MG/IE 3400 Lab 2: Problem-Solving and Improvement
C-Term 2003
Due: Monday, January 27 at 4 p.m.
Lab #2 Assignment
For this lab assignment, you will be continuing your role as a consulting group hired by TimeWise
to improve their processes. As your second step, you will be proposing several specific changes
to the operations, designed to move them down the path toward lean processes.
The lab report that you turn in should be in the form of a Powerpoint presentation, which you will
be presenting to the CEO of TimeWise (same as before … Sharon Johnson). Please print out
the presentation and turn in a hard copy (you can do this in the form of handouts to save paper)
as well as post your file to the digital dropbox (If you’ve never done this before, please let me
know. Remember you need to both add the file, and send it).
The presentation should propose specific solutions to reduce lead time at Timewise. Two specific
solutions that should be considered are:
(1) How to assemble the product to better balance the line, and
(2) How to improve the process flow.
You may make other suggestions as well.
In developing the presentation and describing these solutions, you should follow the first four
steps in the 7-step process. We will test out some of your solutions in our next lab to see how
well our results compare to what is predicted. In particular, your presentation should outline:
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What the problem is and why it is important (theme selection)
Data that explains why the current process is problematic (use data gathered from the
lab last week as a starting point, as well as your capacity analysis from this session)
Root cause analysis that identifies the underlying causes of the problem (using fishbone
diagrams is encouraged, but make sure you draw conclusions)
Your proposed solution and its expected impact (How you will measure that an
improvement has occurred once the solution is implemented, and your prediction about
the level of improvement).
In addition, to help you prepare for the exam, each group should turn in a solution to Problem 4
on p. 199 of your textbook. For this problem, each member of the group should use a different
heuristic to balance the line (longest task, most following tasks, positional weight). For each
heuristic solution, calculate the efficiency of the line balance. How does this problem compare to
developing a line balancing solution for Timewise? Reflect on the differences in your writeup.
This section of the report can be handwritten, but should be attached to the hardcopy of the
presentation that you turn in (i.e., you don’t need to submit this portion of the assignment via the
digital dropbox).