03-01-2014, 12:43 PM
Back in the 90s I worked with Honda on manufacturing automation systems. For production line efficiencies, you set up a production line to produce a batch of bikes (or cars, or widgets) with the same characteristics, run the batch, then modify the line for the next version. As stated above, this doesn't necessarily mean a different run for each individual country. It depends on what the requirements will be for each region.
As an example imagine you're producing U.S. CB11s today. You have to stage all of the U.S. specific parts on the line. Black engines, big turn signals, U.S. DOT spec ECU and EFI, etc...
Conversely, if a specific set of characteristics is common to several regions, say Japan and Australia, you can build all of those on the same run.
As far as option choice goes, manufacturing is only one factor that goes into it (as I also noted above), the marketing dept. plays a big part in determining what you'll get.
Bottom line is, mass production for a global market isn't going result in everyone being able to get exactly the bike they want. Particularly, a niche product that does not sell in large numbers.
As an example imagine you're producing U.S. CB11s today. You have to stage all of the U.S. specific parts on the line. Black engines, big turn signals, U.S. DOT spec ECU and EFI, etc...
Conversely, if a specific set of characteristics is common to several regions, say Japan and Australia, you can build all of those on the same run.
As far as option choice goes, manufacturing is only one factor that goes into it (as I also noted above), the marketing dept. plays a big part in determining what you'll get.
Bottom line is, mass production for a global market isn't going result in everyone being able to get exactly the bike they want. Particularly, a niche product that does not sell in large numbers.