Building up an inventory of standard parts or modules instead of immediately producing the finished end items is the essence of:
A) delayed differentiation.
B) kanban.
C) autonomation.
D) andon.
E) matrix management.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Delayed differentiation is the strategy of postponing the final production of a product until the demand is known. This allows companies to build up an inventory of standard parts or modules instead of immediately producing the finished end items, thus reducing costs and increasing flexibility. Kanban, autonomation, and andon are all related to lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, but not directly related to the strategy of delayed differentiation. Matrix management refers to a type of organizational structure where individuals have dual reporting responsibilities to both functional and project managers.

Building Up an Inventory of Standard Parts or Modules Instead