This document contains summaries of common engineering interview questions and answers. It discusses flow control, which focuses on efficiently moving materials through production by addressing bottlenecks. It also discusses materials requirement planning (MRP) systems, which manage ordering materials to supply future production needs. Additionally, it covers just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing, which aims to reduce waste by minimizing inventory and scheduling deliveries and production to optimize efficiency. The document provides tips for answering common interview questions about strengths and reasons for hiring. It also lists additional interview preparation resources and tips.

1. Top 5 principal engineer interview
questions with answers
Interview questions and answers
Page 1 of 8

2. What is Flow Control?
Flow control, also called optimized production
technology, focuses on the efficient flow of material
through the production process. The philosophy of
flow control focuses on bottlenecks. For example, an
owner using flow control will not buy a machine
capable of 1,000 units an hour if supply is only 500
units. Examine systems and determine where lowest
flow is experienced, then address that point and make
sure it operates at full capacity. Flow control applies
well where maximum productivity is required.
Interview questions and answers
Page 2 of 8

3. What is Materials Requirement Planning?
A given quantity of finished goods requires a given
quantity of raw materials and components to make
them. Materials requirement planning systems are
computerized tools that manage when materials must
be ordered to supply production at a later date. MRP is
effective when output quantities are known. Small
business owners are often their own MRP systems,
storing the information needed to supply production in
their knowledge and experience. Activities such as
computer tracking inventory and forecasting demand
are MRP activities.
Interview questions and answers
Page 3 of 8

4. What is Just-In-Time?
Just-in-time, or lean manufacturing, is a production
management philosophy built around the continuous
reduction of waste. It is suited for businesses where
production efficiency is key. Anything that interferes
with productivity is waste and, therefore, the enemy
under JIT systems. Techniques that support JIT
philosophy include reducing inbound inventory by
creating supplier delivery schedules, minimizing
outbound stock with customer delivery schedules and
constant work in-house reducing scrap material and
wasted man-hours. These techniques improve cash
flow and maximize sales margins.
Interview questions and answers
Page 4 of 8

5. What are your biggest strengths?
This question will help polishing your qualification to the requirements of
the employer.
Steps to answer this question:
a) Identify which you are good at: Knowledge; Experience; Skills;
Abilities.
b) Prepare a list of your strong points:
c) Review the recruitment requirements:
You should review carefully the recruitment requirements to know for sure
which requirements are the most important to the employer.
d) Make a list of your strong points in your resume/cover letter:
List and describe your strong points in your resume and cover letter
orderly.You should make descriptions to those points in your resume.
e) Prepare persuasive answers to the question of the employer about strong
points: You do not only state your strong points to the employer but must
also provide evidence for them by references or records attached with your
application form.
Interview questions and answers
Page 5 of 8

6. Why should we hire you?
For one, the interview question “give us reasons to hire you”,
“why should we employ you” or “what can you bring to our
company” is something that differentiates the best candidates
from the other good candidates.
This question deals with your ability to sell yourself. Think
of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy?
Tips to answer:
• One of the best ways to answer this question is to make a
short list of all your advantages and create a paragraph that
would point out the positive aspects that you would bring to
the new job position.
• One of the points that you can raise is the similarity of the
job profile you are aiming for at the company to the job
profile you enjoyed in your previous job.
• You can also draw the interviewer’s attention to your key
skills and strengths, namely – quick learning, excellent
communication skills, etc.
• In addition, your professional ambitions should be made
clear – the motivation and dedication that you have for the
profession and the opening position.
Interview questions and answers
Page 6 of 8

7. Useful interview materials:
Pls visit: interviewquestionsaz.blogspot.com, this blog include useful job interview materials as
follow:
• Free ebook: 75 common interview questions and answers
• 82 marketing interview questions
• Top 10 interview secrets to win every job interview
• 13 types of interview questions and how to face them
• Top 12 common mistakes in job interviews
• Job interview checklist 40 points
• Top 3 interview thank you letter samples
Interview questions and answers
Page 7 of 8

8. Other job interview tips
1. Practice types of job interview such as screening interview, phone interview, second
interview, situational interview, behavioral interview (competency based), technical
interview, group interview…
2. Send interview thank you letter to employers after finishing the job interview: first interview,
follow-up interview, final interview.
3. If you want more interview questions for entry-level, internship, freshers, experienced
candidates, you can ref free ebook: 75 interview questions and answers.
Interview questions and answers
Page 8 of 8