Consider the system composed of four processes linked by a conveyor belt.There is no storage between these processes pictured below and market demand of 40 units per hour drives the conveyor belt.Assume that no defective units are made.Which statement is best?
A) The average time a unit spends in Process 1 is 2 and a half minutes.
B) The average time a unit spends in Process 2 is 5 minutes.
C) The flow time for a unit through the entire process is 33 minutes.
D) The flow rate through the entire process is 160 units per hour.

Question

Consider the system composed of four processes linked by a conveyor belt.There is no storage between these processes pictured below and market demand of 40 units per hour drives the conveyor belt.Assume that no defective units are made.Which statement is best? 
A) The average time a unit spends in Process 1 is 2 and a half minutes. 
B) The average time a unit spends in Process 2 is 5 minutes. 
C) The flow time for a unit through the entire process is 33 minutes. 
D) The flow rate through the entire process is 160 units per hour.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The flow time is the total amount of time it takes for one unit to go through all four processes. In this case, the total working time for all four processes is 13 minutes (3 + 2 + 5 + 3 = 13). Therefore, the flow time for one unit is 13 minutes. If market demand is 40 units per hour, then the flow rate through the entire process is 40 units per hour. Therefore, the correct choice is (C).

Consider the System Composed of Four Processes Linked by a Conveyor