Question

Today's car manufacturing plants have moving assembly lines. As a car moves down the line, bundles of parts are installed, depending on what the customer ordered. The first car down the line might call for anti-lock brakes and cruise control, the next car doesn't include cruise control but does have a GPS. What method did the car company use to enable customization of a high volume product?

a. concurrent engineering
b. design for engineering
c. design for manufacturing

Answer 1

The car company uses the just in time delivery method combined with the moving assembly line concept introduced by Henry Ford, allowing for the customization of high volume products with standardized parts and specialized labor.

Step-by-step explanation:

The car company uses a method known as just in time delivery to enable customization of high volume products. This system allows the manufacturing process to be flexible, making it possible to install different bundles of parts, such as anti-lock brakes, cruise control, or GPS, depending on what the customer has ordered for each individual car. The key principles of this method include the use of standardized parts and the efficiency gained from a moving assembly line, where cars are moved past different stations where specialized labor is performed, allowing each worker to add specific components.

Henry Ford built upon the concept of the assembly line, originally shown to work for automotive production by Ransom E. Olds, by having heavy steel rails and conveyor belts move a car's chassis down a line, enabling workers to focus on simple, repetitive tasks. This innovation not only allows for customization but also significantly reduces labor costs and increases efficiency within the production process. In the modern era, manufacturing also considers the broad range of stakeholders involved in the product's life cycle, including regulators, assembly line workers, and parts suppliers, ensuring that products meet diverse needs and standards.