National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Industrial and Systems Practice Exam

In a low-volume operation, the advantages of automation can vary significantly compared to high-volume production settings. The correct answer highlights that "Lower assembly cost per unit" is the least likely valid advantage of automation in low-volume situations.

In low-volume operations, the initial investment in automation technology and equipment can be disproportionately high relative to the number of units being produced. This can limit the overall cost benefits. While automation can lead to reductions in labor costs over time, these savings are often not enough to offset the fixed and variable costs of the automation systems when production quantities are limited. Consequently, the per-unit cost may not decrease as much as it would in a high-volume scenario, where the automation investment can be spread over many units.

On the other hand, the other advantages such as the reduction in carpal tunnel syndrome claims, greater uniformity of assembled products, and lower time per unit for assembly are more likely to still hold true even in low-volume contexts. Automation can alleviate some ergonomic risks for workers, produce consistent product quality, and increase the speed of assembly processes regardless of the volume produced. Therefore, while automation can be beneficial in low-volume operations, the promise of significantly lower assembly costs per unit is less likely to be realized.