Consider a balanced line consisting of five single-machine stations with exponential process
times. Suppose the utilization is 75 percent and the line runs under the CONWlP protocol
(i.e., a new job is started each time a job is completed).
a. What is the WlP level in the line?
b. What is the cycle time as a percentage of To?
c. What happens to WIP, CT, and TH relative to the original system if you make each of the
following changes (one at a time)?
i. Increase the WIP level
ii. Decrease the variability of one station
iii. Decrease the capacity at one station
iv. Increase the capacity of all stations