The Atlantic Chain Company manufactures millions of feet of roller bearing chain annually. Until recently, 130 different chain styles were made, stored, and sold. The differences among the chains were minute and resulted from slight variations in dimensions and in other minor respects. Since the volume of sales on 50 of the styles was very low, a start at simplification was made by eliminating the 50 low-volume styles. In as much as the company had been losing money on the 50 styles eliminating, profits were expected to increase, even if the customers who had purchased one or more of these 50 styles should fail to switch to one of the remaining 80 styles. An analysis of costs and sales seemed to indicate that the company was making money on each of the remaining styles, but common sense told the management that there was no reason why 80 styles were needed.