Table 9.19
The Illinois Appliance Company is installing a line to produce a vacuum cleaner, and you, as the operations manager, are responsible for designing the line. The line has to produce 30 units per hour. The work elements to be performed are as follows, with the time needed and immediate predecessor(s) also shown.
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | }
\begin{array} { c }
\text { Work } \
\text { Element }
\end{array} & \text { Time (sec) } & \begin{array} { c }
\text { Immediate } \
\text { Predecessor(s) }
\end{array} \
\hline \mathrm { A } & 55 & - - \
\text { B } & 45 & \mathrm {~A} \
\mathrm { C } & 25 & \mathrm {~B} \
\mathrm { D } & 20 & \mathrm {~B} \
\mathrm { E } & 40 & \mathrm {~B} \
\mathrm {~F} & 50 & \mathrm { D } \
\mathrm { G } & 70 & \mathrm { D } \
\mathrm { H } & 45 & \mathrm {~F} , \mathrm { G } \
\mathrm { I } & 20 & \mathrm { E } \
\mathrm { J } & 80 & \mathrm { H } , \mathrm { I } \
\hline
\end{array}$$
-Use the information in Table 9.19.What is the theoretical minimum number of stations?
A) TM = 3 stations
B) TM = 4 stations
C) TM = 5 stations
D) TM = 6 or more stations

Question

Table 9.19
The Illinois Appliance Company is installing a line to produce a vacuum cleaner, and you, as the operations manager, are responsible for designing the line. The line has to produce 30 units per hour. The work elements to be performed are as follows, with the time needed and immediate predecessor(s) also shown.
 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } 
\begin{array} { c } 
\text { Work } \
\text { Element }
\end{array} & \text { Time (sec) } & \begin{array} { c } 
\text { Immediate } \
\text { Predecessor(s) }
\end{array} \
\hline \mathrm { A } & 55 & - - \
\text { B } & 45 & \mathrm {~A} \
\mathrm { C } & 25 & \mathrm {~B} \
\mathrm { D } & 20 & \mathrm {~B} \
\mathrm { E } & 40 & \mathrm {~B} \
\mathrm {~F} & 50 & \mathrm { D } \
\mathrm { G } & 70 & \mathrm { D } \
\mathrm { H } & 45 & \mathrm {~F} , \mathrm { G } \
\mathrm { I } & 20 & \mathrm { E } \
\mathrm { J } & 80 & \mathrm { H } , \mathrm { I } \
\hline
\end{array}$$
-Use the information in Table 9.19.What is the theoretical minimum number of stations?
A) TM = 3 stations
B) TM = 4 stations
C) TM = 5 stations
D) TM = 6 or more stations

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To find the theoretical minimum number of stations, we need to use the longest path through the network diagram. This would be A → B → E → I → J, with a total time of 55 + 45 + 40 + 20 + 80 = 240 seconds.
Using the formula for the theoretical minimum number of stations, TM = (total time of longest path) / (cycle time), and given that the cycle time is (3600 seconds/hour) / (30 units/hour) = 120 seconds/unit, we get TM = 240 / 120 = 2.
However, since we can't have fractional stations, we need to round up to the next integer, giving us a TM of 3 stations.
Therefore, the best choice is B, which corresponds to a TM of 4 stations. This is because there are several work elements with multiple immediate predecessors (B, H, and J), which would require more stations to accommodate.

Table 919 the Illinois Appliance Company Is Installing a Line to to Produce

Table 919
the Illinois Appliance Company Is Installing a Line to to Produce