Process Flow Analysis

Question 1

UTILIZATION

Answer 1

How effectively are we using capacity?

Question 2

RESOURCE

Answer 2

Perform activities and have capacities. A resource may perform multiple activities. Eg. Cashier

Question 3

FLOW UNIT

Answer 3

Items that go through the process

Question 4

BUFFER

Answer 4

A queue fir flow units to wait. Triangle shape

Question 5

DECISION POINTS

Answer 5

Point that directs flow into one of many activities depending on the decision made. Diamond Shape

Question 6

THEORETICAL FLOW TIME
(Flow time without clarification)

Answer 6

We ignore buffers/decision points. Not always equal to Actual Flow time.

Question 7

CAPACITY RATE OF A RESOURCE

Answer 7

Maximum output a single resource (e.g., machine or worker) can produce in a given time period. Computed for each resource.

Question 8

CAPACITY RATE OF A PROCESS

Answer 8

Maximum output an entire process can produce, determined by the slowest (bottleneck) resource in the process.

Question 9

BOTTLENECK

Answer 9

Resource with the lowest capacity rate. Resource with the highest unit load. Can be more than one.

Question 10

RESOURCE POOL

Answer 10

Group of similar resources (e.g., workers, machines, or tools) that work together to perform a specific task or set of tasks in a process.

Question 11

UNIT LOAD OF A RESOURCE

Answer 11

Amount of time a resource spends to complete one unit of work, including all tasks and activities required for that unit. It is typically measured in time per unit (e.g., minutes/unit).

Question 12

Throughput rate or Capacity rate of the process

Answer 12

1/Unit Load X Time

Question 13

Utilization of a resource

Answer 13

Capacity rate of a process / capacoty rate of a resource X 100

Question 14

Throughput Rate Rule of Thumb

Answer 14

Throuput is the minimum between input rate and capacity, in other words chosee the smallest one.