A company is setting up an assembly line to produce 192 units per 8-hour shift. The following table identifies the work elements, times and immediate predecessors:
(a) What is the desired cycle time?
(b) What is the theoretical minimum number of stations?
(c) Balance the line using the longest-task-time heuristic.
(d) What is the efficiency of this line-layout?
Answer: (a) Desired cycle time is 150 second per unit.
(b) 4.8 (i.e. 5) stations.
(c) Allocations: S1 - A, B, D (145 secs); S2 - G,E (140 secs); S3 - H (145 secs); S4 - I, F (145 secs); S5 - C, J (145 secs).
(d) Efficiency = 96 per cent