BROWSE BY. Topics INDUSTRIES ‘GEOGRAPHY FACULTY ‘CATEGORIES Browse All Articles About Us Newsletter Sigr-Up RSs ARCHIVE HBS Toolkit - Basic Operations Self-Instructional Workbook G=De5 enaz000 ‘The word “operations” may evoke images of a large factory, but an operation is really any process that takes inputs and transforms them into outputs of greater value. A car manufacturing plant is certainly an operation, but so is, a hospital, the claim-processing department of an insurance company or a person doing his or her laundry. This instructional workbook from the HBS Toolkit provides a brief introduction to basic concepts of operations and illustrates how a complex operation can be broken down into its components, described and mapped in a way that makes it easier to understand and improve. Operations Basics Welcome to the Operations Basics Self-Instructional Workbook, The purpose of this workbook is to provide a brief introduction to the basic concepts found in operations. It is intended for use in connection with the first-year Technology and Operations Management course by students with no oF minimal background in operations. The workbook will cover such terms as cycle time, process flow, work in process and manufacturing lead- time. Finally, it will illustrate how a complex operation can be broken down: into its components, described and mapped in a way that makes it easier to understand and improve. What is an Operation? Although for many of us the word ‘operations’ evokes images of a large factory, an operation is any process through which a set of inputs go through one or more steps resulting in a (hopefully) more valuable set of outputs. Thus, a car manufacturing plant is certainly an operation, but so is a hospital, the claim-processing department of an insurance company or a person doing his or her laundry. Each of these operations can be described using a common set of terminology and mapping tools. We will be explaining the definitions and providing simple examples of the following concepts and terms: + Cycle Time (CT) + Bottleneck + Idle Time TRENDING 115 MAY 2017 SHARPENING YOUR SKILLS THE PROMISES AND LIMITATIONS OF BIG DATA 24 APR 2017 RESEARCH & IDEAS COURAGE: THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF GREAT LEADERS 09 MAY 2017 WHAT Do You THINK? SHOULD MANAGEMENT BE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE TO SHAREHOLDERS? 10 MAY 2017 RESEARCH & IDEAS AMAZON WEB SERVICES CHANGED THE WAY VCS FUND STARTUPS 13 JUL 2016 HBS CASE HOW UBER, AIRBNB, AND ETSY ATTRACTED THEIR FIRST 1,000 CUSTOMERS+ Work-in-Process (WIP) + Buffers + Manufacturing Lead Time (MLT) ‘+ Mapping an operation using Process Flow Diagramming + Managing operations for optimal efficiency Workbook Contents + Introduction + What is an operation? + Common Terms Used in Operations (Process Fundamentals) Step 1: Cycle Time Step 2: Bottleneck Step 3: Idle Time Step 4: Work-in-Process Step 5: Buffer Step 6: Manufacturing Lead Time Step 7: Mapping an Operation Step 8: Operations Management Tools + Glossary of Operations Terms Cycle Time (CT) Cycle Time is the length of time, on average, that it takes to complete a step or set of steps within an operation. In our laundry example, the cycle time for the washer is thirty minutes and the cycle time for the dryer might be anywhere from forty-five minutes to an hour, Note, however, that cycle time refers to the average time. i In a large laundry operation with ten washers, the cycle time for a single load would be three minutes (thirty minutes divided by ten washers) It is also important to be careful what units we are talking about. If the dryer is large enough to run two loads of laundry (and our operation is set up in such a way that it does) the cycle time per washer-load will be half of the cycle time per dryer-load. Later on we will also talk about the cycle time for the entire laundry processDependent steps. Many operations have dependent steps, i.e. steps that can only be done when a previous step has been completed. You could put your laundry into the dryer before the washing machine, or you could fold it before putting it into the dryer, but neither is likely to be productive. The interaction of dependent steps creates much of the need for operations. management, Tt “S° Sls Bottleneck Within a set of dependent steps, there is generally one step that defines the bottleneck because, just like liquid coming out of a bottle, it limits the speed of the entire operation. Let us assume that the washer and dryer can as follows: wehbe lor Now imagine that we have a lot of laundry to do, such that as soon as we have put our first load into the dryer we plan to start our second load in the washer, and so on. Once our ‘line’ is full, which operation will decide (i.., limit) the speed at which we can do our laundry? The dryer will, because it will still be drying the first load when the washer finishes its cycle on the second load. Generally, the step with the longest cycle time will be the bottleneck. The bottleneck is often an important area of focus for improving the capacity of an operation, since if the bottleneck's capacity can be increased it will often increase overall capacity, while increasing the output of a non- bottleneck step may have no effect. In our laundry example, if we can dry