4. (17 points)

a) Following are the definitions of a constraint and a bottleneck from our text (Krajewski, Operations Management Processes and Supply Chains, 13ed, Pearson).

Constraint Any factor that limits the performance of a system and restricts its output.

Bottleneck A capacity constraint resource whose available capacity limits the organizations ability to meet the product volume, product mic or demand fluctuations required by the marketplace.

Answer these questions:

1. For a given operation, provide an example of a constraint and an example of a bottleneck using these definitions. This should illustrate the difference between these two terms.
2. Will every process have a constraint? Explain or illustrate
3. Will every process have a bottleneck? Explain or illustrate.

b) You and three friends are preparing a mailing for your organization. There are four steps in the process and each one of you will perform a step and each step will be performed by only one of your group. After doing this for twenty minutes, you want to determine how many envelopes can be completed in the next hour. The steps are as follows: fold the insert which takes 15 seconds, place the insert into the envelope and seal the envelope which takes 20 seconds, place the mailing labels on the envelope which takes 30 seconds, stamp the envelope and ensure everything is correct which takes 26 seconds. How many envelopes can your group complete in one hour?

c) Now suppose for the process in b), the time to complete the last step to ensure everything is correct has been improved and now it only takes 24 seconds. How many envelopes can your group complete in one hour now.