Reducing the amount of rework required in the production cycle focuses on taking actions that prevent defects from occurring in the first place. Routine maintenance of machinery, rewarding employees for quality improvement suggestions, and assigning quality inspectors to identify defects in the finished products are all preventative and corrective measures aimed at improving quality and reducing rework. On the other hand, performing daily reconciliations between finished goods and the number of rejects is a detective control. While it helps identify defects post-production, it does not directly contribute to reducing the occurrence of defects or the amount of rework needed. Therefore, it would be the least effective control in achieving the objective of reducing rework.