Japanese firms have achieved the highest levels of manufacturing effic

Question

Japanese firms have achieved the highest levels of
 manufacturing efficiency in the world automobile
 industry. Some observers of Japan have assumed that
 Japanese firms use the same manufacturing equipment
 (5)  and techniques as United States firms but have bene-
 fited from the unique characteristics of Japanese
 employees and the Japanese culture. However, if this
 were true, then one would expect Japanese auto plants
 in the United States to perform no better than factories
 (10)  run by United States companies. This is not the case,
 Japanese-run automobile plants located in the United
 States and staffed by local workers have demonstrated
 higher levels of productivity when compared with facto-
 ries owned by United States companies.

(15)  Other observers link high Japanese productivity to
 higher levels of capital investment per worker. But a
 historical perspective leads to a different conclusion.
 When the two top Japanese automobile makers
 matched and then doubled United States productivity
 (20)  levels in the mid-sixties, capital investment per
 employee was comparable to that of United States
 firms. Furthermore, by the late seventies, the amount of
 fixed assets required to produce one vehicle was
 roughly equivalent in Japan and in the United States.
 (25)  Since capital investment was not higher in Japan, it had
 to be other factors that led to higher productivity.

A more fruitful explanation may lie with Japanese
 production techniques. Japanese automobile producers
 did not simply implement conventional processes more
 (30)  effectively: they made critical changes in United States
 procedures. For instance, the mass-production philos-
 ophy of United States automakers encouraged the
 production of huge lots of cars in order to utilize fully
 expensive, component-specific equipment and to
 (35)  occupy fully workers who have been trained to execute
 one operation efficiently. Japanese automakers chose to
 make small-lot production feasible by introducing
 several departures from United States practices,
 including the use of flexible equipment that could be
 (40)  altered easily to do several different production tasks
 and the training of workers in multiple jobs.
 Automakers could schedule the production of different
 components or models on single machines, thereby
 eliminating the need to store the buffer stocks of extra
 (45)  components that result when specialized equipment 
 and workers are kept constantly active.   1 
 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) present the major steps of a process
 (B) clarify an ambiguity
 (C) chronicle a dispute
 (D) correct misconceptions
 (E) defend an accepted approach

2 
 2. The author suggests that if the observers of Japan mentioned in line 3 were correct, which of the following would be the case?

(A) The equipment used in Japanese automobile plants would be different from the equipment used in United States plants.
 (B) Japanese workers would be trained to do several different production jobs.
 (C) Culture would not have an influence on the productivity levels of workers.
 (D) The workers in Japanese-run plants would have higher productivity levels regardless of where they were located.
 (E) The production levels of Japanese-run plants located in the United States would be equal to those of plants run by United States companies.

3 
 3. Which of the following statements concerning the productivity levels of automakers can be inferred from the passage?

(A) Prior to the 1960’s, the productivity levels of the top Japanese automakers were exceeded by those of United States automakers.

(B) The culture of a country has a large effect on the productivity levels of its automakers.

(C) During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, productivity levels were comparable in Japan and the United States.

(D) The greater the number of cars that are produced in a single lot, the higher a plant’s productivity level.

(E) The amount of capital investment made by automobile manufacturers in their factories determines the level of productivity.

4 
 4. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true of Japanese automobile workers?

(A) Their productivity levels did not equal those of United States automobile workers until the late seventies.
 (B) Their high efficiency levels are a direct result of cultural influences.
 (C) They operate component-specific machinery.
 (D) They are trained to do more than one job.
 (E) They produce larger lots of cars than do workers in United States factories.

5 
 5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph?

(A) A thesis is presented and supporting examples are provided.
 (B) Opposing views are presented, classified, and then reconciled.
 (C) A fact is stated, and an explanation is advanced and then refuted.
 (D) A theory is proposed, considered, and then amended.
 (E) An opinion is presented, qualified, and then reaffirmed.

6 
 6. It can be inferred from the passage that one problem associated with the production of huge lots of cars is which of the following?

(A) The need to manufacture flexible machinery and equipment
(B) The need to store extra components not required for immediate use
(C) The need for expensive training programs for workers, which emphasize the development of facility in several production jobs
(D) The need to alter conventional mass-production processes
(E) The need to increase the investment per vehicle in order to achieve high productivity levels

7 
 7. Which of the following statements is supported by information stated in the passage?

