simple RESEARCH

1.      Why relatively few CEO’s of American manufacturing have firms come from the manufacturing function, as opposed to finance or accounting, in the past half century?  What factors may be changing this situation now? Provide evidence or examples to support your answer. Don't forget to put your final response.

2.     In what ways did the American faith in the scientific method contribute to the failure to develop effective OM tools

3.      In which of the following situations would you expect MRP to work well?  To work poorly?

(a) A fabrication plant operating at less than 80% of capacity with relatively stable demand.

(b) Same as above, except demand is "extremely lumpy."

(c) A fabrication plant operating at more than 95% of capacity with relatively stable demand.

(d) Same as above, with both "extremely lumpy" demand and operating at more than 95% of capacity.

(e) An assembly plant that uses all purchased parts and highly flexible labor (i.e., so that effective capacity can be adjusted over a wide range).

(f) An assembly plant that uses all purchased parts and fixed labor (i.e., capacity) running at more than 95% of capacity.

4.       Name some JIT terms that may have served to cause confusion in America.  Why might such terms be perfectly understandable to the Japanese but confusing to Americans?

NOTICE: the book is Factory Physics