What production layout uses a U-shaped line to minimize walking time and allow workers to perform multiple tasks?

• A. U-lines
• B. Uniform plant loading
• C. Unitization
• D. Wait time

Answer: (A)

Arranging workstations in a U shape minimizes walking distance and keeps stations within easy reach of the operator, so a single worker can perform several tasks in sequence without unnecessary movement. This layout supports multi-skilled workers, allowing them to switch between tasks along the line with quick handoffs, which increases flexibility and throughput. The surrounding shape also makes supervision and communication more efficient because the line can be monitored from a single vantage point and bottlenecks can be seen and addressed quickly.

This concept isn’t about balancing workload across machines (that’s uniform plant loading), nor about packaging items into units (unitization), nor about idle time (wait time). Those address different aspects of operations, whereas the U-shaped line specifically optimizes layout to reduce walking and boost multi-task capability.