A toy manufacturer makes multiple stuffed animals (a giraffe and an alligator see exhibit below) using
Question:
A toy manufacturer makes multiple stuffed animals (a giraffe and an alligator – see exhibit below) using the same pattern. The first two steps (sewing and stuffing the body) are automated and shared by both types of stuffed animal. This machine can produce 5 stuffed animals of either type per hour. Once the bodies are stuffed, giraffes have specific feet, ears, and manes attached by a dedicated worker. This worker requires 15 minutes to finish one giraffe stuffed animal. Finishing the alligator toys is easier – they only need webbed feet to be attached, which takes a dedicated worker 5 minutes to complete. To meet demand, the toy manufacturer would like to produce 3 giraffes and 3 alligators each hour.
a. Draw the process flow diagram for this process. How many giraffe toys are completed per hour if the manufacturer requires that half of production be giraffes?
b. Suppose the giraffe finishing worker takes two hours off to attend a doctor appointment. The alligator finishing worker agrees to cover for her. The alligator finishing worker is slower to perform the giraffe finishing tasks due to unfamiliarity. It takes him 30 minutes to finish a giraffe toy. Suppose the alligator finishing worker prioritizes finishing alligators. What is the maximum achievable flow rate of toys off of this production line if the toy manufacturer removes the constraint requiring half of the toys produced each hour be giraffes?
c. Suppose the manufacturer adjusts its process to maximize its flow rate while the giraffe finisher is away (as in part 2). How many unfinished giraffe toys are waiting for the giraffe finishing worker when she returns from her doctor appointment?
Finite Mathematics and Its Applications
ISBN: 978-0134768632
12th edition
Authors: Larry J. Goldstein, David I. Schneider, Martha J. Siegel, Steven Hair