← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2015
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.
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.
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.
The process of introducing carbon into low carbon steel in order to produce a hard surface is known as
A)
carbonitriding
B)
carboaddition
C)
cyaniding
D)
carburizing
Introducing carbon into the surface layer of low-carbon steel to obtain a hard, wear-resistant surface is called carburizing. In this process, only the outer layer is enriched with carbon, which after heat treatment becomes hard, while the core remains tough. Carbonitriding is similar but uses both carbon and nitrogen. Cyaniding involves using a cyanide bath to add carbon and nitrogen. 'Carboaddition' is not the standard material science term.
Delta iron occurs at temperature of
A)
room temperature
B)
around melting point
C)
between 1400ºC to 1539ºC
D)
between 910ºC to 1400ºC
Iron has different allotropic forms with temperature. Delta iron (δ-iron) is the high-temperature bcc form of iron that exists just below the melting point, approximately from 1394°C to 1538°C (often rounded in exams as 1400°C to 1539°C). Therefore option (c) is correct. Option (d) refers to the temperature range of gamma iron in many textbooks, while room temperature is alpha iron.
Product layout is employed for
A)
batch production
B)
continuous production
C)
effective utilisation of machine
D)
all of these
A product layout arranges machines and workstations in the sequence of operations required to make a product. This is best suited to high-volume, standardized, repetitive work, i.e., continuous production. Batch production usually uses a process layout or cellular layout, not a product layout. 'Effective utilisation of machine' is a general advantage, but not the primary use asked here. Hence, the correct answer is continuous production.
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.
Corrosion resistance of steel is increased by adding
A)
chromium and nickel
B)
nickel and molybdenum
C)
aluminium and zinc
D)
tungsten and sulphur
Corrosion resistance of steel is increased by adding chromium and nickel. Chromium forms a protective oxide film on the steel surface, and nickel improves corrosion resistance and toughness. This is the basis of stainless steel. The other options are incorrect because aluminium and zinc are not the standard alloying elements used to increase steel’s corrosion resistance, and tungsten with sulphur does not provide corrosion resistance.
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.
The reason behind using non-traditional machining processes is to get
A)
high accuracy
B)
high strength
C)
good surface finish
D)
all of these
Non-traditional machining processes are used when conventional machining is not suitable and the aim is often to achieve high accuracy, good surface finish, and to machine difficult materials or complex shapes. Hence, the best option given is 'all of these'.
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.
The micro-motion study was originated by
A)
F.W.Taylor
B)
Henri Fayol
C)
F.B. and L.M.Gilberth
D)
R.M.Barnes
Micro-motion study was originated by Frank B. Gilbreth and Lillian M. Gilbreth. They developed motion study techniques such as therbligs and the use of motion-picture analysis to study and improve work methods. Taylor is associated with scientific management, Fayol with administrative management, and Barnes with later work on work-study but not the origin of micro-motion study.
The flame type that is normally used to weld copper base alloys in oxy-oxy-acetylene welding method is
A)
carburising flame
B)
neutral flame
C)
oxidising flame
D)
reducing flame
Copper and copper-base alloys are normally welded with a neutral flame in oxy-acetylene welding. A neutral flame avoids adding excess oxygen or carbon, which could otherwise oxidize or contaminate the weld metal. Carburising and reducing flames are used where a reducing atmosphere is specifically needed, while an oxidising flame is generally unsuitable for copper alloys because it promotes oxidation.
Which of the following is not an inventory control technique?
A)
ABC analysis
B)
HML analysis
C)
VED analysis
D)
PQ analysis
ABC analysis, HML analysis, and VED analysis are standard inventory control techniques used for classifying items based on annual consumption value, unit price, and criticality respectively. PQ analysis is not a commonly recognized inventory control technique in standard industrial engineering classification, so it is the correct choice.
Manganese in steel increases its
A)
ductility
B)
hardness
C)
fluidity
D)
tensile strength
Manganese is added to steel mainly to increase its strength and toughness. It improves the tensile strength of steel and also helps remove sulfur by forming manganese sulfide, reducing brittleness. Among the given options, tensile strength is the best answer. Ductility is not primarily increased, hardness is not the main effect here, and fluidity is more associated with cast iron or molten metal behavior.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The network analysis mainly based on events falls under the category of
A)
CPM
B)
PERT
C)
RAFT
D)
CAD
Network analysis based mainly on events is characteristic of PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique). PERT is event-oriented and is used when activity durations are uncertain. In contrast, CPM (Critical Path Method) is more activity-oriented and usually assumes known, deterministic durations. RAFT and CAD are not network analysis methods.
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.
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.
The power transmitted by a belt drive is maximum when the ratio of maximum tension in the belt to that of centrifugal tension is
A)
2
B)
3
C)
4
D)
none of these
For maximum power transmitted by a belt, the standard condition is: maximum tension in the belt T = 3 times the centrifugal tension Tc. This is obtained by differentiating the power expression with respect to belt velocity and setting it to zero. Hence, the ratio T/Tc = 3. Therefore, the correct option is (b). Options (a) and (c) do not satisfy the maximum power condition, and (d) is incorrect.
The materials having same elastic properties in all directions are called
A)
ideal materials
B)
uniform materials
C)
isotropic materials
D)
elastic materials
A material that has the same elastic properties in all directions is called an isotropic material. In isotropic materials, properties like Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and shear modulus do not change with direction.
Why others are incorrect:
(a) Ideal materials is a general term, not specifically for directional equality of elastic properties.
(b) Uniform materials means composition is same throughout, not necessarily same in all directions.
(d) Elastic materials are those that regain original shape after removal of load, but their properties may still vary with direction.
A cotter joint is used to transmit:
A)
axial tensile load only
B)
axial compressive load only
C)
axial tensile and torsional loads
D)
axial tensile or compressive loads
A cotter joint is used to connect two co-axial rods and transmit axial load. It can carry either tensile load or compressive load along the axis of the rods. It is not meant for torsional load transmission. Hence, option (d) is correct. Option (a) is incomplete because cotter joints are also used for compression in some applications, and option (c) is wrong because torsion is not transmitted by a cotter joint.