one load of laundry per day by hanging it outside that will let us do an extraload of laundry per day. If, however, we could wash a load by hand that. won't let us get any more laundry done since our washer is already capable of more laundry than our dryer can handle. Idle Time Sometimes you only need to do one load of laundry, but because the steps in the process are dependent, two machines (including you the folder) will be idle part of the time, ‘Since many operations are capable of completing their tasks faster than the bottleneck operation, it will often not make sense to run them at full capacity. If you ran the washer and dryer non-stop all day, you would accumulate extra loads of wet laundry waiting to be dried. Eventually you would have to stop running the washer in order to let the dryer catch up. Whether the washer is not running for a short period for each load (while we wait for the dryer to finish), or has a longer period of downtime later in the day, that downtime is called idle time, Work in Process (WIP) Work-in-process, or WIP, refers to inputs that are still in the operation. Laundry still in the washer, the dryer or being folded would count as WIP in our example (as would laundry in transit to either the washer or the dryer). WIP is sometimes discussed in dollar terms, but will generally be considered in whatever units (such as loads of laundry) are moving through the operation. In our example, once the ‘line’ is full, we would always have a load either in the washer or waiting to be put into the dryer and another load in the dryer. We would also have a load that is being folded, but since that load doesn't have to wait for anything, that step will be empty some of the time. Ignoring the possibility that folding is delayed by our loading and unloading the machines, we would expect to have a load of laundry in- process at the folding step for thirty minutes (folding time) out of every forty-five (cycle time of the laundry operation). We would therefore say that there is two thirds of a load in that step in describing the WIP of the operation, or 2 2/3 loads of WIP in total.wel ef Buffer Sometimes an operation will have storage space where WIP from one step can accumulate before being worked on by the next step. There can be a large number of reasons for having a buffer. Suppose we don't want the washer to run in the afternoon. We might want to run it non-stop in the morning to get as many loads finished as possible, but we would need space to put them in while they waited for the dryer to catch up. In larger operations, a buffer may be important in order to make sure that the bottleneck is never starved for inputs. Since the bottleneck sets the pace, loss of production there may imply lost production for the entire operation w—e+) +f ea * wW Manufacturing Lead Time (MLT) Manufacturing lead-time, or MLT, is the average length of time it will take a new set of inputs to move all the way through the operation, assuming no unusual measures are taken. A load of laundry, for example, would spend one cycle (45 minutes) in the washer, including idle time, another cycle in the dryer (90 minutes total), and then two-thirds of a cycle being folded (120 minutes). From laundry bag to clean and folded will take an average of two hours. Note that because folding took place after our bottleneck (drying), the load didn't have to stay there for a full cycle, The laundry example is fairly simple, but in a more complex operation it might be difficult to estimate MLT at a glance. There is a simple formula, known as Little's Law, which can help. Little's Law st Manufacturing Lead Time = Cycle Time * Work-in-ProcessThis simple rule makes sense if you imagine the path a new set of inputs (like 2 load of laundry) must follow in order to pass through the operation. {As each unit of WIP moves forward, the new set of inputs takes its place Each move occurs once per cycle, so multiplying cycle time times WIP will give us our total lead-time. In our laundry example, we had 2 2/3 loads of WIP. Multiplying 2 2/3 times our cycle time of 45 minutes gives us 120 minutes. Mapping an Operation One of the ways a manager can use to understand and improve an operation is by mapping it. By convention, we map processes (such as the washing machine) with rectangles, places where WIP or raw materials reside with triangles, and indicate flows with lines, using arrows to indicate direction. Capacity of each process can be added, if desired Process \/ * > Mataral Flow Information Fw A starting map for our laundry room would be as follows: Process Flew Diagrarn for Basic Laundry Operating System > | Yeas >| Ova » | Fong Zin 48min Dimin Information flows are also important in understanding how an operation works. Here, the information flow is very simple; the washer and dryer each probably have a buzzer that goes off when they are done, or perhaps we are simply close enough that we can hear them stop running, In a more ‘complex operation, however, information flows would not be so straightforward. Information flows are generally recorded with a dotted line, so that they are easily distinguished from physical flows,Process Flow Diagram far Basic Laundry Operating System Washing Dong Faidng Armin 48min Bin v v Eno Cycle End cysle Buzzer Buzzer Using Operations Management