HydroLift is trying to determine how long it takes for one product to pass through the production process. The following information was gathered regarding how many days the product spent in various production activities:

$\backslash$table$[[$Activity$,\backslash$table$[[$Number of$],[$Days$]]],[$Quality Inspections,$5],[$Storage$,6],[$Assembly$,4],[$Handling$,2],[$Painting$,4],[$Packaging$,1]]$

Required:

a$.$ Which of the above activities are value$-$added?

b$.$ What is HydroLift's total cycle time?

c$.$ Determine HydroLift's manufacturing efficiency ratio.

d$-1.$ If HydroLift implements a total quality management program and a just$-$in$-$time inventory system, which of these activities could likely be eliminated?

d$-2.$ If HydroLift implements a total quality management program and a just$-$in$-$time inventory system, what would be the change in the company's manufacturing efficiency ratio?