Name Shahab Murtaza

Sap Id 70113857

Subject: Operation Management

Section: BBA-A

Submitted to: Sir Dr. Usman Akbar

Assignment no. 03
 Case Study

Question 1. What analytical techniques are available to help company like Wheeled Coach deal
with layout problems?
Answer: Every manufacturing company like Wheeled Coach must consider the best layout strategy
that will fit their business in order to maximize profit. Layout design must achieve higher utilization of
space, equipment and people, improve the flow of information, materials or people, improve employee
morale and safer working conditions, improve customer/client interaction, and flexibility.
A good layout requires determination of material handling equipment. Capacity and space requirements
must also be met, only when personnel, machines, and equipment are known can a manager decide
with the layout and provide space for each component. Environment and aesthetics must also be
considered like decisions on windows, planters and height of partition in order to facilitate air flow.
Communication is also important and must be facilitated by the layout. Lastly, cost of moving between
various work areas is also a point to consider. With all these in mind, Wheeled Coach will be able to
address their problem regarding facility layout.

Question 2. What suggestions would you make to Bob Collins about his layout?
Answer: Bob Collins should address the problem in the assembly line, as seen in the video, the
assembly line looks like a controlled chaos. Putting this stage of production in order should be given
focus, particularly the problem with balancing the right number of workers and tasks at each
workstation. While the components of the ambulance is made indifferent work cells, the product-
oriented layout of the assembly line should as much as possible minimize the imbalance. The
management should create a smooth and continuous flow with minimum of idle at each workstation. In
order that each ambulance is produced at specified rate, management should know the equipment,
tools and work methods used, and the time requirement for each task must be determined. The
management should come up with precedence chart to determine what task should be done first before
the others and how much time should be needed to finish the task.
Balancing can be achieved by assigning specific assembly task to each workstation. This can be done by
determining the units required per day and divide it into the productive time available per day. Then
calculate the theoretical minimum number of workstations.

Question 3. How would you measure the efficiency of this layout?

Answer: Efficiency eventually measures means good organization, taking into consideration their
meager beginning, the company has made sufficient use of its limited resources. The Wheeled Coach is
the world’s largest manufacturer of ambulances; the company makes quality products while keeping its
production costs minimal.