1. If a new technology does not reduce costs. Should it be used?

Answer:

If a new technology does not reduce cost, it should be used because new technologies would improve process or quality. Even though it does not reduce cost, efficient production could probably push development or research while using it.

2. What human weaknesses favor automation? What human strengths favor people over machines?
3. How serious is the problem of being late to market? Can the design team do much about the problem? Explain?
4. If a surge in demand projected by the marketing department were to occur, what would be the potential effects on manufacturing? How should manufacturing respond?
5. A local fast-food restaurant processes several customer orders at once. Service clerks cross paths, sometimes nearly colliding, while they trace different paths to fill customer orders. If customers order a special combination of toppings on their hamburger, they must wait for quiet sometime while the special order is cooked. How would you modify the restaurant's operations to achieve competitive advantage? Because demand surge at lunchtime, volume flexibility is a competitive priority in the fast food business. How would you achieve volume flexibility?