Contributions of a Cross-Functional Team to Diverse Activities:

a. Specifications Development:

• Engineering: Defines technical requirements, feasibility, and design limitations.
• Manufacturing: Provides insights into production capabilities, material constraints, and cost implications.
• Supply Management: Offers information on sourcing availability, lead times, and potential cost savings.

b. Market Analysis:

• Engineering: Identifies product features aligned with market trends and customer needs.
• Manufacturing: Provides cost estimates for different production volumes and potential market segments.
• Supply Management: Analyzes competitor strategies, supplier landscape, and pricing trends.

c. Productivity/Cost Improvements:

• Engineering: Analyzes design for manufacturability, identifies process inefficiencies, and proposes improved methods.
• Manufacturing: Implements process improvements, identifies bottlenecks, and suggests automation opportunities.
• Supply Management: Negotiates better pricing with suppliers, optimizes inventory management, and identifies alternative materials.

d. Make or Buy Analysis:

• Engineering: Estimates internal production costs based on design complexity and required expertise.
• Manufacturing: Assesses current capacity, potential investments needed, and impact on existing production lines.
• Supply Management: Evaluates external supplier capabilities, pricing, and reliability of supply.

e. Determination of Inventory Levels:

• Engineering: Provides lead times for component procurement and production timelines.
• Manufacturing: Estimates minimum and maximum inventory levels based on production schedule and safety stock requirements.
• Supply Management: Analyzes supplier lead times, order quantities, and potential price fluctuations.

Overall, a cross-functional team fosters synergy and diverse perspectives. Each member brings specific expertise, leading to well-rounded decisions in diverse activities, from product development to market analysis and cost optimization.