How are "buffer stocks" used in production control?

Buffer stocks play a crucial role in production control by acting as a safety inventory. This means that they are maintained to mitigate the risk of stockouts, which can occur due to unforeseen disruptions in supply or demand fluctuations. By having buffer stocks available, production processes can continue smoothly without interruptions, even when there are delays in the regular supply chain or unexpected increases in production requirements. This helps to maintain operational efficiency and keep production schedules on track, ensuring that finished goods are available for delivery to meet customer demands.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of buffer stocks. While enhancing product quality is important, buffer stocks are not directly related to the quality of the products themselves. Streamlining shipping processes and reducing employee workload fall outside the direct intention of maintaining buffer stocks; these aspects relate more to logistical efficiency and workforce management rather than the inventory strategy used to cushion against variability in production inputs.