Chapter 22 Work Center Problems

1. Use the assignment method to determine the best way to assign workers to jobs, given the
following cost information. Compute the total cost for your assignment plan.

2. Rework Problem 1, treating the numbers in the table as profits instead of costs. Compute
the total profit.
3. Assign trucks to delivery routes so that total costs are minimized, given the cost data
shown. What is the total cost?

4. Develop an assignment plan that will minimize processing costs, given the information
shown, and interpret your answer.

5. Use the assignment method to obtain a plan that will minimize the processing costs in the
following table under these conditions:
a. The combination 2-D is undesirable.
b. The combinations 1-A and 2-D are undesirable.

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6. The following table contains information concerning four jobs that are awaiting processing
at a work center.

a. Sequence the jobs using (1) FCFS, (2) SPT, (3) EDD, and (4) CR. Assume the list is by order
of arrival.
b. For each of the methods in part a, determine (1) the average job flow time, (2) the
average tardiness, and (3) the average number of jobs at the work center.
c. Is one method superior to the others? Explain.

7. Using the information presented in the following table, identify the processing sequence
that would result using (1) FFS, (2) SPT, (3) EDD, and (4) CR. For each method, determine
(1) average job flow time, (2) average job tardiness, and (3) average number of jobs in
the system. Jobs are listed in order of arrival. (Hint: First determine the total job time for
each job by computing the total processing time for the job and then adding in the setup
time. All times and due dates are in hours.)

8. The following table shows orders to be processed at a machine shop as of 8 a.m.

Monday. The jobs have different operations they must go through. Processing times are in
days. Jobs are listed in order of arrival.
a. Determine the processing sequence at the first work center using each of these rules:
(1) FFS, (2) S/O
b. Compute the effectiveness of each rule using each of these measures: (1) average flow
time, (2) average number of jobs at the work center.

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9. A wholesale grocery distribution center uses a two-step process to fill orders. Tomorrow's
work will consist of filling the seven orders shown. Determine a job sequence that will
minimize the time required to fill the orders

10. The times required to complete each of eight jobs in a two-machine flow shop are shown
in the table that follows. Each job must follow the same sequence, beginning with Machine
A and moving to Machine B.

a. Determine a sequence that will minimize makespan time.

b. Construct a chart of the resulting sequence, and find Machine B's idle time.

c. For the sequence determined in part a, how much would Machine B's idle time be
reduced by splitting the last two jobs in half?

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11. Given the operation times provided:
a. Develop a job sequence that minimizes idle time at the two work centers.
b. Construct a chart of the activities at the two centers, and determine each one's idle
time, assuming no other activities are involved.
c. For the sequence determined in part a, how much would Machine B's idle time be
reduced by splitting the last two jobs in half?

12. A shoe-repair operation uses a two-step sequence that all jobs in a certain category
follow. All jobs can be split in half at both stations. For the group of jobs listed:
a. Find the sequence that will minimize total completion time.
b. Determine the amount of idle time for Workstation B.
c. What jobs are candidates for splitting? Why? If they were split, how much would
idle time and makespan time be reduced?

13. The following schedule was prepared by the production manager of Marymount Metal
Shop. Determine a schedule that will result in the earliest completion of all jobs on this list.

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 14. The production manager must determine the processing sequence for seven jobs through
the grinding and then deburring departments. The same sequence will be followed in both
departments. The manager's goal is to move the jobs through the two departments as
quickly as possible. The manager of the deburring department wants the SPT rule to be
used to minimize the work-in-process inventory in her department.

a. Prepare a schedule using SPT for the grinding department.

b. What is the flow time in the grinding department for the SPT sequence? What is the
total time needed to process the seven jobs in both the grinding and deburring
departments?
c. Determine the processing sequence that would result using the S/O rule.

16. Given the information in the following table, determine the processing sequence that would
result using the S/O rule.

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17. Given the following information on job times and due dates, determine the optimal processing
sequence using (1) FCFS, (2) SPT, (3) EDD, and (4) CR. For each method, find the average job
flow time and the average job tardiness. Jobs are listed in order of arrival.

18. 18. The Budd Gear Co. specializes in heat-treating gears for automobile companies. At 8
a.m., when Budd's shop opened, five orders (listed in order of arrival) were waiting to be
processed.

a. If the earliest due date rule is used, what sequence should be used?

b. What will be the average job tardiness?

c. What will be the average number of jobs in the system?

d. Would the SPT rule produce better results in terms of job tardiness?

19. The following table contains order-dependent setup times for three jobs. Which processing
sequence will minimize the total setup time?

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20. The following table contains order-dependent setup times for three jobs. Which processing
sequence will minimize the total setup time?

21. The following table contains order-dependent setup times for four jobs. For safety reasons,
Job C cannot follow Job A, nor can Job A follow Job C. Determine the processing sequence that
will minimize the total setup time. (Hint: There are 12 alternatives.)

22. Given the following information on planned and actual inputs and outputs for a service center,
determine the work backlog for each period. The beginning backlog is 12 hours of work. The
figures shown are standard hours of work.

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23. Given the following data on inputs and outputs at a work center, determine the cumulative
deviation and the backlog for each time period. The beginning backlog is 7.

24. Determine the minimum number of workers needed, and a schedule for the following staffing
requirements, giving workers two consecutive days off per cycle (not including Sunday).

25. Determine the minimum number of workers needed, and a schedule for the following staffing
requirements, giving workers two consecutive days off per cycle (not including Sunday).

26. Determine the minimum number of workers needed, and a schedule for the following staffing
requirements, giving workers two consecutive days off per cycle (not including Sunday).

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