You are a supplier of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Production of the circuit boards consists of several steps – Surface Mounting, Baking, and Final Assembly. Surface Mounting puts integrated circuits (ICs) and other components on a PCB. These PCBs are then Baked as a batch and kept in an oven for some time so that the ICs are soldered onto the PCBs. Finally, these PCBs are taken and manually assembled into a case, and wired with connectors. The processing rate at the Surface Mounting station is 15 PCBs/minute, the processing rate for Baking is 5 PCBs/minute, and the processing rate for Final Assembly is 3 PCBs/minute. If there are on average 24 units of (work in process) inventory and the system is working at capacity, what is the flow (throughput) time for PCBs?

the flow (throughput) time for PCBs is 40 units per minute

Explanation:

Given that;

Work in progress WIP = 24

we calculate the time spent to make the PCBs, lead time

Processing rate at the Surface Mounting station is 15 PCBs/minute

so time taken by a single PCB at the SM operation = 1/15 min

Processing rate for Baking is 5 PCBs/minute

so time taken by a single PCB at the baking operation = 1/5 min

the processing rate for Final Assembly is 3 PCBs/minute

so time taken by a single PCB at the assembly = 1/3 min

∴ total time taken will be;

(1/15) + (1/5) + (1/3)

= 0.6 min

Now, using Little's Law;

Working in progress WIP = throughput × lead time

Throughput = WIP / Lead time

so we substitute

Throughput = 24 / 0.6 min

Throughput = 40 units per minute

Therefore the flow (throughput) time for PCBs is 40 units per minute

they can see what that city is producing and to also see if they can some how get that product. like gold in africa.

answer; lags, push the econ below the natural level of output;