Introduction: Tablet manufacturing equipment MCQs With Answer provide B.Pharm students a focused review of machinery, processes, and quality controls used in tablet production. This short guide covers tablet press operation, granulator and mill functions, roller compaction, coating pan and fluidized bed coaters, feeders, tooling, compression parameters, troubleshooting of tablet defects, GMP considerations, equipment validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and maintenance practices. Emphasis on process parameters, causes of common defects (capping, lamination, sticking), and in-process controls prepares students for practical exams and industry work. Clear, keyword-rich questions help reinforce equipment operation, QC tests, and safety. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the primary function of a tablet press in tablet manufacturing?
- Convert granules or powder into compressed tablets
- Reduce particle size by milling
- Apply film coating to tablets
- Dry wet granules in a tray dryer
Correct Answer: Convert granules or powder into compressed tablets
Q2. Which type of tablet press is most suitable for high-volume commercial tablet production?
- Laboratory single-station press
- Rotary tablet press
- Hand-operated tablet press
- Capsule filling machine
Correct Answer: Rotary tablet press
Q3. What is the main purpose of a granulator in wet granulation?
- Improve flowability and compressibility by forming granules
- Coat tablets with polymeric film
- Reduce tablet friability after compression
- Measure tablet disintegration time
Correct Answer: Improve flowability and compressibility by forming granules
Q4. Which equipment is used to apply uniform film coatings to tablets?
- High-shear granulator
- Coating pan or fluidized bed coater
- Hammer mill
- Tablet hardness tester
Correct Answer: Coating pan or fluidized bed coater
Q5. What is the primary function of a mill in tablet manufacturing?
- Reduce particle size to improve content uniformity and flow
- Compress powders into tablets
- Measure tablet friability
- Apply enteric coatings
Correct Answer: Reduce particle size to improve content uniformity and flow
Q6. Which instrument is specifically used to assess tablet friability?
- Disintegration tester
- Friabilator
- Hardness tester
- Dissolution apparatus
Correct Answer: Friabilator
Q7. Which process parameter primarily influences tablet hardness during compression?
- Compression force (compressive load)
- Granule color
- Coating solvent volatility
- Tablet shape alone
Correct Answer: Compression force (compressive load)
Q8. What is a common cause of capping in tablet compression?
- Excessive coating thickness
- Entrapped air and inadequate granule consolidation
- Use of very hard punches
- Low disintegrant level
Correct Answer: Entrapped air and inadequate granule consolidation
Q9. What are the primary tooling components in a tablet press?
- Hopper and motor
- Punches and die
- Feeder and coating pan
- Granulator and mill
Correct Answer: Punches and die
Q10. What is the function of the hopper and feeder assembly on a rotary press?
- To polish punches during operation
- To uniformly supply powder/granules to dies
- To apply film coatings to tablets
- To measure tablet dissolution
Correct Answer: To uniformly supply powder/granules to dies
Q11. Why is pre-compression (preload) used in modern tablet presses?
- To reduce tablet weight variability only
- To remove trapped air and improve uniformity before main compression
- To apply coating before final compression
- To increase tablet color intensity
Correct Answer: To remove trapped air and improve uniformity before main compression
Q12. Which factor increases tablet hardness without changing formulation?
- Increasing compression dwell time
- Reducing punch size
- Decreasing granule size variability only
- Switching to a different coating solvent
Correct Answer: Increasing compression dwell time
Q13. Which excipient is commonly used for direct compression because of its excellent compressibility?
- Sodium chloride
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Polyethylene glycol 400
- Magnesium peroxide
Correct Answer: Microcrystalline cellulose
Q14. Which coating type is specifically designed to prevent tablet release in the stomach?
- Immediate-release film coating
- Enteric coating
- Sugar coating for flavor
- Opaque cosmetic coating
Correct Answer: Enteric coating
Q15. How does multi-tip tooling increase tablet output?