(A) Japanese and United States automakers differ in their approach to production processes.
(B) Japanese automakers have perfected the use of single-function equipment.
(C) Japanese automakers invest more capital per employee than do United States automakers.
(D) United States-owned factories abroad have higher production levels than do Japanese owned plants in the United States.
(E) Japanese automakers have benefited from the cultural heritage of their workers.

8 
 8. With which of the following predictive statement regarding Japanese automakers would the author most likely agree?

(A) The efficiency levels of the Japanese automakers will decline if they become less flexible in their approach to production.
(B) Japanese automakers productivity levels double during the late 1990’s.
(C) United States automakers will originate new production processes before Japanese automakers do.
(D) Japanese automakers will hire fewer workers than will United States automakers because each worker is required to perform several jobs.
(E) Japanese automakers will spend less on equipment repairs than will United States automakers because Japanese equipment can be easily altered.

hientranzx · Accepted Answer

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) present the major steps of a process
(B) clarify an ambiguity
(C) Chronicle a dispute
 (D) correct misconceptions 
(E) defend an accepted approach

Some observers of Japan have  assumed (misconceptions)  that Japanese firms use the same manufacturing equipment
(5) and techniques as United States firms but have benefited from the unique characteristics of Japanese employees and the Japanese culture. However, if this were true, then one would expect Japanese auto plants in the United States to perform no better than factories
(10) run by United States companies.  This is not the case (correct the misconception) , Japanese-run automobile plants located in the United States and staffed by local workers have demonstrated
higher levels of productivity when compared with factories owned by United States companies.

2. The author suggests that if the observers of Japan mentioned in line 3 were correct, which of the following would be the case?
(A) The equipment used in Japanese automobile plants would be different from the equipment used in United States plants.
(B) Japanese workers would be trained to do several different production jobs.
(C) Culture would not have an influence on the productivity levels of workers.
(D) The workers in Japanese-run plants would have higher productivity levels regardless of where they were located.
 (E) The production levels of Japanese-run plants located in the United States would be equal to those of plants run by United States companies.

Some observers of Japan have assumed that Japanese firms use the same manufacturing equipment
(5) and techniques as United States firms but have benefited from the unique characteristics of Japanese employees and the Japanese culture. However, if this were true, then one would expect Japanese  auto plants
in the United States to perform no better than factories (10) run by United States companies.

3. Which of the following statements concerning the productivity levels of automakers can be inferred from the passage?
 Prior to the 1960’s, the productivity levels of the top Japanese automakers were exceeded by those of United States automakers. 
(B) The culture of a country has a large effect on the productivity levels of its automakers.
(C) During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, productivity levels were comparable in Japan and the United States.
(D) The greater the number of cars that are produced in a single lot, the higher a plant’s productivity level.
(E) The amount of capital investment made by automobile manufacturers in their factories determines the level of productivity.

When the two top Japanese automobile makers
matched and then doubled United States productivity
(20) levels in the mid-sixties 
--> before that, Japanese productivity was low

4. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true of Japanese automobile workers?
(A) Their productivity levels did not equal those of United States automobile workers until the late seventies.
(B) Their high efficiency levels are a direct result of cultural influences.
(C) They operate component-specific machinery.
 (D) They are trained to do more than one job. 
(E) They produce larger lots of cars than do workers in United States factories.

Japanese automakers chose to
make small-lot production feasible by introducing
several departures from United States practices,
including the use of flexible equipment that could be
(40) altered easily to do several different production tasks
and  the training of workers in multiple jobs .

5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph?
(A) A thesis is presented and supporting examples are provided.
(B) Opposing views are presented, classified, and then reconciled.
 (C) A fact is stated, and an explanation is advanced and then refuted. 
(D) A theory is proposed, considered, and then amended.
(E) An opinion is presented, qualified, and then reaffirmed.

Fact : Japanese firms have achieved the highest levels of
manufacturing efficiency in the world automobile
industry
 explanation : Some observers of Japan have assumed that
Japanese firms use the same manufacturing equipment
(5) and techniques as United States firms but have benefited from the unique characteristics of Japanese
employees and the Japanese culture. However, if this
were true, then one would expect Japanese auto plants
in the United States to perform no better than factories
(10) run by United States companies. 
 refuted : This is not the case,
Japanese-run automobile plants located in the United
States and staffed by local workers have demonstrated
higher levels of productivity when compared with factories owned by United States companies.

