TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Paire 



SUMMARY 3 



I. BACKGROUND OF STUDY 5 



Structure of the Present Assembly System 6 



Types of Assemblers Defined 6 



Importance of Various Types of Assemblers 9 



Supply Sources and Market Outlets 9 



Area differences in Assembly Systems 11 



The Effect of Declining Resources in the Assembly System 12 



n. PERFORMANCE AND COSTS IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF LIVE 



POULTRY ASSEMBLY 13 



Labor Performance 13 



Truck Operating Performance 15 



Present Costs of Live Poultry Assembly 17 



III. REDUCING COSTS OF LIVE POULTRY ASSEMBLY 19 



Methodology and Assumptions 19 



Effect of Firm Size on Costs of Live Poultry Assembly 22 



The Influence of Volume per Mile of Truck Travel on Costs of Live 



Poultry Assembly 24 



Least-Cost Combinations of Resources in Live Poultry Assembly 25 



Importance of Cost Group in Producing Cost Reductions 29 



IV. SOME IMPLICATIONS OF REDUCED COSTS OF ASSEMBLY AND 

 PROCESSING 30 



Institutional Changes which would Facilitate Assembly Cost Minimization 30 



Systemic Efficiency in Assembly 31 



Combining the Assembly and Processing Functions 33 



Optimum Adjustments for Selected Supply Areas 37 



V. APPENDIX 42 



