Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Business Management Practice Test

What issue might arise from poor design of the materials handling system in a bicycle factory?

1. Workers might resent their lack of autonomy

2. Production might be delayed if parts are not readily available

3. The quality of bicycles might decrease significantly

4. Employee morale might improve

The correct answer is: Production might be delayed if parts are not readily available

In a bicycle factory, the materials handling system is critical for ensuring that parts and components are efficiently transported to the production line. If the design of this system is poor, one of the primary issues that can arise is delays in production, mainly because parts may not be readily available when needed. An effective materials handling system ensures that all necessary components are available just in time for assembly. If the system fails, workers might have to wait for parts to be delivered to their station, which can lead to halted operations, reduced production rates, and ultimately loss of efficiency. Delays in the availability of parts can disrupt the entire workflow, potentially leading to missed deadlines and causing a backlog in production schedules. This can have significant financial implications for the factory, such as increased labor costs and a reduced ability to meet customer demand. While options like employee morale, quality of bicycles, or worker autonomy could be impacted by various aspects of factory operations, they do not directly address the immediate operational concern of productivity and efficiency linked to the materials handling system. Thus, the most relevant issue stemming from poor design of the materials handling system in this context is indeed production delays.