3. The employees that work in the assembly area sometimes complain that they are not able to build the scheduled bikes in a single 8-hour shift. They work from 8 am to 5 pm, are given an hour off for lunch, and two 15-minute breaks during the day. Given the time that it takes to get materials and get started in the morning, and the time to clean up and shut down in the evening, they claim they only realize 7 productive hours in the day. The standard is for them to assemble 4 bikes each productive hour, or 28 bikes per day. On some days orders are taken for over 28 bikes. What changes should they make in the scheduling process so that they are able to promise the 10-day lead time to customers? Show an example of your new assembly schedule with a comparison to the actual deliveries using the current orders. Fast Cycles is a startup that makes an electric assist touring bicycle. The bike is designed to cruise at 30 mph and can travel 150 miles (or further with pedal assist) on a single battery charge. Users find it ideal for food delivery services since it can be equipped with a shelved storage attachment that can hold items up to 18 inches in width. The rugged design has special shock absorbers on the front and rear that make for a comfortable ride on roads with tar strips and other ruts and potholes.

The frame of the bike is fabricated from aluminum tubes which are cut and welded together using special jigs that were designed by Fast Cycles. Each frame is made by skilled workers in the Fast Cycles factory. Other parts, such as the wheel/tire assembly, brakes, motor, battery, electronic controller, and drive mechanism are purchased from vendors that specialize in these items. The shelved storage attachment module is an option that can be purchased with the bike.

It is also fabricated in the Fast Cycles factory.