Assume that you are a management consultant who advises manufacturing firms regarding production technologies. One of the hot issues you often discuss with management is whether a pull system or a push system is superior in a particular situation. Consider the following circumstances and discuss whether you would recommend a push system or a pull system in each particular case:
a. The firm manufactures two consumer products; 75 percent of annual sales are made during the year-end holiday sales cycle.
b. The firm manufactures a variety of goods for the petroleum industry; most products are sold in low volumes and have a high unit cost.
c. The firm manufactures products subject to rapid obsolescence and that have relatively short product life cycles.
d. The firm manufactures products that have a limited shelf life.
e. The firm manufactures a limited line of products for which there is predictable, but seasonal, demand and the products have long life cycles.