Homework

1. Compute the capacity in parts per hour of the following: 

a) A station with three machines operating in parallel with 20‐minute process times at each station. 

b) A balanced line with single –machine stations, all with average processing times of 15 minutes. 

c) A four‐station line with single‐machine stations, where the average processing times are 15, 20, 10, 12 minutes, respectively for stations 1, 2, 3, 4.

d) A four‐station line with multiple‐machine stations, where the number of (parallel) machines at stations 1, 2, 3, 4 is 2, 6, 10, 3 respectively. The average processing times at the stations are 10, 24, 40, 18 minutes, respectively. 

e) A three‐station line with ample equipment at all stations (i.e. don’t worry about machines—you only need to make calculations for the labor) staffed by six operators who are identical with regard to average processing times and require 10, 15, 5 minutes, respectively on stations 1, 2, 3. 

f) The same line as in part e), except that station 2 now consists of only two parallel machines. Stations 1 and 3 still have ample capacity. 

2. Is it possible for a line to have the same throughput with both high WIP and high cycle time or low WIP and low cycle time? Which would you rather have? Why?