At Ford Motor, Cisco is helping to network flexible factory lines at four plants, with each plant aware of which parts are on their way from suppliers.

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Mr. Johnson is a wonderfully flexible writer who can pivot in a matter of lines from absurdity to atrocity.

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Carmakers may never be able to build a business as lean and as flexible as this, but they are working on similar lines to keep their customers happy.

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He hints that Europe might adopt a more flexible regulatory stance if America were to create what amounts to an independent data-protection body along European lines.

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With short lines of communication to suppliers, the retailer could keep a better check on quality and was more flexible.

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"A basic v-chisel is useful when you are making lines on the pumpkin's face, and a good sharp kitchen knife that is not too flexible is best to carve the features, " he says.

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