Quality levels in make-or-buy decisions are typically set:

Quality levels in make-or-buy decisions are typically set:

• A. Irrespective of the decision.
• B. Based on supplier capabilities alone.
• C. After production begins.
• D. Only by the design team.

Answer: (A)

Quality requirements come from how the product is designed to meet customer needs, and they are defined before any make-or-buy decision is made. The decision then looks at whether either in-house manufacturing or an external supplier can consistently meet those same quality levels, along with cost, lead time, and risk. Because the product must satisfy the defined specifications regardless of how it’s produced, the quality levels are set irrespective of the decision on making or buying. Setting quality levels after production begins would invite rework, delays, and mismatches with the design. Basing the levels only on supplier capabilities could let quality slip, and leaving the definition to just the design team ignores real-world production and supplier constraints.

Quality requirements come from how the product is designed to meet customer needs, and they are defined before any make-or-buy decision is made. The decision then looks at whether either in-house manufacturing or an external supplier can consistently meet those same quality levels, along with cost, lead time, and risk. Because the product must satisfy the defined specifications regardless of how it’s produced, the quality levels are set irrespective of the decision on making or buying.

Setting quality levels after production begins would invite rework, delays, and mismatches with the design. Basing the levels only on supplier capabilities could let quality slip, and leaving the definition to just the design team ignores real-world production and supplier constraints.