Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

One possible disadvantage of modular design is that:

1. Replacement and repair are more difficult

2. The number of configurations of modules decreases

3. Individual parts lose their identities

4. Failure diagnosis is more complex

The correct answer is: The number of configurations of modules decreases

The reasoning for the correct choice, which states that the number of configurations of modules decreases, is centered on the nature of modular design itself. Modular design typically allows for a variety of combinations and arrangements of modules, enabling customization and flexibility in product configurations. However, if certain modules are standardized too rigidly, they can limit the possibilities for different configurations. This reduced flexibility could hinder innovation and adaptability in product design, making it a disadvantage. In this context, the other options highlight challenges related to modular design but do not align as directly with the main concern of configuration variability. For instance, while difficulties in replacement and repair, the loss of individual identities of parts, and complex failure diagnosis can be issues arising from modularity, they do not inherently restrict the number of possible configurations. Instead, these aspects often relate more to maintenance and management of modular systems rather than the design flexibility that modularity aims to provide.