Question: Three different machines are available for machining a special type of part for 1 hour of each day. The processing-time data is as follows:
Machine Time to Machine One Part
1 20 ± 4 seconds
2 10 ± 3 seconds
3 15 ± 5 seconds
Assume that parts arrive by conveyor at a rate of one every 15 ± 5 seconds for the first 3 hours of the day. Machine 1 is available for the first hour, machine 2 for the second hour, and machine 3 for the third hour of each day. How many parts are produced in a day? How large a storage area is needed for parts waiting for a machine? Do parts "pile up" at any particular time? Why?