Storage space requirements MCQs With Answer

Introduction: Storage space requirements MCQs With Answer is designed to help M.Pharm students deepen their understanding of physical storage planning, regulatory compliance, and practical considerations in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This set focuses on space allocation, capacity calculations, segregation of materials, environmental controls, pallet and shelving strategies, and safety margins for batch storage, quarantine, and returns. The questions emphasize real-world decision-making—balancing warehouse layout, temperature zoning, inventory turnover, and floor-loading limits—so you can apply principles to design efficient, compliant storage facilities. Use these MCQs to test knowledge, identify gaps, and prepare for examinations or practical facility planning tasks.

Q1. Which factor is most critical when calculating storage space for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products?

• Number of staff in the warehouse
• Required temperature control zones and equipment footprint
• Color coding of storage bins
• Proximity to administrative offices

Correct Answer: Required temperature control zones and equipment footprint

Q2. When planning pallet racking for bulk API storage, which parameter primarily determines the number of pallet positions?

• Height of the ceiling lights
• Floor loading capacity and pallet footprint
• Number of incoming deliveries per week
• Distance to the loading dock

Correct Answer: Floor loading capacity and pallet footprint

Q3. In GMP-regulated warehouses, why is segregation of quarantined material essential?

• To reduce cleaning frequency
• To prevent accidental use or release and enable sample testing
• To make inventory counts faster
• To increase warehouse aesthetic appeal

Correct Answer: To prevent accidental use or release and enable sample testing

Q4. Which inventory metric directly influences the required storage area by indicating turnover speed?

• Days of Inventory on Hand (DOH)
• Number of SKU digits
• Supplier lead time variability in days only
• Employee shift lengths

Correct Answer: Days of Inventory on Hand (DOH)

Q5. For cold chain vaccines requiring 2–8°C storage, what additional design consideration most affects usable storage capacity?

• Wall paint color
• Clearance for HVAC units and air circulation corridors
• Brand of shelving used
• Type of floor tiles

Correct Answer: Clearance for HVAC units and air circulation corridors

Q6. Which of the following best describes safety stock when designing storage allocation?

• Stock used exclusively for promotional giveaways
• Minimum buffer inventory to absorb demand or supply variability
• Old obsolete batches awaiting disposal
• Raw materials reserved for R&D only

Correct Answer: Minimum buffer inventory to absorb demand or supply variability

Q7. When calculating required shelf area for small-pack finished goods, which calculation step is essential?

• Converting volume per unit into shelf-face square meters and applying facings per SKU
• Counting only the packaging cartons on the floor
• Estimating how many employees will pick per hour
• Ignoring carton orientation because it is irrelevant

Correct Answer: Converting volume per unit into shelf-face square meters and applying facings per SKU

Q8. Which storage design principle reduces cross-contamination risk for incompatible chemical APIs?

• Storing all materials on the same rack type
• Physical segregation by incompatibility class and appropriate containment
• Labeling all items with the same color tag
• Placing incompatible APIs in the tallest racks

Correct Answer: Physical segregation by incompatibility class and appropriate containment

Q9. What is the primary reason to allocate separate space for returned pharmaceutical products?

• To expedite restocking
• Regulatory requirement to quarantine returns pending disposition
• To save space in the finished goods area
• To avoid counting them during inventory cycles

Correct Answer: Regulatory requirement to quarantine returns pending disposition

Q10. How does cube utilization affect warehouse capacity planning?

• It represents the percentage of employees trained in storage handling
• It measures how effectively the vertical and horizontal volume is used to store products
• It determines the number of inventory SKUs allowed
• It sets the color scheme of storage zones

Correct Answer: It measures how effectively the vertical and horizontal volume is used to store products

Q11. For hazardous substance storage, what constraint often limits usable shelf space?

• Requirement for temperature monitoring only
• Regulatory separation distances, secondary containment, and ventilation needs
• Label size of hazard warnings
• Employee personal preference

Correct Answer: Regulatory separation distances, secondary containment, and ventilation needs

Q12. In a warehouse layout, why is provision for quarantine, sampling, and testing areas necessary when estimating space?

• They increase the number of pallet locations
• To ensure materials are released only after quality checks and to avoid cross-flow contamination
• They are typically used for administrative meetings
• They reduce the requirement for shelving

Correct Answer: To ensure materials are released only after quality checks and to avoid cross-flow contamination

Q13. Which formula element is key when calculating pallet positions required for an SKU?

• Average daily picks per employee
• Annual usage of SKU divided by pallet quantity per pallet and turnover frequency
• Length of the SKU name in characters
• Color of pallet wrapping

Correct Answer: Annual usage of SKU divided by pallet quantity per pallet and turnover frequency

Q14. What impact does aisle width decision have on storage capacity and operations?

• Wider aisles always reduce safety
• Narrower aisles increase storage density but may limit equipment access and safety
• Aisle width only affects lighting requirements
• Aisle width determines ISO classification of the product

Correct Answer: Narrower aisles increase storage density but may limit equipment access and safety

Q15. When allocating space for sampling and retained samples, what is an important requirement?

• They can be stored anywhere as long as labeled
• Samples should be stored under defined environmental conditions with traceability and restricted access
• Sampling areas must be adjacent to employee restrooms
• Retained samples do not require documentation

Correct Answer: Samples should be stored under defined environmental conditions with traceability and restricted access

Q16. What is the effect of choosing a high vertical racking system without appropriate mezzanine planning?

• It automatically reduces inventory accuracy
• It may create floor loading and egress constraints, reducing practical usable capacity
• It eliminates the need for material handling equipment
• It increases natural light penetration

Correct Answer: It may create floor loading and egress constraints, reducing practical usable capacity

Q17. How should controlled substances be handled in terms of space allocation?

• Intermingled with low-value consumables to save space
• Stored in secure, access-controlled areas with audit trail and limited capacity per regulations
• Kept in open shelving for easy access
• Stored only on the loading dock

Correct Answer: Stored in secure, access-controlled areas with audit trail and limited capacity per regulations

Q18. When estimating storage for packaging materials, which consideration is most often overlooked?

• Variability in packaging geometry and the need for mixed pallet configurations
• Number of printers in the packaging room
• Color of packaging labels
• Preference of packaging suppliers

Correct Answer: Variability in packaging geometry and the need for mixed pallet configurations

Q19. Which approach optimizes space for fast-moving SKUs while reducing pick time?

• Storing fast-moving SKUs in the farthest corner of the warehouse
• Zone-based storage with fast movers in forward pick areas and using slotting optimization
• Random storage without any slotting rules
• Storing all SKUs alphabetically regardless of velocity

Correct Answer: Zone-based storage with fast movers in forward pick areas and using slotting optimization

Q20. For long-term archival storage of documentation related to batches, what is an important space requirement?

• Climate control, fire protection, and secure access with clear indexing for retrieval
• Storing documents in the same area as bulk chemicals
• Placing archives in open production bays to save space
• Keeping all documentation in employees’ desks

Correct Answer: Climate control, fire protection, and secure access with clear indexing for retrieval

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