The design department of a cardboard factory has

Agree with Andrew's comment above. You have to assume something outside the prompt to make option E work.
E.g. you have to assume: efficiency = fast + few mistakes but the prompt does not give any information about the link to mistakes.

I am in complete agreement.

The argument, essentially, is that this “plan” of having the first 3 prototypes created manually will result in increased efficiency. The support provided is that the machine is often overloaded.

To expect this plan to succeed, it would help to show that the designers are able to make these first 3 prototypes in an efficient manner that does not result in errors. What would help is some evidence showing how switching to manually making the first 3 prototypes will lead to a better, more efficient outcome than the outcome that results from the production process currently in place.

(E) tells us how the current method is failing. The designers are hastily sending in sketches because doing so requires none of the effort entailed in building one by hand.

This provides more proof that the current method, which involves overloading the machine, is failing.

But it doesn’t reveal any evidence supporting the idea that having the designers create the first 3 prototypes manually will be any more efficient.

“Instead of checking thoroughly for mistakes, the designers are often hasty in sending their sketches to be created by the machine since doing so require none of the effort entailed in building a prototype by hand.”

So we know WHY the current plan is failing. However, does this necessarily mean that having the designers create the prototypes manually will result in these designers putting in more effort?

Are the designers now going to suddenly take their time? Do the designers normally take their time, but because they can rely on the machine, they are not doing so (what I believe E is meant to convey)?

(C) at least provides us with some evidence , or a “benefit”, of allowing the designers to make the first 3 prototypes by hand. Since the machine is overloaded, taking some pressure off the machine by having the designers make some prototypes might help smooth production if they knew what they were doing. (C) provides that clarification.

Knowing that the designers can make accurate prototypes at least gives us a little more confidence that switching to this new plan will increase efficiency (we’ve removed the overload on the computer).

I believe the point that E is trying to get across is that the machine is making the designers careless and removing this temptation will result in more focused designers. But as AndrewN pointed out, there are several “jumps” and assumptions we have to make to get there.

I would go with C on the actual exam. I would pick E knowing what the test prep company was trying to do.

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.