Final answer:
Working non-bottlenecks to capacity on bottleneck parts creates an imbalance in the production workflow, leading to inventory build-up, increased storage costs, and the misallocation of resources and machinery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Problem with Working Non-Bottlenecks to Capacity on Bottleneck Parts
Working non-bottlenecks to capacity on bottleneck parts can create inefficiencies in the overall production process.
In a manufacturing setting, a bottleneck is a process or resource that limits the overall capacity of production. It is the slowest or least efficient part of the process.
When managing a production process, understanding how to efficiently work with bottlenecks and non-bottlenecks is crucial. The issue with working non-bottlenecks to capacity on parts that are bottlenecked lies in the imbalance it creates in the workflow. Non-bottleneck stages, when pushed to their maximum capacity, may produce more than the bottleneck stages can handle. This leads to a build-up of inventory before the bottleneck, increased storage costs, and potentially wasted resources. Moreover, it can result in a misallocation of labor and machinery, which could otherwise be used to alleviate the bottleneck or improve other areas of production. Operating non-bottlenecks to their full capacity does not synchronize with the limited throughput of the bottleneck, causing inefficiencies throughout the production system.