Question

J Packing 2.0 a-b) One of the possible assignment of tasks to workstations is shown correctly in Fig. 2. The efficiency of the assembly line with 3 workstations = 98.28 % (enter your response rounded to two decimal places). c) The goal is to have 100% efficiency. Is this possible? No d) The theoretical minimum number of workstations = 3 (round your response up to the next whole number). Teen

Answer 1

(A) Answer: Figure: 2

Ratuonal: Total cycle time = 10 minutes

For Figure 1:

One of the stations has tasks G-D-E-F.

Task time of G-D-E-F = 2.8 + 3.6 + 3 + 2 = 11.4

The task time of a station is greater than cycle time which is not possible, therefore figure 1 is incorrect.

For figure 3:

One of the stations has tasks C-D-E-F.

Task time of C-D-E-F = 3 + 3.6 + 3 + 2 = 11.6

The task time of a station is greater than cycle time which is not possible, therefore figure 3 is incorrect.

Therefore, correct answer is figure 2 because all its work stations have task time of less than 10 minutes.

(B) Answer: 96.33%

Rationale:

Total task time = 5+1.8+3+3.6+3+2+2.8+3.7+2+2

Total task time (TT) = 28.9 minutes

Total cycle time (CT) = 10 minutes

Number of workstations (N) = 3

Efficiency = (100 × TT)/(N × CT)

Efficiency = (100 × 28.9)/(3 × 10)

Efficiency = 96.33%

(C) Answer: YES

Rationale: The efficiency can be increased to 100% if the idle time of each workstation is reduced to zero by increasing task time of tasks.

(D) Answer: 3

Rationale:

Theoretical number of workstations = Total task time/ Cycle time

Theoretical number of workstations = 28.9/10

Theoretical number of workstations = 2.89

Theoretical number of workstations = 3 (rounded off)

Therefore, theoretical number of workstations = 3