An insurance claims processing company moves paperwork among four process steps. Each process step is performed in
Question:
An insurance claims processing company moves paperwork among four process steps. Each process step is performed in four separate areas. Each area is located on the same side of a corridor with a distance of 42 feet between each area. We'll call this existing arrangement Layout 1.
Layout 1
Area A | ←42 ft→ | Area B | ←42 ft→ | Area C | ←42 ft→ | Area D |
← Corridor → | ||||||
In an effort to become more efficient, the company is looking to move two of these areas across the corridor. The distance across the corridor is 12 feet and the distance between areas down the corridor is still 42 feet. (For example, going from A to B is 42 feet; C to D is also 42 feet. A to C is 12 feet; B to D is also 12 feet. And for the purposes of this problem, the distance from A to D is 44 feet, as is the distance from B to C.) We'll call this proposed arrangement Layout 2.
Layout 2
Area A | ←42 ft→ | Area B | ||
↓12 ft ↑ | ← Corridor → | ↓ 12 ft ↑ | ||
Area C | ←42 ft→ | Area D | ||
The table below shows the load between areas.
Trips (Load) Between Areas | ||||
From To | Area A | Area B | Area C | Area D |
Area A | 0 | 194 | 126 | 174 |
Area B | 117 | 0 | 57 | 143 |
Area C | 243 | 134 | 0 | 155 |
Area D | 122 | 29 | 57 | 0 |
What is the load X distance for Layout 1?
What is the load X distance for Layout 2?
If the company wanted to minimize the total amount of daily walking distance required, which layout would be better?
Layout 1 | ||
Layout 2 |
