Design failure in a production line can be apparent by repeated maintenance failures and __________.

Design failure in a production line can indeed be signaled by the inability to meet performance demands. This indicates that the equipment or process is not functioning as intended, which can stem from insufficient design considerations in the production line. When design flaws exist, they often do not facilitate optimal workflow, leading to bottlenecks, reduced productivity, and challenges in meeting output targets. This relationship between design effectiveness and performance is crucial, as a well-designed production line should seamlessly support the operational goals, enabling the organization to meet market demands consistently.

In contrast, increased safety incidents, higher energy costs, and poor employee morale may be symptoms of broader operational issues or management practices rather than direct indicators of design failure in the same explicit way. Each of those factors can result from various influences, making it more challenging to link them directly to design flaws without considering additional context. Therefore, identifying the inability to meet performance demands specifically highlights inadequacies in the design aspect of the production line, aligning directly with the concept of Total Productive Maintenance, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining equipment efficacy to achieve optimal operational performance.