Quantity production means uniformity on a colossal scale. We show our fondness for this uniformity in everything we undertake, from our style of hairdressing to our choice of plumbing.

The reduced programme quantity is part of the reason why Boeing took a $6.5 billion 777X charge in the fourth quarter, Smith says. The charge also reflects the programme’s freshly delayed timeline.

Production planning, for many companies, is still akin to a miscalculated speculation. Their production is based on a forecast, and they build according to that forecast -- which is rarely right. As a ...