Process and Bottleneck

Stage Capacities

A serial process has one capacity number for each stage.

highlighted = computed this step

Prep capacity

Prep can handle 6 units per hour. Motivation: capacity is the most a stage can finish in an hour.

Prep=6\text{Prep}=6
Stage capacitiesThe process is serial: every unit goes through Prep, Pack, then Ship.capacity per stageunits per hourPrep6Pack4Ship8

Pack capacity

Pack can handle 4 units per hour.

Pack=4\text{Pack}=4
Stage capacitiesThe process is serial: every unit goes through Prep, Pack, then Ship.capacity per stageunits per hourPrep6Pack4Ship8

Ship capacity

Ship can handle 8 units per hour.

Ship=8\text{Ship}=8
Stage capacitiesThe process is serial: every unit goes through Prep, Pack, then Ship.capacity per stageunits per hourPrep6Pack4Ship8

Serial process

Every unit must pass through Prep, Pack, and Ship. Interpretation: the slowest stage can limit the whole line.

Prep→Pack→Ship\text{Prep}\rightarrow\text{Pack}\rightarrow\text{Ship}
Stage capacitiesThe process is serial: every unit goes through Prep, Pack, then Ship.capacity per stageunits per hourPrep6Pack4Ship8