Which term describes the quantity or volume of output completed at a workstation before switching to a different type of work or changing equipment setup?

• A. Product layout
• B. Process batch
• C. Production activity control (PAC)
• D. Purchase requisition

Answer: (B)

A process batch is the amount of output produced at a workstation before you switch to a different type of work or change the equipment setup. In process-oriented manufacturing, you run a specific quantity through a work center, and when that quantity is finished (or when a setup is needed for the next product), you reconfigure the equipment and start a new batch. This concept directly captures how much work is done before a changeover, influencing run time, setup time, WIP, and lead times.

Product layout deals with how machines and work areas are arranged, not the batch size. Production activity control focuses on planning and controlling production execution rather than defining batch boundaries. A purchase requisition is about ordering materials, not manufacturing batch boundaries.