Consider the following batch-flow process consisting of three process steps performed by three machines:
Work is processed in batches at each step. Before a batch is processed at a step, the machine at that step must be set up. (During a setup, the machine is unable to process any product.) Assume that there is a dedicated setup operator for each machine (i.e., there is always someone available to perform a setup at each machine.)
a. What is the capacity of step I if the batch size is 35 parts?
b. For what batch sizes is step I (2, 3) the bottleneck?