In the above example, if all information within the licensing process is moved electronically as soon as it is processed rather than being batched and transported the next day, how will it affect the throughput efficiency of the process?

example Suppose the number of products required in the 20-day period are: Product A = 1920 Product B = 1200 Product C = 960 Assuming an eight-hour day, the cycle time for each product that is, the interval between the production of each of the same type of product (see Chapter 7 for a full explanation of cycle time) - is as follows: Product A, cycle time=20 X 8 X 60/1920 = 5 mins Product B, cycle time = 20 x 8 x 60/1200 = 18 mins Product C, cycle time=20 X 8 X 60/960 = 10 mins So, the production unit must produce: 1 unit of A every 5 minutes 1 unit of B every 8 minutes 1 unit of C every 10 minutes. Put another way, by finding the common factor of 5, 8 and 10: 8 units of A every 40 minutes 5 units of B every 40 minutes 4 units of C every 40 minutes This means that a sequence which mixes eight units of A, five of B and four of C, and repeats itself every 40 minutes, will produce the required output. There will be many dif- ferent ways of sequencing the products to achieve this mix, for example: ...BACABACABACABACAB... repeated... repeated This sequence repeats itself every 40 minutes and produces the correct mix of products to satisfy the monthly requirements.