Little Richard Laboratories (LRL) is a blood sample testing lab. LRL’s testing process consists of four steps carried out by four technicians; Step 1 is carried out by Technician1, Step 2 by Technician2, Step 3 by Technician3, and finally Step 4 by Technician4. Each blood sample has to go through all 4 steps. Little Richard hired you as a process consultant. After initial analysis, you find the following:

Step 1 takes 6 minutes, Step 2 takes 3 minutes, Step 3 takes 2 minutes, and Step 4 takes 6 minute.

a) Identify the bottleneck(s). What is the capacity of Little Richard Laboratories (in blood samples per hour)?

Little Richard decides to cross-train Technicians 1 and 2. Now Technician1 can do not only Step 1 but also Step 2. Likewise, Technician 2 can do Steps 1 and 2.
Also, Little Richard cross-trains Technicians 3 and 4. Now Technician 3 can do not only Step 3 but also Step 4. Technician 4 can do Steps 3 and 4 too.

b) Identify the bottleneck(s). What is the capacity of Little Richard Laboratories (in blood samples per hour)?

It turns out Technicians1 and 2 hate each other and they don’t want to cross-train each other. So Little Richard decides to cross-train Technicians 1 and 4. Now Technician1 can do not only Step 1 but also Step 4. Likewise, Technician 4 can do Steps 1 and 4.
Also, Little Richard cross-trains Technicians 2 and 3. Now Technician 2 can do not only Step 2 but also Step 3. Technician 3 can do Steps 2 and 3 too.

c) Identify the bottleneck(s). What is the capacity of Little Richard Laboratories (in blood samples per hour)?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Answer to question a Bottleneck step is the one which takes maximum time which are Step 1 and Step 4 ... View the full answer