QUESTION 7.

7a) Explain the purpose of process mapping.

7b) The following paragraph describes a pit stop in an F1 race. Draw a process map of this activity that describes the roles of the different people and how they interact (that is a process map with swim lanes).

An F1 Pit Stop

A) The pit stop starts by inflating the new tyres with nitrogen. Nitrogen is used instead of air as it copes with the temperature changes better.

B) Then the tyres are placed in a heating blanket that will bring the tyres up to an optimal temperature. At this temperature they are very sticky and hold the car on the road very well.

C) During the race, the pit stop activities start a few minutes before, the tyres are removed from their heating blanket, tools are manned, the pit crew take their positions.

D) The driver pulls into the pit lane, slows down and stops at a pre-defined point, exactly.

E) The controller lowers a brake sign down, about 6 inches in front of the of the drivers face. It has brake written on both sides of the sign in case it is presented the wrong way around and is on a long pole in order to allow the controller to stand back out of the way of the other team members.

F) Whilst the pit stop is under way the driver has to press the brake down hard and hold the steering wheel tight in order to ensure the wheels dont move or spin. This is quite tough as the tyres are being pulled and pushed about by the pit crew.

G) Two trolley-men place large levers under the front and the rear of the car and lift the cars up manually. As the tyres are very hot and will actually stick to the tarmac in a few seconds thus the trolley-men have to be very quick. They hold the car up for the duration of the pit stop, lowering each lever when the front or rears tyres have been changed. The rear tyres are heavier and bigger then the front tyres and usually takes slightly longer to change. This allows the front trolley man to move out of the way before the race car drives off when the brake sign is lifted up from the drivers view.

H) The tyres are changed by four tyre changers. They each approach the car with a pneumatic gun, in one hand and the new tyre in the other hand. The pneumatic gun is a specialist tool that will undo the specially designed wheel nuts in fractions of a second. The old tyres are removed, new tyres are replaced and the wheel nuts are gunned in. Sometimes there are three men on each wheel; one gunning the tyres, one removing the old tyre, one placing the new tyre in position.

I) Whilst this is happening the car is refuelled. This task is completed by another team member, holding a big plastic can, with a very wide nozzle to allow fuel to flow quickly into the tank.

J) Another team member cleans the drivers visor on his helmet and gives the driver a few sips of water as refreshment.

K) Each team member moves out of the way when his task is finished.

L) When all is done, the controller raises the brake sign; the driver accelerates away from the

pit.