Question: Comfy Shoes Inc. builds shoes tailored to meet each individual customer's needs. Customers who visit the shop in downtown Boulder can choose one or more of the following custom-tailoring services. Customers receive their shoes in the mail within a week of their initial visit.
| Service |
Description |
Processing time |
Resource used |
| A. Walking Basics |
Take measurements for basic walking shoes |
12 min |
Attendant 1 |
| B. Walking Plus |
Choose specific design (material, color) |
12 min |
Attendant 2 |
| C. Running Basics |
Take measurements for tailor made running shoes |
10 min |
Attendant 3 |
| D. Running Advanced |
Consult physical therapist and obtain precise needs for running shoes. Also, choose specific design |
40 min |
Attendant 4 |
The company offers the following packages to their customers:
a. Package 1: Includes only Walking Basics (Service A)
b. Package 2: Includes Walking Basics and Walking Plus (Services A and B)
c. Package 3: Walking Basic, Walking Plus, and Running Basics (Services A, B, and C)
d. Package 4: All four services (A, B, C, and D)
Customers of Comfy Shoes visit the store at a rate of 40 customers per day. Of these, 35% buy Package 1, 20% buy Package 2, 10% buy Package 3, and 35% buy Package 4. The store operates 12 hours a day.
A) What is the implied utilization of each type of attendant (Attendant 1, Attendant 2, etc.)?
B) Which type of attendant (Attendant 1, Attendant 2, etc.) is the bottleneck?