Product-Level Activities in the Ice Cream Industry
What activities in the ice cream manufacturing process are classified as product-level activities?
1. Cleaning the ice cream machines daily
2. Advertising a new ice cream flavor
3. Inspecting and packaging individual ice cream containers
4. Conducting market research to identify new flavor trends
Answer:
In the context of an ice cream manufacturer like Blue Bell, inspecting and packaging individual ice cream containers would be classified as a product-level activity because it's directly associated with a specific product.
Explanation:
In the context of an ice cream manufacturer like Blue Bell, a product-level activity refers to an action directly associated with the creation and delivery of specific product lines, from production to advertising. Among the options listed, inspecting and packaging individual ice cream containers would be classified as a product-level activity.
This is because these actions directly relate to the final product that is delivered to the customer. Cleaning the ice cream machines daily is more of a facility-level activity, as it's part of the overall factory maintenance and not connected to a specific product. Advertising a new ice cream flavor can be considered a product-sustaining activity as it supports the overall product line. Lastly, conducting market research to identify new flavor trends qualifies as a customer-level activity as it's focused on consumer preferences to guide product development.
Remember, product-level activities focus on individual products and their specific processes.