Chocolate Delights Company produces baking chocolate for use by commercial organizations.

The company is analyzing its operations in preparation for reconfiguring its factory setup. Currently, each batch of chocolate requires the following processes: Function Time (Minutes) Receiving ingredients from vendors 90 Transporting ingredients to stockroom 100 Ingredient storage 6,400 Transporting ingredients to production area 75 Mixing ingredients 400 Cooking ingredients 180 Cooling chocolate 90 Packaging chocolate 160 Moving finished goods to warehouse 105 Storing finished goods in warehouse 20,500 Moving finished goods to trucks 150

Required: a) Calculate the total cycle time necessary to manufacture a batch of chocolate.

b) Identify the value-added functions c) Identify the non-value-added functions

c) Calculate the manufacturing cycle efficiency (MCE) of this process.

d) Assume that a management consultant has established a goal that Chocolate Delights Company increase its MCE to 5 percent or greater. Identify two possible areas in which the company could reduce its cycle time.