Question

***How to explain how you will select manufacturing process for a shoe company based on below information:

Process selection refers to deciding on the way production of goods or services will be organized. It has major implications for capacity planning, layout of facilities, equipment, and design of work systems. Process selection occurs as a matter of course when new products or services are being planned. However, it also occurs periodically due to technological changes in products or equipment, as well as competitive pressures. Figure 6.1 provides an overview Page 244of where process selection and capacity planning fit into system design. Forecasts, product and service design, and technological considerations all influence capacity planning and process selection. Moreover, capacity and process selection are interrelated, and are often done in concert. They, in turn, affect facility and equipment choices, layout, and work design.

How an organization approaches process selection is determined by the organization’s process strategy. Key aspects include:

Capital intensity: The mix of equipment and labor that will be used by the organization.

Process flexibility: The degree to which the system can be adjusted to changes in processing requirements due to such factors as changes in product or service design, changes in volume processed, and changes in technology.

Answer 1

From the given information, we can infer that process selection is not a standalone process and it will have significant impact on various other business processes like capacity planning, inventory management, procurement planning, etc. Hence the choice of the process selection method must be done holistically, considering the influence which it wants to exert on the other involved processes, The manufacturing objective must be made clear and the manufacturing process must be selected in a way that the business is favoured and the manufacturing objectives get facilitated.