Sam's Skateboard Company produces skateboards that are custom built to user specifications. No two skateboards are alike. The overall manufacturing sequence for a skateboard is divided into three main phases -- part fabrication, assembly, and testing.
The company currently operates two producting lines in its main factory. Line one has part fabrication station, two assembly stations, and one testing station. Line two has on part fabrication station, one assembly station, nad oen testing station.
Each station has capacity 1. The processing time (in hours) for single skateboard at each station is shown in the below diagram.
1. Assuming there is an infinite supply of skateboard orders and there are sizable buffers between each pair of stations for storing work in process, about how often, on average, will a finished skateboard arrive at the destination? Write the answer in the form: "Every X hours"
2. Is there a way that overall throughput can be increased by relocating emplyees to different stations int eh factory (i.e. by swapping numbers vertically (but not horizontally) to different boxes in the diagram but not changing hte locations of the arrows or boxes?) Explain.
