The current manufacturing cell consists of 188 CNC
machines working in three shifts. Each shift needs 23
operators to attend these machines. Therefore, each
operator is currently assigned to handle eight machines at
a time. The current number of machines which one
operator can consecutively handle was not derived from
any calculation but merely from judgment. As a result, an
operator idle time at the end of each cycle can be
expected. Furthermore, the production line plans to
increase more machines in the cell. The management does
not only want to increase any more operators but also
expect to double a number of machines assigned to each
of the operator. Again, this number is from imagination.
Thus, a feasibility study must be performed.