Which term describes a production system focusing on standardization and assembly efficiency?

• A. Hawthorne Effect
• B. Ford assembly line
• C. Total Quality Management (TQM)
• D. Six Sigma

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is how a production system achieves high speed and consistency by standardizing steps and parts. The term that captures this approach is the Ford assembly line (often called Fordism). It hinges on standardized parts, specialized, repetitive tasks, and a moving conveyor to maximize throughput and reduce costs, producing uniform output efficiently.

Total Quality Management focuses on building quality into every process and fostering continuous improvement across the organization, not just the assembly process. The Hawthorne Effect describes changes in performance when people know they’re being observed. Six Sigma centers on reducing process variation and defects, but it’s broader than the classic assembly-line method focused on standardization and efficiency.