A proposed synchronous transfer line will have 20 stations and will operate with an ideal cycle time of 0.5 min. All stations are expected to have an equal probability of breakdown, p = 0.01. The average downtime per breakdown is expected to be 5.0. An option under consideration is to divide the line into two stages, each stage having 10 stations, with a buffer storage zone between the stages. It has been decided that the storage capacity should be 20 units. The cost to operate the line is $96.00/hr. Installing the storage buffer would increase the line operating cost by $12.00/hr. Ignoring material and tooling costs, determine
(a) Line efficiency, production rate, and unit cost for the one-stage configuration, and
(b) Line efficiency, production rate, and unit cost for the optional two-stage configuration.