Solution Manual For Automation, Production
Systems, And Computer-Integrated
Manufacturing 3rd Edition By Mikell P.
Groover 2026
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
,Ch01 Introduction-3e-S 12-15, 16/06, 06/04/07
chapter 1 introduction
review questions
1 .1 what are some of the realities mentioned at the beginning of the chapter that modern manufacturing enterprises
must cope with? name four.
ans: the realities mentioned in the text are (1) globalization, (2) international outsourcing, (3) local
outsourcing, (4) contract manufacturing, (5) trend toward the service sector, (6) quality expectations, and (7)
the need for operational efficiency.
1 .2 what is a production system?
ans: as defined in the text, a production system is a collection of people, equipment, and procedures
organized to perform the manufacturing operations of a company (or other organization).
1 .3 production systems can be divided into two categories or levels. name and briefly define the two levels.
ans: the two categories given in the text are (1) facilities, which consist of the factory, the equipment in the
factory, and the way the equipment is organized; and (2) manufacturing support systems, which is the set of
procedures used by the company to manage production and to solve the technical and logistics problems
encountered in ordering materials, moving the work through the factory, and ensuring that products meet
quality standards. product design and certain business functions are included among the manufacturing
support systems.
1 .4 what are manufacturing systems, and how are they distinguished from production systems?
ans: a manufacturing system is a logical grouping of equipment in the factory and the worker(s) who
operate(s) it. examples include worker-machine systems, production lines, and machine cells. a production
system is a larger system that includes a collection of manufacturing systems and the support systems used to
manage them. a manufacturing system is a subset of the production system.
1 .5 manufacturing systems are divided into three categories, according to worker participation. name the three
categories.
ans: the three categories are (1) manual work systems, (2) worker-machine systems, and (3) automated
systems.
1 .6 what are the four functions included within the scope of manufacturing support systems?
ans: as identified in the text, the four functions are (1) business functions, (2) product design, (3)
manufacturing planning, and (4) manufacturing control.
1 .7 three basic types of automation are defined in the text. what is fixed automation and what are some of its
features?
ans: fixed automation is a system in which the sequence of processing (or assembly) operations is fixed by
the equipment configuration. each operation in the sequence is usually simple, but the integration and
coordination of many such operations into one piece of equipment makes the system complex. typical
features of fixed automation are (1) high initial investment for custom -engineered equipment, (2) high
production rates, and (3) relatively inflexible in accommodating product variety.
1 .8 what is programmable automation and what are some of its features?
ans: in programmable automation, the production equipment is designed with the capability to change the
sequence of operations to accommodate different product configurations. the operation sequence is controlled
by a program, which is a set of instructions coded so that they can be read and interpreted by the system.
some of the features of programmable automation are (1) high investment in general purpose equipment, (2)
lost production time due to changeovers of physical setup and reprogramming, (3) lower production rates
than fixed automation, (4) flexibility to deal with variations and changes in product configuration, and (5)
most suitable for batch production.
1 .9 what is flexible automation and what are some of its features?
1
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
,Ch01 Introduction-3e-S 12-15, 16/06, 06/04/07
ans: flexible automation is an extension of programmable automation. a flexible automated system is
capable of producing a variety of parts (or products) with virtually no time lost for changeovers from one part
style to the next. there is no lost production time while reprogramming the system and altering the physical
setup. accordingly, the system can produce various mixes and schedules of parts or products instead of
requiring that they be made in batches. the features of flexible automation are (1) high investment for a
custom-engineered system, (2) continuous production of variable mixtures of products, (3) medium
production rates, and (4) flexibility to deal with product design variations
1 .1 0 what is computer integrated manufacturing?
ans: as defined in the text, computer-integrated manufacturing (cim) denotes the pervasive use of computer
systems to design the products, plan the production, control the operations, and perform the various
information-processing functions needed in a manufacturing firm. true cim involves integrating all of these
functions in one system that operates throughout the enterprise.
1 .1 1 what are some of the reasons why companies automate their operations? nine reasons are given in the text.
name five.
ans: the reasons give in the text are (1) to increase labor productivity, (2) to reduce labor cost, (3) to mitigate
the effects of labor shortages, (4) to reduce or eliminate routine manual and clerical tasks, (5) to improve
worker safety, (6) to improve product quality, (7) to reduce manufacturing lead time, (8) to accomplish
processes that cannot be done manually, and (9) to avoid the high cost of not automating.
