Suppose you are given the linear process depicted below. Numbers in parentheses indicate throughput capacities. No buffers exist between stations, so blocking & starvation rules apply.

Task A (5) ---> Task B (6) ---> Task C (4) ---> Task D (3) ---> Task E (6)

1. Suppose you could hire an additional worker, which would double the throughput capacity for any single task. To which task should you assign this worker?

Group of answer choices

A

B

C

D

E

2. Following the previous question, what would the actual throughput rate out of Task E be after hiring the new worker?

Group of answer choices

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

3. Suppose you have two workers performing the same task in parallel. Each worker can handle one order at a time. Worker A can process an order in 0.1 hours; worker B is slower, taking 0.25 hours per order.

What is the throughput capacity of both workers operating in combination?

Group of answer choices

Less than 1

Greater than or equal to 1 but less than 5

Greater than or equal to 5 but less than 10

Greater than or equal to 10 but less than 15

Greater than or equal to 15