Process Analysis
Process Analysis
Process Metrics
Process Analysis
▪ How to start?
1st step in analyzing a process is to describe it. We
need to have a good understanding of the current
process
Activities
Activity times
Sequence of activities, i.e. flow
Draw process flow chart
Describing Process – Flow Chart
▪ Process flowcharting is the use of a diagram to
present the major elements of a process
▪ Single Stage
One machine
▪ Multiple stages
Multiple machines connected in sequence
Four step process
Task C,
5 min/unit
Capacity = 15 units/hour
Doubling the resources at a work station effectively cuts the time at that
station in half. If “n” parallel operations are added, the time of the combined
workstation operation will equal 1/n times the original time
Four-step process
Capacity = 20 units/hour
Parallel Processing
Parallel process: Tasks that can be performed at the same time. Outputs from
parallel process are typically integrated into one product at some point in the
process flow.
30 seconds/unit C
20 seconds / unit
10 seconds/unit
Output = 4 chairs per day (assuming single shift, 8 hours per shift)
1 2 3
Task C is the bottleneck, it limits the output of the process. Task A and B could
produce greater output, but that would result in WIP inventory building up in front
of task C indefinitely, with no increase in process output. When the physical
space for holding WIP in front of task C is full, we say Workstations A and B
are BLOCKED. Task D has to wait for Task C’s five minute cycle to do its
work. We say Task D is a STARVED task.
Capacity Calculation
Measuring Process
Performance
▪ Assessing efficiency
Labour utilization
Useful time spent by the workers as a % of the total
time for which they are available
Machine utilization (U)
% of time that a machine is running and productive
U = (t*AP)/h
where t = machining time for one component
AP = actual production per shift
h = number of hours per shift
Note: While calculating machine utilization we should consider set up time as well
As time the machine is actively producing output
Labour Utilization
OR
Labor content per cycle = (2+4+5+3)/(5)(4) = 70%
Labour utilization for Task A: (2/5)*100 = 40%; Task B=80%; Task C=100%,
Task D=60%
Labour Utilization Formula
Average Inventory
▪ Average Flow time = ----------------------------------------
Flow Rate (or Average demand)