Chapter 6

Question 1

What’s the purpose of process-flow analysis?

Answer 1

Viewing and analyzing the transformation process as a sequence of steps connecting inputs to output.

Question 2

What’s meant by process thinking?

Answer 2

Process Thinking: all work can be seen as a process:

Question 3

Describe the cross-functional value of thinking in terms of the horizontal organization.

Answer 3

ops decisions are cross functional in nature. decisions impact other functions. complex systematic decisions are often undertaken by cross functional teams.

Systems thinking requires cross-functional teams to include all affected functions

Question 4

What is Little’s Law? What does it do for OM?

Answer 4

Relates number of items in the system to arrival rate and length of time in the system
Formula:

I = T x R

I = average number of things in the system
T = average throughput time 
R = average flow rate into the process

Question 5

How is process capacity determined?

Answer 5

Capacity of a system = capacity of the most constraining resource
This resource is called a ‘bottleneck.

Question 6

How is process flow rate determined?

Answer 6

The flow rate of a process is the minimum of:
Supply
Demand
Capacity

Question 7

How is process throughput time calculated?

Answer 7

It needs to be in the same unit of time as flow time.

I (Avg # of things in system) / R (Avg flow rate into the process) = T (Avg Throughput Time)

Question 8

Describe the conventional symbols used in a flow-process chart.

Answer 8

Circle - Operation

Square - Inspection

• Arrow- Transportation

Upside down Triangle- Storage

D shape- Delay

Question 9

In a basic flowchart, what does the box or rectangle mean? The diamond symbol

Answer 9

Ovals- Start/End

Boxes - Steps or tasks

Diamonds - Decisions or inspections

Arrows - Illustrate flow