Critical Reasoning

"Fast cycle time" is a strategy of designing a manufacturing organization to eliminate bottlenecks and delays in production. Not only does it speed up production,, but it also ensures quality. The reason is that bottlenecks and delays cannot be eliminated unless all work is done right the first time.

The claim about quality made above rests on a questionable presupposition that ____

a. any flaw in work on a product would cause a bottleneck or delay and so would be prevented from occurring on a 'fast cycle' production line.

b. the strategy of 'fast cycle time' would require the fundamental rethinking of product design.

c. the primary goal of the organization is to produce a product of unexcelled quality, rather than to generate profits for stockholders.

d. 'fast cycle time' could be achieved by shaving time off each of the component processes in a production cycle.

e. 'fast cycle time' is a concept in business strategy that has not yet been put into practice in a factory.


Answer: A

FCT will eliminate bottlenecks and delays in production

this can only happen if FCT will prevent any flaw and hence prevent bottle neck or delay ...

Hence A

How to eliminate B?

A.

B is out of scope. In the passage there is no relationship mentioned for quality and product re design.

Thanks navami,

I overlooked the option!

Not quite sure about how to eliminate D. Please help.

Thanks.

mankey wrote:Not quite sure about how to eliminate D. Please help.

Thanks.

d. 'fast cycle time' could be achieved by shaving time off each of the component processes in a production cycle.

Argument is concerned about HOW THE QUALITY OF PRODUCTS IS IMPROVED IN FAST CYCLE TIME PROCESSES. Argument is NOT concerned about HOW EXACTLY ONE COULD ACHIEVE FAST CYCLE TIME PROCESSES

Moreover, we can't say for sure from the given argument that 'fast cycle time' could be achieved by shaving time off each component. There could be many other ways, for example, we can make some design change so that use of a part of the component is NOT required.

Drop D

Premise 1: Not only does it speed up production,, but it also ensures quality.

Premise 2: The reason is that bottlenecks and delays cannot be eliminated unless all work is done right the first time.

Conclusion: "Fast cycle time" is a strategy of designing a manufacturing organization to eliminate bottlenecks and delays in production

Negate A:

a. any flaw in work on a product would NOT cause a bottleneck or delay and so would NOT be prevented from occurring on a 'fast cycle' production line. => The bottleneck and delay cannot be eliminated. Weaken the conclusion.


Negate B

b. the strategy of 'fast cycle time' would NOT require the fundamental rethinking of product design. => not affect anything to the argument.