Imagine US is a startup that offers high definition 3D prenatal ultrasounds for high-end customers. The service process includes five activities that are conducted in the sequence described below. (The time required for each activity is shown in parenthesis):
Activity 1: Welcome a patient and explain the procedure. (8 minutes)
Activity 2: Prep the patient (e.g., show them to the room, apply ultrasound gel). (5 minutes)
Activity 3: Take images. (14 minutes)
Activity 4: Analyze images. (12 minutes)
Activity 5: Discuss diagnostic with patient. (16 minutes)
At each location there are employees (servers) S1, S2, and S3. The assignment of tasks to servers is the following:
S1 does Activity 1
S2 does Activities 2 and 3
S3 does Activities 4 and Activity 5
Questions:
What is the capacity of this process (in customers per hour)?
Suppose each activity can be done by any server and any server can do any set of activities. However, each activity is done by only one server. For example, a feasible assignment includes: S1 does activities 1 and 5, S2 does activities 2 and 4, and S3 does activity 3. Of course, the original assignment of servers to activities is also feasible. What is the maximum capacity of the process (in customers per hour)?
Suppose 2 patients arrive every hour on average. What is the takt time, target manpower, how many workers will you need and how you assign activities to workers?