Question 23b This question is to be answered based on the Test Case. Click here to view/download it. According to Operations Management concepts, a highly customised product is usually associated with a low production volume. With respect to your example given in part a, explain specifically why the production volume for such customised product will usually be low (especially when the support from technology is lacking). Justify your answers with concepts covered in class. (Word limit: 50 words). There is no answer template for this question.

CityPark -CASE

CityPark is a private company that owns a new multi-storey car park in the Auckland City Centre. The car park mainly caters to the needs of the general public who need to keep their cars in a safe environment while they work in the City. With the numerous car parks already established in the City, competition is fierce. CityPark aims to create competitive advantages by offering features that enhance the parking experience for the drivers, making it easy and safe. While drivers who need casual parking can enter and exit the car park in the old-fashioned way (get a ticket at the entrance, park their cars, pay before they leave), registered members can get a range of special features. To register, a driver needs to download the CityPark mobile app and create an account. Information required includes the registration plate number(s) of the car(s) under each account, credit card details for payments, and a self-evaluation score of the drivers parking skills (Expert, Fair, or Poor). To use the car park, a registered driver can drive up to the entrance, where the registration plate is scanned by cameras. The gate will open as soon as the system recognises a registered plate. All the parked cars are constantly monitored by sensors in the carpark. As a result, the car park management system knows the vacancy status of each parking space. During busy times, once a registered car enters the car park, the mobile app on the drivers smartphone will provide audio guidance to the nearest vacant parking space, with a difficulty level that matches the drivers self-evaluation. Once parked, each car is monitored by a dedicated 360 degree camera that keeps a record of everything that happens near the car. If the monitoring system detects anything out of the ordinary, the mobile app will notify the driver of the parked car. The driver can then decide if help is required. For a small fee, a registered driver can also acquire the footage captured around his/her car on a certain day. To leave the car park, the driver can simply drive the car towards the exit, where the gates will open once the registration plate is recognised by cameras. The parking fee will be charged to the registered credit card automatically. Three months into its operation, CityPark has received the following testimonials from its customers: Its good to have CityPark here. The fees are a little higher than the other car parks but the experience is well worth it. Ive only parked here twice, since my office is quite a distance away. I only use it if Im in a rush because there are always spaces available here. I feel being taken care of, from the time I drive in, all the way until I leave with my car. CityPark intends to continuously update its features and services with state-of-the-art technologies, developed and provided by its numerous computer systems suppliers.