1 .1 2 identify three situations in which manual labor is preferred over automation.
ans: the five situations listed in the text are the following: (1) the task is technologically too difficult to
automate. (2) short product life cycle. (3) customized product. (4) to cope with ups and downs in demand.
(5) to reduce risk of product failure.
1 .1 3 human workers will be needed in factory operations, even in the most highly automated operations. the text
identifies at least four types of work for which humans will be needed. name three.
ans: the four types of work identified in the text are (1) equipment maintenance, (2) programming and
computer operations, (3) engineering project work, and (4) plant management.
1 .1 4 what is the usa principle? what does each of the letters stand for?
ans: the usa principle is a common sense approach to automation and process improvement projects. u
means “understand the existing process,” s stands for “simplify the process,” and a stands for “automated the
process.”
1 .1 5 the text lists ten strategies for automation and process improvement. identify five of these strategies.
ans: the ten strategies listed in the text are (1) specialization of operations, (2) combined operations, (3)
simultaneous operations, (4) integration of operations, (5) increased flexibility, (6) improved material
handling and storage, (7) on-line inspection, (8) process control and optimization, (9) plant operations
control, and (10) computer-integrated manufacturing (cim).
1 .1 6 what is an automation migration strategy?
ans: as defined in the text, an automation migration strategy is a formalized plan for evolving the
manufacturing systems used to produce new products as demand grows.
1 .1 7 what are the three phases of a typical automation migration strategy?
ans: as defined in the text, the three typical phases are the following: phase 1: manual production using
single-station manned cells operating independently. phase 2: automated production using single -station
automated cells operating independently. phase 3: automated integrated production using a multi-station
automated system with serial operations and automated transfer of work units between stations.
2
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
, Mfg Ops-3e-S 11-22, 23/06, 06/04/07
chapter 2
manufacturing operations
review questions
2 .1 what is manufacturing?
ans: two definitions are given in the text, one technological and the other economic. the technological
definition is the following: manufacturing is the application of physical and chemical processes to alter the
geometry, properties, and/or appearance of a given starting material to make parts or products; manufacturing
also includes the joining of multiple parts to make assembled products. the economic definition is the
following: manufacturing is the transformation of materials into items of greater value by means of one or
more processing and/or assembly operations.
2 .2 what are the three basic industry categories?
ans: the three basic industry categories are the following: (1) primary industries, which are those that cultivate
and exploit natural resources, such as agriculture and mining; (2) secondary industries, which convert the
outputs of the primary industries into products; they include manufacturing, construction, and power
generation; and (3) tertiary industries, which constitute the service sector of the economy, which includes
banking, retail, transportation, education, givernment, and so on.
2 .3 what is the difference between consumer goods and capital goods?
ans: consumer goods are products that are purchased directly by consumers, such as cars, personal
computers, tvs, tires, toys, and tennis rackets. capital goods are products purchased by other companies to
produce goods and supply services. examples include commercial aircraft, mainframe computers, machine
tools, railroad equipment, and construction machinery.
2 .4 what is the difference between a processing operation and an assembly operation?
ans: a processing operation transforms a work material from one state of completion to a more advanced state
that is closer to the final desired part or product. it adds value by changing the geometry, properties, or
appearance of the starting material. an assembly operation joins two or more components to create a new
entity, called an assembly, subassembly, or some other term that refers to the joining process.
2 .5 name the four categories of part-shaping operations, based on the state of the starting work material.
ans: the four categories are (1) solidification processes, (2) particulate processing, (3) deformation processes,
and (4) material removal processes.
2 .6 assembly operations can be classified as permanent joining methods and mechanical assembly. what are the
four types of permanent joining methods?
ans: the joining processes are (1) welding, (2) brazing, (3) soldering, and (4) adhesive bonding.
2 .7 what is the difference between hard product variety and soft product variety?
ans: hard product variety is when the products differ substantially. in an assembled product, hard variety is
characterized by a low proportion of common parts among the products; in many cases, there are no common
parts. soft product variety is when there are only small differences between products. there is a high proportion
of common parts among assembled products whose variety is soft.
2 .8 what type of production does a job shop perform?
ans: low production of specialized and customized products. the products are typically complex, such as space
capsules, aircraft, and special machinery.
2 .9 flow line production is associated with which one of the following layout types: (a) cellular layout, (b) fixed-
position layout, (c) process layout, or (d) product layout?
ans: (d) product layout.
2 .1 0 what is the difference between a single-model production line and a mixed-model production line?
