Exam 17: Global Production and Supply Chain Management
The level of output at which most plant-level scale economies are exhausted is referred to as the minimum efficient scale of output.
True
How do flexible machine cells work? What is the advantage of incorporating this type of technology into a strategy?
Flexible machine cells are a common flexible manufacturing technology.A flexible machine cell is a grouping of various types of machinery,a common materials handler,and a centralized cell controller (computer).Each cell normally contains four to six machines capable of performing various operations.The typical cell is dedicated to the production of a family of parts or products.The settings on machines are computer controlled.This allows each cell to switch quickly between the production of different parts or products.
What is mass customization?
The term mass customization has been coined to describe the ability of companies to use flexible manufacturing technology to reconcile two goals that were once thought to be incompatible: low cost and product customization.Mass customization implies that a firm may be able to customize its product range to suit the needs of different customer groups without bearing a cost penalty.Research suggests that the adoption of flexible manufacturing technologies may increase efficiency and lower unit costs relative to what can be achieved by the mass production of a standardized output.
Use of technologies such as just-in-time inventory systems and computer-aided design has reduced pressures for firms to establish long-term relationships with their suppliers.
Products such as refined sugar,certain bulk chemicals,paint,and petroleum products have low value-to-weight ratios.
Firms would prefer buying component parts,or an entire product,from independent suppliers to protect proprietary product technologies.
Which of the following makes being dependent on one location particularly risky?
Decentralized production is favored if differences between countries in factor costs have a substantial impact on the costs of manufacturing in various countries.
Buying a product from external vendors is highly appropriate when a firm intends to protect proprietary technology.
Poor product quality and low productivity are hidden costs associated with basing production in a foreign location.
Discuss the strategic objectives of the production and logistics functions of an international firm.
Decentralization of production is appropriate when location externalities are important.
Outsourcing some manufacturing to independent suppliers based in other countries would help firms capture more orders from that country.
Lowering the costs is one of the objectives of the production and logistics function of an international firm.
Deming,the proponent of total quality management,suggested that management shouldn't attempt to train employees in new skills.
Mass customization facilitates product customization at low costs.
According to the concept of economies of scale,as plant output expands,_____.
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