Question

Williams Optical Inc. is considering a new lean product cell. The present manufacturing approach produces a product in four separate steps. The production batch sizes are 45 units. The process time for each step is as follows:

Process Step 1	5 minutes
Process Step 2	8 minutes
Process Step 3	4 minutes
Process Step 4	3 minutes

The time required to move each batch between steps is 5 minutes. In addition, the time to move raw materials to Process Step 1 is also 5 minutes, and the time to move completed units from Process Step 4 to finished goods inventory is 5 minutes.

The new lean layout will allow the company to reduce the batch sizes from 45 units to 3 units. The time required to move each batch between steps and the inventory locations will be reduced to 2 minutes. The processing time in each step will stay the same.

Determine the value-added, non-value-added, and total lead times, and the value-added ratio under the present and proposed production approaches. If required, round percentages to one decimal place.

	Present Approach		Proposed Approach
Value-added time		min		min
Non-value-added time		min		min
Total lead time		min		min
Value-added ratio (as a percent)		%		%