Final answer:
A shutdown of one or more assembly lines in a company running a lean operation would be considered a localized supply disruption. This disruption affects specific areas or segments of the supply chain, which can cause a ripple effect on production and prices, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. c. Quality disruption
Step-by-step explanation:
If a company is running a lean operation and one or more assembly lines shut down, this would typically be regarded as a localized supply disruption. This type of disruption occurs when there is a failure in the supply chain that affects specific areas or segments. Factors that can cause such localized disruptions include labor disputes, equipment failures, or regional resource shortages. The reference provided discusses just-in-time delivery and how a strike at a parts sub-assembly plant can lead to a ripple effect, causing shutdowns within the entire supply chain. In this context, when an assembly line stops production, the effect is felt throughout the supply chain, albeit within a localized network directly linked to the assembly line operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of such lean operations and just-in-time supply chains. When businesses were forced to close because of the pandemic, this led to supply chain issues that affected production, prices, and even the market's stability. Similarly, a shutdown in assembly lines, when running a lean operation, causes a localized hiccup in the seamless flow of products and materials, significantly impacting the entire operation and potentially leading to slowdowns in production and increased prices.