The machining department of an automobile engine manufacturing company uses more than a hundred machines, each operated by an operator with unique skills. When a batch of parts is completed on a machine, the batch is picked up for the next operation on another machine. Sometimes the batch of parts may be too heavy to carry by hand, and an overhead crane or a forklift truck moves the batch when the machines are available. After the last operation is completed, the batch is moved to a storeroom. The flow of parts is interrupted when a machine breaks down or operators are absent. In the event of repeated delays in the progress of a batch, urgent batches are prioritized, because it further delays the progress of other batches.
Design a system for the operation of the department to bring about purposefulness.