To improve the current workflow in the plant Shuzworld needs change the facility layout so that production is more efficient. In order to do this they need to balance the amount of time spent at each workstation so that each employee is maximizing their time. According to the information provided 48 units of work boots are required for each 8-hour shift. Each shift totals 480 minutes divided by 48 units is 10 minutes, which is the maximum amount of time each task (workstation) should take in order to meet production goals. Currently Shuzworld uses 8 workstations as follows: Task A requires 10 minutes, task B requires 6 minutes, task C requires 3 minutes, task D requires 8 minutes, task E requires 3 minutes, task F requires 4 minutes, task G requires 3 minutes, and task H requires 9 minutes. The predecessors for each task are also listed as follows: B and C follow A, D follows B and C, E and F follows D, G follows E and F, and H follows G. Based upon the previous calculation of a maximum of 10 minutes at each workstation Shuzworld should reorganize their workstations to come as close to the 10 minutes as possible while still being efficient. I found that the best way to organize the assembly line is to have 5 workstations. Workstation 1 includes task A and will take 10 minutes, workstation 2 includes tasks B and C and will take 9 minutes, workstation 3 includes task D and will take 8 minutes, workstation 4 includes tasks E, F, and G and will take 10 minutes, and workstation 5 includes task H and will take 9 minutes. This layout was determined using the assembly line balancing tool.
The assembly line balancing tool placed the tasks into 5 workstations instead of 8 creating a much higher efficiency rate at each workstation. Each station gets up to 10 minutes so the efficiency for workstation 1 is 100%, workstation 2 is 90%, workstation 3 is 80%, workstation 4 is 100%, and workstation 5 is 90%. The overall efficiency rate