A manager wants to determine the number of containers to use for incoming parts for a kanban system to be installed next month. The process will have a usage rate of 87 pieces per hour. Because the process is new, the manager has assigned an inefficiency factor of .24. Each container holds 48 pieces and it takes an average of 75 minutes to complete a cycle.
a-1. How many containers should be used? (Round up your answer to the next whole number.)
Number of containers _____
a-2. As the system improves, will more or fewer containers be required?
Fewer
More