Process for a Five-Task Line

Consider a five-task process, with five manual tasks to be performed before the product is completed, as diagrammed below:

The task times, shown in minutes, are the times that it takes one worker to perform that task for one unit of product. This line is staffed with six workers, two of whom are assigned to workstation D. Assume that each of the tasks (tasks A through E) are never split among multiple workers. Thus, the two workers doing task d work on individual units, each doing all of task D on the particular unit on which he or she is working. Assume that there is ample equipment so that all workers can perform their tasks.

Refer to the Process Diagram for a Five-Task Line. One of the two workers assigned to task D is equally competent at task C, and it is decided that this worker will work on both tasks C and D. (i.e., one worker is assigned to task C, one worker is assigned to task D, and one worker moves between tasks C and D.) This third worker moves between tasks C and D to maximize the output of the process. Management is contemplating adding a seventh experienced senior worker, as a so-called floater, to this line. This senior worker is fully cross-trained to do any of the five tasks and would move around freely, doing whatever was best to maximize the output of the process. What is the lines maximum output rate, in units per eight-hour day?

	a.	40 units/day
	b.	53.33 units/day
	c.	64 units/day
	d.	65.75 units/day
	e.	None of the answers are correct