What could be a potential issue for Peg, an engineer, regarding a customer's complaint about broken bolts?

The correct answer highlights a potential concern that directly connects to the quality and reliability of the product Peg is responsible for. If the factory recently switched steel suppliers, it raises the possibility that the new material could have different properties compared to what was previously used, potentially causing the bolts to break under normal usage conditions. This change might not have been adequately tested or evaluated before being implemented, leading to reliability issues in the final product.

Assessing customer complaints in relation to possible changes in materials or suppliers is crucial for maintaining product quality, as it can reveal underlying problems with the manufacturing process or the materials used. Understanding this connection emphasizes the importance of rigorously vetting suppliers and ensuring that any transitions are managed carefully to avoid compromising the quality of the product delivered to customers.

Other choices, such as issues with assembly instructions, shipping damage, or product quality discussions, may also be relevant in different contexts but do not point to a structural change that could have primary responsibility for the failures reported by the customer. Thus, while they may contribute to problems, they do not specifically address a fundamental shift in product quality linked to supplier changes, which is why the second option stands out as particularly significant in this scenario.