Tools Let's assume for a moment that we're not doing our own laundry. Instead, we're living at our parent's house and doing laundry for our neighbors on the weekends to make some extra money. We charge $15 per load, including folding. We currently do six loads per day before meeting up with our friends, who get up somewhat later than we do. Suppose we are considering buying a better washer or a better dryer to help us make more money, Our parents are willing to help out, since it will be their new washer cr dryer, but it will still cost us $100 for either upgrade. The new washer will take just 20 minutes to do a load of laundry, while the new dryer will take just 30 minutes. Which, if either, should we do? Well, our understanding of bottlenecks makes it clear that buying the washer is unlikely to make sense. The pace at which we can wash, dry and fold laundry is set by the slowest step, drying. So let us consider the new dryer. What would our map look like? Process Flow Diagram for New Laundry Operating System ‘washng » | dona » | Foune samin stimin min Now each process has a cycle time of 30 minutes, suggesting a cycle time of 30 minutes for the entire line as well. In practice our cycle time will almost certainly be longer, since we were probably using our idle time in the folding process for moving laundry in and out of the machines, resting ‘or whatever, But as an approximation, we can estimate our new capacity as being about 50% higher than it was before, or nine loads per day. Thus, we would expect to earn an extra $45 per day, and would be able nearly to pay for the dryer upgrade in a single weekend, We might want to check some assumptions, like our ability to attract three extra loads of new business per day, but from the operations point of view the new dryer looks like a good bet. This concludes the Operations Basics Self-Instructional Workbook. You may want to continue to the glossary to review some of the terms we have used Glossary of Operations TermsBottleneck:The production resource that limits the capacity of the overall process. This is usually the production equipment at the step with the lowest overall capacity, i.e., the longest cycle time. In some situations, the bottleneck resources may be labor available at a particular step or steps. Buffer: Interim storage where Work-in-process can be stored between steps in a process. In our laundry example, a laundry basket between the wash and dry cycles could be considered a buffer. Capacity: The maximum rate of output of a process, measured in units of output per unit of time. The unit of time may be of any length, a day, a shift, or a minute, cycle directly related to the output rate. A process with an outpi per hour has a cycle time of 15 minutes. e (CT): Average time between completion of successive units. It is ate of 4 units Idle Time: The time when useful work is not being performed. Lot Size (also called Batch Size): Number of units of a particular product type that are produced before beginning production of another product type. Manufacturing Lead Time (MLT): The amount of time each unit spends in the manufacturing process (sometimes called Throughput Time). This includes time spent actively being worked upon at each step of th the process as well as any time spend waiting between steps. The concept of a lead time applies to the total time spent in any process in which the start and finish are well-defined events. We can talk about lead times, for example, in service operations, or in the entire order-to-delivery process. Operation, Operating System, (also Process): Any part of an organization that takes inputs and transforms them into outputs of greater value to the organization than the original inputs. Process: For purposes of this workbook and these definitions, a "Process" may refer to the complete production process, such as doing a load of laundry or making bread from start to finish, or to a segment of the complete process, such as the wash cycle or the baking process Process Flow Diagram: Breaking a process into its discrete components and diagraming it as a series of small rectangles (processes), arrows (information and material flows), and inverted triangles (storage of goods). Utilization: Ratio of the input actually used over the amount of the input available, Labor utilization is the ratio of the actual labor time spent. processing to the total amount of labor time available. Differences between the two can be due to inefficiencies in the process that lead to lost working time, as well as to imbalances in the cycle times at each step of theprocess that lead to idle time of workers at some steps while those at others are working, Capacity utilization is the ratio of the capacity actually used (e,, the output of the process) to th the total capacity available. Work-in-Process: Number of units in the process at any point in time. If the process includes buffer inventories between steps, they the work-in-process is the total number of units being worked upon as well as waiting in the inventory between steps. The units in inventory are usually referred to as Work-in-process inventory, to distinguish them from raw materials inventory or finished goods inventory Source: Adapted from Professor 3s" HBS No, 687-019 ew, "A Glossary of TOM BROWSE POPULAR TOPICS