Question

List and briefly describe five differences between services and manufacturing. Provide examples to illustrate your arguments.

Answer 1

Services and manufacturing differ in terms of tangibility, production process, customer contact, customization, and quality control.

Step-by-step explanation:

Five differences between services and manufacturing:

1. Tangibility: Services are intangible, meaning they cannot be seen or touched, while manufacturing involves the production of tangible goods. For example, healthcare is a service that cannot be physically held, whereas cars are tangible goods.
2. Production process: Services are typically produced and consumed simultaneously, while manufacturing involves a separate production and consumption process. A plumber provides a service by fixing a pipe on the spot, whereas a car manufacturer produces cars in a plant and the customers buy them later.
3. Customer contact: Services often require direct customer interaction, while manufacturing doesn't always involve direct customer contact. A hair salon service requires the customer to be physically present, whereas buying a car doesn't necessarily involve interacting with the car manufacturer.
4. Customization: Services are often customized to meet the specific needs of each customer, while manufacturing focuses on mass production. An architect provides customized design services for each client, whereas a manufacturer produces a standard model of a phone that is the same for every customer.
5. Quality control: Services are harder to control for quality compared to manufacturing. Since services are produced and consumed simultaneously, it is challenging to ensure consistent quality. In manufacturing, quality control procedures can be applied during the production process. For example, a restaurant may face challenges in maintaining consistent quality across all meals, while a car manufacturer can implement quality control at each stage of car production.