- By reducing tablet hardness per tablet
- By producing multiple tablets per punch compression
- By eliminating the need for granulation
- By increasing coating efficiency
Correct Answer: By producing multiple tablets per punch compression
Q16. Which validation stages are standard for qualifying tablet manufacturing equipment?
- Only routine cleaning
- IQ/OQ/PQ (Installation, Operational, Performance Qualification)
- Visual inspection and color test
- Annual electrical certification only
Correct Answer: IQ/OQ/PQ (Installation, Operational, Performance Qualification)
Q17. What does a friability test quantify?
- Tablet dissolution rate
- Weight loss due to abrasion and mechanical stress
- Tablet coating adhesion strength
- Granule moisture content
Correct Answer: Weight loss due to abrasion and mechanical stress
Q18. Which factor most commonly causes sticking of material to punches?
- Low binder level
- High tackiness from excess binder or moisture
- Excessive punch polishing
- Too low compression force
Correct Answer: High tackiness from excess binder or moisture
Q19. What is the most commonly used material for tablet punches and dies?
- Aluminum alloy
- Stainless steel
- Glass
- Polypropylene
Correct Answer: Stainless steel
Q20. Which granulation method is preferred for heat-sensitive drugs to avoid high-temperature drying?
- Wet granulation with oven drying
- Dry granulation (roller compaction or slugging)
- Sugar coating
- Film coating in a standard pan
Correct Answer: Dry granulation (roller compaction or slugging)
Q21. Which equipment is used inline to monitor tablet weight during production?
- Disintegration tester
- In-process check-weigher
- Tablet press feeder
- Friabilator
Correct Answer: In-process check-weigher
Q22. What is the purpose of a deduster after tablet compression?
- To apply final coating
- To remove loose dust and fines from tablet surfaces
- To reduce tablet hardness
- To measure dissolution
Correct Answer: To remove loose dust and fines from tablet surfaces
Q23. Which feeder type is most effective at maintaining uniform die fill at very high rotary speeds?
- Gravity feeder
- Forced-feed (positive) feeder
- Manual dosing
- Herringbone feeder for low speeds only
Correct Answer: Forced-feed (positive) feeder
Q24. Which formulation factor most directly affects tablet disintegration time?
- Disintegrant concentration and type
- Punch material
- Coating pan diameter
- Room lighting during compression
Correct Answer: Disintegrant concentration and type
Q25. Why is lubrication of punches and dies necessary in tablet compression?
- To increase tablet color variation
- To reduce friction and prevent sticking and wear
- To make tablets dissolve faster
- To harden the tablet surface
Correct Answer: To reduce friction and prevent sticking and wear
Q26. Which maintenance practice is critical to ensure reliable tablet press operation?
- Only replacing electrical components annually
- Regular preventive maintenance, cleaning, and tooling inspection
- Never changing tooling to avoid recalibration
- Using water to clean internal bearings daily
Correct Answer: Regular preventive maintenance, cleaning, and tooling inspection
Q27. Which instrument provides detailed particle size distribution for granules?
- pH meter
- Laser diffraction particle size analyzer
- Tablet hardness tester
- Coating thickness gauge
Correct Answer: Laser diffraction particle size analyzer
Q28. Which coating technique offers efficient and uniform coating for large batches with minimal handling?
- Manual pan sugar coating
- Fluidized bed coating
- Hand-sprayed topical coating
- Dip-coating individual tablets
Correct Answer: Fluidized bed coating
Q29. What safety feature is essential on modern tablet presses to protect operators?
- Color-coded hoppers only
- Interlocked safety guards and emergency stop
- Automatic sugar coating system
- Manual crank operation option
Correct Answer: Interlocked safety guards and emergency stop
Q30. What is the main objective of Quality by Design (QbD) in tablet manufacturing equipment selection and process design?
- To reduce initial equipment cost at all costs
- To ensure consistent product quality by understanding process variables and controlling variability
- To eliminate the need for quality control testing
- To make the process entirely manual
Correct Answer: To ensure consistent product quality by understanding process variables and controlling variability
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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