1. Chapter 2, 3 Process Capacity (30 Points): The Happy Toy Company’s R&D depart

Question

1. Chapter 2, 3 Process Capacity (30 Points): The Happy Toy Company’s R&D department is always looking for great ideas for new toys. On average, the R&D department generates about 10 new toy ideas a week. To go from idea to approved product, the idea must go through 5 stages: In initial screening a staff member spends 2 hours considering the idea. In mock-up, the idea is sent to one of many suppliers to produce a physical mock-up of the toy. There is essentially unlimited capacity at this stage, but it takes 4 days to get the mockup built even though multiple mockups can be built simultaneously. In safety testing each idea requires 2 days from a staff member to have the idea checked for safety. In focus groups each idea requires 3 hours from a staff member to have the idea test marketed. Finally, the management team meets for 4 hours per idea to decide if the toy should be added to its line of products sold to customers. At the end of each stage, successful ideas enter the next stage. All other ideas are dropped. The following table summarizes the process: For example, there are 7 staff members that work in the safety stage. In each stage each idea is processed by only one staff member: for example, once one of the 7 staff members starts working on an idea in the safety stage, the idea completes that stage in 2 days (and either exits or moves to the focus group stage). Everyone works 8 hours per day, 5 days a week. b. (10 points) Among these stages, what is the highest implied utilization (as a %)?

Explanation / Answer

Stage 1 - Initial Screening

Demand = 10 ideas per week = 10/(8*5) = 0.25 ideas per hour

Capacity = Number of members / Flow time = 2 / 2 hours = 1 per hour

Implied utilization = Demand / Capacity = 0.25/1 = 0.25

Output of stage 1 = 0.25*(1-0.4) = 0.15 per hour

Stage 2 - Mockup

Demand = Output of stage 1 = 0.15 ideas per hour

Flow time = 4 days = 4*8 hours = 32 hours

Capacity = Number of members / Flow time = unlimited

Implied utilization = Demand / Capacity = 0.25/infinity = 0

Output of stage 2 = 0.15 per hour

Stage 3 - Safety testing

Demand = Output of stage 2 = 0.15 ideas per hour

Flow time = 2 days = 2*8 = 16 hours

Capacity = Number of members / Flow time = 7/16 = 0.44 per hour

Implied utilization = Demand / Capacity = 0.15/0.44 = 0.3429

Output of stage 3 = 0.15*0.5 = 0.075 ideas per hour

Stage 4 - Focus group

Demand = Output of stage 3 = 0.075 ideas per hour

Flow time = 3 hours

Capacity = Number of members / Flow time = 1/3 = 0.33 per hour

Implied utilization = Demand / Capacity = 0.075/0.33 = 0.225

Output of stage 4 = 0.075*(1-0.65) = 0.02625 ideas per hour

Stage 5 - Final decision

Demand = Output of stage 4 = 0.02625 ideas per hour

Flow time = 4 hours

Capacity = Number of members / Flow time = 1/4 = 0.25 per hour

Implied utilization = Demand / Capacity = 0.02625/0.25 = 0.105

Output of stage 5 = 0.02625*(1-0.80) = 0.00525 ideas per hour

Highest implied utilization = 0.3429 or 34.3 % of Stage 3 (Safety testing)

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 1
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.