Final answer:
Operations managers in service factories and shops should concentrate on processes that benefit from technology and scheduling, with a focus on automation and efficiency. The mechanized environment often reduces the amount of required labor, leading to more standardized services. Human labor becomes more critical when the cost of automation increases.
Step-by-step explanation:
In service factory and service shop settings, the operations manager should focus extensively on processes that respond well to process technology and scheduling, which would be option D. This is because automation can often lead to a more mechanized work environment and a focus on producing identical products in every location. For instance, by choosing production technology 3 with the lowest total cost, it indicates a shift towards more machines and less labor due to cheaper machine hours, suggesting that automation and technology play key roles in improving efficiency.
This transition reflects the balance that must be struck in operations management between capital investment in technology and the use of human labor.
Finally, the historical context provided regarding assembly lines shows that highly mechanized environments do not always require skilled labor, as they turn work into repetitive tasks that anyone can master with instruction. Thus, the operations manager must consider the human element when focusing on technological processes and automation.