Access the text companion website by going to www.cengagebrain.com and entering the text author's name or ISBN in the search box, and clicking on the 'Access Now' link under Study Tools. At the companion website, click on the link titled "Internet Exercise." Read the article: "Benefits From Lean and Cellular Manufacturing, by Strategos, Inc.-Consultants, Engineers, Strategists.

Required:

Read the article and answer the following questions:

1. Name some general principles for using "lean metrics."

2. What are some materials handling benefits that result from applying lean manufacturing principles?

3. Why do lot sizes tend to be larger in a functional manufacturing environment?

4. How do employees benefit from a lean manufacturing environment?

5. Why is it difficult to make quality improvements in a functional manufacturing environment?

6. How do customers benefit when their suppliers adopt lean manufacturing principles?