobile industry. The other options are less suitable: electronic and steel industries use work study too, but the classic and widest application of detailed work factor analysis is in automobile manufacturing and assembly lines.
Lubricants and spare parts needed for proper operation and repair are classified under
A)
in-process inventory
B)
raw inventories
C)
indirect inventories
D)
none of these
Lubricants and spare parts are not part of the main raw materials that go directly into the product. They are supporting items used for operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment, so they are classified as indirect inventories. Raw inventories are materials used in production, and in-process inventory refers to goods currently being manufactured.
Critical path in network analysis is one which consumes
A)
minimum time
B)
zero time
C)
maximum time
D)
optimal time
In network analysis, the critical path is the longest-duration path through the project network. It determines the minimum completion time of the project, so it consumes the maximum time among all paths. The other options are incorrect because the critical path is not the minimum-time path, does not take zero time, and 'optimal time' is not the defining criterion.
Micro-structure of a material is generally examined by
A)
optical microscope
B)
X-ray technique
C)
spectroscope
D)
none of the above
Micro-structure refers to the internal structure of a material at microscopic scale, such as grains, phases, and defects. It is generally examined using an optical microscope after proper specimen preparation and etching. X-ray techniques are mainly used for crystal structure and phase analysis, while a spectroscope is used for studying spectra, not microstructure.
The materials with ionic bond have
A)
high melting point
B)
moderate melting point
C)
low melting point
D)
none of these
Ionic compounds are held together by strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. A large amount of energy is needed to break these bonds, so they generally have a high melting point. Hence, option (a) is correct. Options (b) and (c) are incorrect because ionic bonding is much stronger than in materials with moderate or low melting points.
The type of organization which is not suitable for complex and large organization is
A)
functional organization
B)
line organization
C)
line and staff organization
D)
none of these
A line organization has a simple, direct chain of command and works well for small and simple setups. It is not suitable for complex and large organizations because coordination becomes difficult and top managers get overburdened. Functional and line-and-staff organizations are better suited for larger and more complex organizations because they provide specialization and advisory support.
Hematite iron ore contains about _______ of iron
A)
70%
B)
55%
C)
45%
D)
35%
Hematite is the chief iron ore and typically contains about 70% iron (more precisely around 69.9% Fe in pure hematite, Fe2O3). Therefore option (a) is correct. The other options are too low for hematite.
An alloy of nickel and copper is called
A)
monel metal
B)
gun metal
C)
Babbitt metal
D)
none of the above
An alloy of nickel and copper is called Monel metal. It is a well-known corrosion-resistant alloy mainly composed of nickel and copper. Gun metal is primarily a copper-tin-zinc alloy, and Babbitt metal is a soft bearing alloy usually based on tin or lead with antimony and copper.
Value of a product can be increased by
A)
increasing its utility
B)
increasing its cost
C)
decreasing its cost
D)
both (a) and (c)
The value of a product is generally improved when its utility increases and/or its cost decreases. Increasing utility makes the product more useful or desirable to the customer, while decreasing cost improves value by reducing the resources needed to produce it. Therefore, both (a) increasing its utility and (c) decreasing its cost are correct.
The difference between the reorder level and the average lead time demand is called as
A)
safety stocks
B)
under stocks
C)
over stocks
D)
economic stocks
The reorder level is set above the average lead time demand to avoid stockouts during lead time. The difference between the reorder level and the average lead time demand is the buffer kept for uncertainty, which is called safety stock. Under stocks and over stocks are not standard inventory terms for this definition, and economic stock is not the correct concept here.
PERT analysis is based on
A)
three times
B)
single time
C)
two times
D)
none of these
PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) uses three time estimates for each activity: optimistic time, most likely time, and pessimistic time. These are combined to find the expected duration. Hence, PERT analysis is based on three times. Option (b) refers to CPM, which generally uses a single time estimate.
Centre of gravity method is used in decision analysis of
A)
plant layout
B)
plant location
C)
plant floor
D)
plant area
The centre of gravity method is a quantitative technique used in facility location decisions to determine the best location for a plant, warehouse, or distribution center by minimizing transportation cost based on demand points and distances. It is not a plant layout method. Therefore, the correct answer is plant location.
In a unit cell of a body centred cubic space lattice, the number of atoms is
A)
nine
B)
six
C)
fourteen
D)
seventeen
In a body-centred cubic (BCC) unit cell, there are 8 corner atoms and 1 atom at the body centre. The 8 corner atoms contribute 1 atom in total (each corner atom is shared by 8 unit cells), and the body-centred atom contributes 1 atom fully. So the total number of atoms in a BCC unit cell is 2. However, since the options given do not include 2, the question appears to be asking for the number of atoms associated with the unit cell in a different sense or may contain an error. Among the given options, none is correct.
In order to achieve part interchangeability, the type of layout suggested is
A)
product layout
B)
process layout
C)
combined layout
D)
matrix layout
Part interchangeability is best achieved when identical products are made in a fixed sequence with standardized operations and close control of dimensions. This is the feature of a product layout (also called line layout). In a product layout, machines are arranged according to the sequence of operations, which helps maintain uniformity and interchangeability of parts. A process layout groups similar machines together and is more flexible, so it is less suitable for interchangeability. Combined layout and matrix layout are not the standard layouts used for this purpose.
Silicon is added to low carbon steel to make the steel
A)
tougher
B)
harder
C)
tougher and harder
D)
tougher and softer
Silicon is added to low carbon steel as a strengthening element. It increases the steel’s hardness and also improves toughness to some extent. Therefore, the correct choice is 'tougher and harder'. Option (a) is incomplete, (b) ignores toughness, and (d) is incorrect because silicon does not make steel softer.
The hardness is the property of the material due to which it can
A)
be drawn into wires
B)
be rolled into thin sheets
C)
resist fracture due to impact load
D)
cut another material
Hardness is the property of a material by which it resists indentation, scratching, and abrasion. A hard material can therefore cut another softer material. Option (a) refers to ductility, option (b) refers to malleability, and option (c) refers to toughness or impact resistance.
An amorphous solid like glass can be characterized as
A)
a malleable solid
B)
a crystal like structure
C)
a good conductor
D)
a super cooled liquid
Amorphous solids like glass do not have a regular crystalline arrangement. They are often described as supercooled liquids because their molecular structure resembles a liquid frozen into a rigid state. Hence, option (d) is correct. Option (a) is incorrect because glass is brittle, not malleable. Option (b) is incorrect because glass is not crystal-like. Option (c) is incorrect because glass is generally a poor conductor.
Network analysis were developed from the concept of
A)
milestone chart
B)
bar chart
C)
both milestone and bar chart
D)
flow process chart
Network analysis techniques such as CPM and PERT evolved from earlier project planning methods. They were developed by combining ideas from milestone charts and bar charts, which were used to represent project activities and schedules. Hence, the correct answer is both milestone and bar chart. The other options are incomplete because network analysis did not arise from only one of these charts.
Due to simplification, the inventory stock becomes
A)
more
B)
less
C)
same
D)
none of these
In production management, simplification of products/processes reduces the variety of items, parts, and materials to be stored. This lowers the number of stock-keeping units and therefore the inventory stock becomes less. Hence, option (b) is correct.
Invar is a steel alloy that has
A)
high coefficient of expansion
B)
low coefficient of expansion
C)
medium coefficient of expansion
D)
zero coefficient of expansion
Invar is a nickel-iron steel alloy known for its very low thermal expansion. It is used in precision instruments where dimensional stability is important. It does not have zero expansion, but its coefficient of expansion is exceptionally small compared with ordinary steels. Hence, option (b) is correct.