This is the eighth Business Research Analyst Capstone Project installment as outlined in Module 0 located in the Learning Modules section.

You will complete this discussion based on the elements involved in the production process, the facility and planning issues which support the production process, and the types of tools utilized by an organization to maintain product quality.

Your Capstone employer is considering an expansion into product manufacturing and your boss has asked you to investigate Caterpillar (CAT). In order to become familiar with their products and operations, view this segment: Caterpillar | Innovation Past, Present, and Future (Time: 1:00, closed captions available from Amara) along with the Brands section of their website. Next, view this segment, CAT Next Generation Excavators: Manufacturing (Time: 4:23, closed captions available from Amara) and make sure to note the comments regarding quality.

Respond to the following questions:

1. Based on the content in this module and in the video, discuss the elements involved in CAT's production process by addressing the following:
2. Summarize the type of production utilized (e.g. mass production, mass customization or customization). Provide one example of the type utilized.
3. Describe two examples of raw materials utilized to make an excavator that you observed.
4. Describe two examples of technology utilized to make an excavator that you observed.
5. View the video below, Caterpillar Marine Engine Manufacturing in Rostock (Germany) (Time: 2:26, closed captions available from Amara). Characterize the facility and planning issues which support CAT's production process by addressing the following:
6. Describe two examples of choices that CAT needed to make in designing the Rostock facility.
7. Describe the concept of inventory management and its importance to CATs resource-planning.
8. Describe the concept of supplier relations and its importance to CATs resource-planning.
9. View the CAT Product & Service Announcements website section. Based on this information and the quality comments from the Excavators video, describe how CAT utilizes these types of tools to maintain product quality.