Peter's Paper Clips uses a three-stage production process: cutting wire to prescribed lengths, inner bending, and outer bending.
The following rates apply:
Cutting wire to prescribed lengths 150 pieces per minute
Inner bending 140 pieces per minute
Outer bending 110 pieces per minute
Determine the hourly capacity of each process stage and the number of machines needed to meet an output rate of 30,000 units per hour. How does facility layout impact your numerical analysis and process efficiency? Explain.