A factory was trying out a new process for producing one of its products, with the goal of reducing productioncosts. A trial production run using the new process showed a 15 percent reduction in costs compared with pastperformance using the standard process. The production managers therefore concluded that the new processdid produce a cost savings.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the production manager's conclusion?

【选项】In the cost reduction project that eventually led to the trial of the new process, production managers had initially been seeking cost reductions of 50 percent.