3
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
Systems, And Computer-Integrated
Manufacturing 3rd Edition By Mikell P.
Groover 2026
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
,Ch01 Introduction-3e-S 12-15, 16/06, 06/04/07
chapter 1 introduction
review questions
1 .1 what are some of the realities mentioned at the beginning of the chapter that modern manufacturing enterprises
must cope with? name four.
ans: the realities mentioned in the text are (1) globalization, (2) international outsourcing, (3) local
outsourcing, (4) contract manufacturing, (5) trend toward the service sector, (6) quality expectations, and (7)
the need for operational efficiency.
1 .2 what is a production system?
ans: as defined in the text, a production system is a collection of people, equipment, and procedures
organized to perform the manufacturing operations of a company (or other organization).
1 .3 production systems can be divided into two categories or levels. name and briefly define the two levels.
ans: the two categories given in the text are (1) facilities, which consist of the factory, the equipment in the
factory, and the way the equipment is organized; and (2) manufacturing support systems, which is the set of
procedures used by the company to manage production and to solve the technical and logistics problems
encountered in ordering materials, moving the work through the factory, and ensuring that products meet
quality standards. product design and certain business functions are included among the manufacturing
support systems.
1 .4 what are manufacturing systems, and how are they distinguished from production systems?
ans: a manufacturing system is a logical grouping of equipment in the factory and the worker(s) who
operate(s) it. examples include worker-machine systems, production lines, and machine cells. a production
system is a larger system that includes a collection of manufacturing systems and the support systems used to
manage them. a manufacturing system is a subset of the production system.
1 .5 manufacturing systems are divided into three categories, according to worker participation. name the three
categories.
ans: the three categories are (1) manual work systems, (2) worker-machine systems, and (3) automated
systems.
1 .6 what are the four functions included within the scope of manufacturing support systems?
ans: as identified in the text, the four functions are (1) business functions, (2) product design, (3)
manufacturing planning, and (4) manufacturing control.
1 .7 three basic types of automation are defined in the text. what is fixed automation and what are some of its
features?
ans: fixed automation is a system in which the sequence of processing (or assembly) operations is fixed by
the equipment configuration. each operation in the sequence is usually simple, but the integration and
coordination of many such operations into one piece of equipment makes the system complex. typical
features of fixed automation are (1) high initial investment for custom -engineered equipment, (2) high
production rates, and (3) relatively inflexible in accommodating product variety.
1 .8 what is programmable automation and what are some of its features?
ans: in programmable automation, the production equipment is designed with the capability to change the
sequence of operations to accommodate different product configurations. the operation sequence is controlled
by a program, which is a set of instructions coded so that they can be read and interpreted by the system.
some of the features of programmable automation are (1) high investment in general purpose equipment, (2)
lost production time due to changeovers of physical setup and reprogramming, (3) lower production rates
than fixed automation, (4) flexibility to deal with variations and changes in product configuration, and (5)
most suitable for batch production.
1 .9 what is flexible automation and what are some of its features?
1
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
,Ch01 Introduction-3e-S 12-15, 16/06, 06/04/07
ans: flexible automation is an extension of programmable automation. a flexible automated system is
capable of producing a variety of parts (or products) with virtually no time lost for changeovers from one part
style to the next. there is no lost production time while reprogramming the system and altering the physical
setup. accordingly, the system can produce various mixes and schedules of parts or products instead of
requiring that they be made in batches. the features of flexible automation are (1) high investment for a
custom-engineered system, (2) continuous production of variable mixtures of products, (3) medium
production rates, and (4) flexibility to deal with product design variations
1 .1 0 what is computer integrated manufacturing?
ans: as defined in the text, computer-integrated manufacturing (cim) denotes the pervasive use of computer
systems to design the products, plan the production, control the operations, and perform the various
information-processing functions needed in a manufacturing firm. true cim involves integrating all of these
functions in one system that operates throughout the enterprise.
1 .1 1 what are some of the reasons why companies automate their operations? nine reasons are given in the text.
name five.
ans: the reasons give in the text are (1) to increase labor productivity, (2) to reduce labor cost, (3) to mitigate
the effects of labor shortages, (4) to reduce or eliminate routine manual and clerical tasks, (5) to improve
worker safety, (6) to improve product quality, (7) to reduce manufacturing lead time, (8) to accomplish
processes that cannot be done manually, and (9) to avoid the high cost of not automating.
