Final answer:
The notion that flexible systems are detrimental to JIT and lean systems is false. Flexibility can enhance the balanced flow of products in JIT and lean systems by allowing for quick adaptation to demand changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that flexible systems undermine the goals of JIT (Just-In-Time) and lean systems to have a balanced, rapid flow of products is False. Rather than undermining, flexibility in systems can actually complement JIT and lean systems. By being able to quickly respond to changes in demand, a flexible system can maintain the balance and flow that JIT and lean systems aim to achieve. Instead of large inventories, JIT systems require precise timing and the capacity to adapt to changes swiftly, which is where flexibility becomes an asset. The real issue arises when external factors, such as a strike in one part of the supply chain (as seen in the example of workers at a brakes manufacturer), disrupt the flow, illustrating the vulnerability of these systems to unexpected events, rather than an inherent flaw in their design.