Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

In which type of processing system would gasoline be produced from crude oil?

1. Assembly

2. Project

3. Continuous

4. Batch

The correct answer is: Continuous

The production of gasoline from crude oil occurs in a continuous processing system due to the nature of the refining process, which involves uninterrupted and ongoing operations. In a continuous processing system, raw materials are fed into the production process at a steady rate, and the output is also produced continuously, allowing for a constant flow of products. Refining crude oil involves complex chemical processes at high temperatures and pressures, where various fractions of oil are separated and converted into usable products like gasoline. This process typically doesn't have distinct start and stop points, as it is designed to operate continuously to optimize performance, reduce downtime, and ensure a consistent product output. In contrast, assembly systems focus on assembling products from parts, project systems are typically used for unique, large-scale tasks with a defined endpoint, and batch systems produce goods in groups or batches, which does not align with the ongoing nature of oil refining.