6. It can be inferred from the passage that one problem associated with the production of huge lots of cars is which of the following?
(A) The need to manufacture flexible machinery and equipment
 (B) The need to store extra components not required for immediate use 
(C) The need for expensive training programs for workers, which emphasize the development of facility in several production jobs
(D) The need to alter conventional mass-production processes
(E) The need to increase the investment per vehicle in order to achieve high productivity levels

In Japanese companies:  Automakers could schedule the production of different
components or models on single machines, thereby
 eliminating the need to store the buffer stocks of extra
(45) components  that result when specialized equipment
and workers are kept constantly active. 
--> Normal companies: store the buffer stocks of extra components

7. Which of the following statements is supported by information stated in the passage?
 (A) Japanese and United States automakers differ in their approach to production processes. 
(B) Japanese automakers have perfected the use of single-function equipment.
(C) Japanese automakers invest more capital per employee than do United States automakers.
(D) United States-owned factories abroad have higher production levels than do Japanese owned plants in the United States.
(E) Japanese automakers have benefited from the cultural heritage of their workers.

Japanese automobile producers
did not simply implement conventional processes more
(30) effectively: they made critical changes in United States
procedures.

8. With which of the following predictive statement regarding Japanese automakers would the author most likely agree?
 (A) The efficiency levels of the Japanese automakers will decline if they become less flexible in their approach to production. 
(B) Japanese automakers productivity levels double during the late 1990’s.
(C) United States automakers will originate new production processes before Japanese automakers do.
(D) Japanese automakers will hire fewer workers than will United States automakers because each worker is required to perform several jobs.
(E) Japanese automakers will spend less on equipment repairs than will United States automakers because Japanese equipment can be easily altered

Japanese automakers chose to
make small-lot production feasible by introducing
several departures from United States practices,
including the use of flexible equipment that could be
(40) altered easily to do several different production tasks
and the training of workers in multiple jobs.

sunny91 · Answer

hi Broall,

can u kindly explain the answer to question no-3. We know that in the mid sixties, the production level of japanese farms doubled. But, prior to 1960's we have no information whether the production level of japanese farms exceed or was equal to american farms. Kindly help

broall · Answer

That's the trick of this question. The information is in here

The sentence means that in the mid-sixties, the two top Japanese companies matched the United States companies in productivity levels. After that, the two top Japanese companies doubled the United States companies in productivity levels. This is a continuous trend.

Thus, we cound infer that before the mid-sixties, or early sixties, the productivity level in Japanese companies were lower than that in United States companies.

Waddup · Answer

Can someone please explain why "D" isn't the correct option for Q8?

guddo · Answer

8. With which of the following predictive statement regarding Japanese automakers would the author most likely agree?

The passage argues that Japanese automakers’ higher productivity came mainly from their production techniques, especially flexible equipment, small-lot production, and workers trained to do multiple jobs.  So the author would likely predict  that if Japanese automakers lost this  flexibility , their efficiency would suffer.

(A) The efficiency levels of the Japanese automakers will decline if they become less flexible in their approach to production.

Correct. The passage presents flexibility in equipment and labor as a key reason for Japanese automakers’ high productivity. If that flexibility decreased, their efficiency would likely decline.

(B) Japanese automakers productivity levels double during the late 1990’s.

Wrong. The passage discusses productivity gains in the mid-sixties, not a prediction about the late 1990s.

(C) United States automakers will originate new production processes before Japanese automakers do.

Wrong. The passage says Japanese automakers made critical changes to United States procedures, but it does not predict future innovation patterns.

(D) Japanese automakers will hire fewer workers than will United States automakers because each worker is required to perform several jobs.

Wrong. Workers trained in multiple jobs may improve flexibility, but the passage does not say Japanese firms will hire fewer workers.

(E) Japanese automakers will spend less on equipment repairs than will United States automakers because Japanese equipment can be easily altered.

Wrong. The passage says the equipment can be altered for different tasks, not that it is cheaper to repair.

Answer: (A)

Japanese firms have achieved the highest levels of manufacturing effic

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Japanese firms have achieved the highest levels of manufacturing effic

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