Which production system relies on automation through robots and computer systems to enable flexible, customizable manufacturing?

• A. Lean Manufacturing
• B. Traditional Craft Production
• C. Post-Fordist Production
• D. Mass Production

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how modern factories use automation with robots and computer systems to enable flexible, customizable manufacturing. This approach is characteristic of Post-Fordist production, which moves away from the rigid, high-volume mass production of earlier eras and instead emphasizes flexible specialization, smaller batch sizes, and rapid changeovers supported by computer-integrated systems. Robots, sensors, and information technology allow a single facility to quickly switch between products and tailor output to specific orders without sacrificing efficiency.

This differs from traditional craft production, which relies on manual, artisanal work; from mass production, which focuses on large runs of standardized products with limited flexibility; and from lean manufacturing, which centers on eliminating waste and streamlining processes—often using automation where helpful but not defining the system as a whole.