1 .1 2 identify three situations in which manual labor is preferred over automation.
ans: the five situations listed in the text are the following: (1) the task is technologically too difficult to
automate. (2) short product life cycle. (3) customized product. (4) to cope with ups and downs in demand.
(5) to reduce risk of product failure.
1 .1 3 human workers will be needed in factory operations, even in the most highly automated operations. the text
identifies at least four types of work for which humans will be needed. name three.
ans: the four types of work identified in the text are (1) equipment maintenance, (2) programming and
computer operations, (3) engineering project work, and (4) plant management.
1 .1 4 what is the usa principle? what does each of the letters stand for?
ans: the usa principle is a common sense approach to automation and process improvement projects. u
means “understand the existing process,” s stands for “simplify the process,” and a stands for “automated the
process.”
1 .1 5 the text lists ten strategies for automation and process improvement. identify five of these strategies.
ans: the ten strategies listed in the text are (1) specialization of operations, (2) combined operations, (3)
simultaneous operations, (4) integration of operations, (5) increased flexibility, (6) improved material
handling and storage, (7) on-line inspection, (8) process control and optimization, (9) plant operations
control, and (10) computer-integrated manufacturing (cim).
1 .1 6 what is an automation migration strategy?
ans: as defined in the text, an automation migration strategy is a formalized plan for evolving the
manufacturing systems used to produce new products as demand grows.
1 .1 7 what are the three phases of a typical automation migration strategy?
ans: as defined in the text, the three typical phases are the following: phase 1: manual production using
single-station manned cells operating independently. phase 2: automated production using single -station
automated cells operating independently. phase 3: automated integrated production using a multi-station
automated system with serial operations and automated transfer of work units between stations.
2
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
, Mfg Ops-3e-S 11-22, 23/06, 06/04/07
chapter 2
manufacturing operations
review questions
2 .1 what is manufacturing?
ans: two definitions are given in the text, one technological and the other economic. the technological
definition is the following: manufacturing is the application of physical and chemical processes to alter the
geometry, properties, and/or appearance of a given starting material to make parts or products; manufacturing
also includes the joining of multiple parts to make assembled products. the economic definition is the
following: manufacturing is the transformation of materials into items of greater value by means of one or
more processing and/or assembly operations.
2 .2 what are the three basic industry categories?
ans: the three basic industry categories are the following: (1) primary industries, which are those that cultivate
and exploit natural resources, such as agriculture and mining; (2) secondary industries, which convert the
outputs of the primary industries into products; they include manufacturing, construction, and power
generation; and (3) tertiary industries, which constitute the service sector of the economy, which includes
banking, retail, transportation, education, givernment, and so on.
2 .3 what is the difference between consumer goods and capital goods?
ans: consumer goods are products that are purchased directly by consumers, such as cars, personal
computers, tvs, tires, toys, and tennis rackets. capital goods are products purchased by other companies to
produce goods and supply services. examples include commercial aircraft, mainframe computers, machine
tools, railroad equipment, and construction machinery.
2 .4 what is the difference between a processing operation and an assembly operation?
ans: a processing operation transforms a work material from one state of completion to a more advanced state
that is closer to the final desired part or product. it adds value by changing the geometry, properties, or
appearance of the starting material. an assembly operation joins two or more components to create a new
entity, called an assembly, subassembly, or some other term that refers to the joining process.
2 .5 name the four categories of part-shaping operations, based on the state of the starting work material.
ans: the four categories are (1) solidification processes, (2) particulate processing, (3) deformation processes,
and (4) material removal processes.
2 .6 assembly operations can be classified as permanent joining methods and mechanical assembly. what are the
four types of permanent joining methods?
ans: the joining processes are (1) welding, (2) brazing, (3) soldering, and (4) adhesive bonding.
2 .7 what is the difference between hard product variety and soft product variety?
ans: hard product variety is when the products differ substantially. in an assembled product, hard variety is
characterized by a low proportion of common parts among the products; in many cases, there are no common
parts. soft product variety is when there are only small differences between products. there is a high proportion
of common parts among assembled products whose variety is soft.
2 .8 what type of production does a job shop perform?
ans: low production of specialized and customized products. the products are typically complex, such as space
capsules, aircraft, and special machinery.
2 .9 flow line production is associated with which one of the following layout types: (a) cellular layout, (b) fixed-
position layout, (c) process layout, or (d) product layout?
ans: (d) product layout.
2 .1 0 what is the difference between a single-model production line and a mixed-model production line?
3
Downloaded by Sundaram R ()
