A large pharma. company has recently gotten feedback that one of their vaccines will have an increase in demand for syringe based product instead of vial based product. In anticipation of this increase in demand you as the lead process engineer for the area have been assigned to analyze the process and define recommendations for improvements that will ensure the line can meet demand and also potentially reduce costs. Demand for the syringe product is expected to be at 52 million syringes per year. The production facility is run 24/7 all year long except for a 3 week shutdown in the winter and a 2 week shutdown in the summer each year to do site maintenance. The operators on the floor work 2X12 hr. shifts with 1 hr. for lunch and 3X20 minute breaks per shift