Q1 (Process Analysis) - An MSU startup is contemplating a new process to refurbish and recycle rundown equipments. The five steps to the process are:
Step	Description	Time Required per equipment
1	Register for the process	10.0 minutes
2	Strip off bad parts	15.0 minutes
3	Scrub and clean parts	8.0 minutes
4	Insert new parts	10.0 minutes
5	Polish and deliver	12.0 minutes
One employee will be assigned to each step. Employees will work a 40-hour week (no breaks) and rotate jobs each week. City of Lansing requires 200 refurbished equipments per week but they are unsure that the MSU startup can deliver.
a. What is the processing rate for each step, in Equipments/Hour?
Step	Processing Rate (equipments/hour)
1
2
3
4
5
b. What is the bottleneck?
c. Assuming the process runs as designed, what is the maximum weekly output?
d. List three alternative solutions that can achieve throughput of 200 equipments per week and how might they be accomplished? Which of the 3 solutions do you think is the best (and why)?