Two different companies produce and sell a certain product to customers. Each of the two companies starts with the same raw materials and creates the product through three stages of processing. But each of the two companies uses a different strategy to create the product, shown in the process flow diagrams of each com- pany's operations below. In each diagram, the triangles represent inventory stocks, while the squares represent processing.

a. From which company is purchasing the product likely to be less expensive?

b. From which company is the customer likely to wait longer before receiving the product?

c. Which company appears to be practicing delayed differentiation?

d. Which company has adopted a make-to-stock process for production?

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Process flow diagram of Company A to customer Process flow diagram of Company B to customer