7. The author suggests that implementing conventionalcost-cutting as a way of increasing manufacturingcompetitiveness is a strategy that is (A) flawed and ruinous (B) shortsighted and difficult to sustain (C) popular and easily accomplished (D) useful but inadequate (E) misunderstood but promising
Every company I know that has freed itself from the 50)paradox has done so, in part, by developing and imple-menting a manufacturing strategy. Such a strategyfocuses on the manufacturing structure and on equip-ment and process technology. In one company a manu-facturing strategy that allowed different areas of the 55)factory to specialize in different markets replaced the conventional cost-cutting approach; within three yearsthe company regained its competitive advantage.Together with such strategies, successful companies are also encouraging managers to focus on a wider set of objectives besides cutting costs. There is hope for manufacturing, but it clearly rests on a different way of managing.