Assignment #1 This assignment uses the Clear Eyes case study setting and data. Please make sure that you use only the data given in this assignment. For convenience, the data in Exhibit 2 of the case is reproduced in Assignment_1_Current_State.xls. The spreadsheet also shows the capacities and utilizations of various resources before any initiatives.

Assignment #1

This assignment uses the Clear Eyes case study setting and data. Please make sure that you use only the data given in this assignment. For convenience, the data in Exhibit 2 of the case is reproduced in Assignment_1_Current_State.xls.

The spreadsheet also shows the capacities and utilizations of various resources before any initiatives.

1. Patient-centric: On the day of their surgery, each patient goes through several activities as shown in Table 1. The number of parallel stations shown are based on the fraction of available capacity dedicated to that activity. The times shown are those currently used by the clinic and should be used to answer this question.

a.      Complete Table 1 with the cycle time and flow rate for each activity. Calculate the cycle time in (decimal) minutes for the entire process. Explain your reasoning. (3 points)

Table 1

b.      Calculate the flow time in (decimal) minutes experienced by each patient. Show your calculations. (1 points)

2. Clinic-centric: Dr. Connors is concerned about the drop-off in patients who complete intake but fail to show up for surgery. She is planning several initiatives that could help reduce the drop-off in patient volume between intake and actual surgery by half. She would like to know the effect this would have on patient volume and capacity utilization. Table 2 shows the new patient volumes if she is successful in her initiatives.

Table 2

a.   Dr. Connors calculates the utilization with the increased patient volumes for staff and rooms using the available time per worker shown below. (1 point)

Available time per worker

Staff: 5days*48weeks*8hrs*60mins

Surgeon: 5days*48weeks*7hrs*60mins

Rooms: 5days*48weeks*9hrs*60mins

Calculate the utilization for PSR and complete Table 3 below:

Table 3

b.   Dr. Connors is considering expanding the clinic hours of operation (staff and facilities) to six days a week and adding two extra hours each day, but surgeons will continue to only work 7 hours/day, 5 days a week. Complete Table 4 to reflect the expanded timings. (4 points)

Table 4

c.    In your opinion, should Dr. Connors expand clinic hours as described. Support your answer with the values in Table 4. (1 point)