Measures of performance for a simple operations system may include the efficient

management of the throughput, utilisation, inventory, cycle time, lead time, customer

service and quality systems. However, the way performance is managed is largely

dependent on what the firm$$s business strategy deems more important. As an example,

a firm may focus on high customer service over low utilisation. Furthermore, it is

established that increasing variability always degrades the performance of an

operations system. More importantly, increasing variability impacts the system along

three general dimensions: time, inventory and capacity. The dimensions can be viewed

as buffers with which the operations manager can control the system, but it also

depends on different business environments. This concept is generally known as payme$-$now$-$or$-$pay$-$me$-$later. Now, what is the appropriate buffering strategy for the

following operations? You must justify your answer for each of the dimensions:

a$.$ A retailer that sells inexpensive unpredictable ballpoint pens.

b$.$ Organ transplants $$ unpredictable demand for, and supply of human organs for

transplant.

c$.$ Emergency service $$ unpredictable demand for fire or ambulance services.