Just-in-time and lean production systems are widely viewed as improving the competitive position of companies. Complete the following sentences describing the effects of JIT and lean production using the words increase(s) or decrease(s).
a. Storage and other inventory carrying costs ___________.
b. The time required to make products typically ___________.
c. Customer satisfaction ___________.
d. The cost of raw materials may ___________.
e. Product quality improves because the number of defective units ___________.
f. Production flexibility ___________ because employees are highly trained.
g. The number of suppliers often ___________ because companies must have highly reliable suppliers that can deliver raw materials whenever needed.