Which type of production processing-job shop, batch, repetitive, or continuous – is the primary mode of operation at Stickley Furniture? Why? What another type of processing is used to a lesser extent? Explain. In essence, the production process used in the company greatly depends on the nature of business activities and occurrences in that organization. In manufacturing, the process of production usually consists of several steps or stages, more-or-less like the stages of products in markets, which—in most cases—starts with a costly and highly flexible process then advances into areas such as mechanization, automation, and standardization occurring in the less costly and less flexible process (Hayes & Wheelwright, 1979). Based on the production-process matrix proposed by Hayes and Wheelwright (1979), there are usually four types of production processes. These are:  1. The Job Shop Method: This method majorly entails a single worker or a group of workers handling the entire work in question. It usually allows for a high degree of flexibility in the project just like the batch method. Moreover, job shops tend to be low in volume with a special focus on meeting the client’s needs whenever an order is placed.  2. Batch Method: As aforementioned, this method allows for a high degree of flexibility. The main distinction from other methods is that, in batch processing, work is usually divided into small or medium-sized pieces or volumes of process products commonly termed as batches. The Batch method also has the characteristic of producing several work inventories waiting to progress from one step of the project to another.  3. Repetitive Method: This usually involves a pre-planned set of tasks that tend to repeat themselves frequently. The repetitive method is mostly recommended for high-volume productions of a particular product or a group of products. A crucial consideration in this method is the layout used in meeting the desired needs of a product. This, probably, is the reason it tends to be associated with products having high capital intensity. A good example here is the processing done in fast food joints like juice and soda vendors.  4. Continuous Method: This entails a continuous method of obtaining raw materials then processing to completed products. Just like the repetitive method, the continuous method is best suited for high demand and well-standardized products. A perfect example here would be the demanding process used in drilling and processing oil through oil pipelines. So, among these methods, which one would be best in the production process for Stickley furniture and which one would be used to a lesser extent? Well, to begin with, Stickley furniture does not have 24/7 operations requiring continuous work. Additionally, the company is reported to stock goods in the white inventory thus ruling out the option of the continuous method. Moreover, even though small groups of workers do some selective work on “jobs’, as per the case’s reference; the Job shop method is ruled out since the processes at Stickley are not necessarily handled by an individual or group of people right from the moment the wood arrives at the plant until it gets to the store. Consequently