#1: Swiss Watch Problem

The Swiss Watch Corporation manufactures watches on a conveyor belt with six stations. One worker stands at each station and performs the following tasks:

Station	Tasks	Processing Time (seconds)
Preparation 1	Heat-stake lens to bezel Inspect bezel Clean switch holes Install set switch in bezel Total time for A	14 26 10 20 70
Preparation 2	Check switch travel Clean inside bezel Install module in bezel Total time for B	23 20 25 23+20+25=
Battery installation	Install battery clip on module Heat-stake battery clip on module Install 2 batteries in module Check switch Total time for C	20 15 22 13 70
Band installation	Install band Inspect band Total time for D	45 15 60
Packaging preparation	Cosmetic inspection Final test Total time for E	20 55 75
Watch packaging	Place watch and cuff in display box Place cover in display box base Place owners manual, box into tub Total time for F	20 10 30 60

a. Calculate production capacity for all resources. What is the bottleneck in this process?

b. What is the capacity, in watches per hour, of the assembly line?

c. Assuming all workers are paid at rate of $15.00 per hour per worker, what is the average labor cost for assembling one watch (in the long term)?

d. Assuming demand is more than the process capacity, what are the utilizations of the six workers?

e. How many minutes of idle time will the worker in station C have in one hour?

f. These six workers begin their workday at 8:00a.m. and work steadily until 4:00p.m. at 4:00p.m., no new watch parts are introduced into station A and the conveyor belt continues until all of the work-in-process inventory has been processed and leaves station F. Thus, each morning the workers begin with an empty system. What time will it be (round to minute) when the assembly line has processed 150 watches on any given day?