Case: National Cranberry Cooperative Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Case: National Cranberry Cooperative Case Solution

Detailed Capacity Analysis:

At the start of the process the trucks full of berries come from agricultural suppliers are stayed to hold for testing the quality of the berries. Although the case is not clear on the where output of the Bulk bin station is going to. Figure 1 indicates that the capacity of the each process taking from the case and from simple assumption where necessary. For example in the case the Kewanee dumper takes from 5 to 10 minutes to service a truck.

By taking an average of 7.5 minutes to unload a truck is a reasonable assumption to determine the capacity. It is also assumed that the process will continuously flow at a constant rate due to the berries inflow. The actual processing rate of work station is concluded by the worker level at the station and the maximum level of berries processing at this time. The berries from the receiving flow to the shipping for the order just take few minutes.

Dumping has the capacity of 3000 bbls/hr which is based on the average time of 7.5 minutes and average weight of berries in a truck. The first capacity of holding bin no. 1-16 is calculated at 4000 bbls followed by Bin 17-24 at 2000 bbls and 25-27 at 1200 bbls. This indicates that the third part of the holding bin has the highest capacity. After the holding, the berries will go for the drying. There are three processes available in the company for drying.

The de-stoning segment has 3 units and the capacity 4500 bbls/hr which indicates that per units’ capacity to dry the berries is 1500 bbls/hr. After the process of destining the berries will go for de chaffting process where the berries are separated from its shells and the capacity of this process is 1500 bbls/hr for dry berries and 3000 bbls/hr for wet berries.

Drying capacity of 600 bbls/ hr of the company is relatively low. Finally the separator where the bouncing process categorizes the berries in different classes so that resultant berries will be of high quality. Moreover the separator has 3 jumbo units which have the capacity of 1200 bbls/hr.

Maximum long-term achievable throughput rate and Factors Affecting Throughput:

Throughput is the maximum production level which can be achieved by the company which means the in a minimum time how much production can be achieved. Higher throughput companies can capture the higher market share as compare to lower market share Due to their higher efficiency. In case of national cranberries the throughput for the whole production or process is 131.625 minutes which is quite higher. (Dousse, 2007)

To reach at this rate many assumptions have taken. The wet track of berries require total 14.65 minutes however the dry track will require the 62.88 so that the cumulative of 131.625 is reasonable for the throughput production. As far as factors are concern every process involves in the overall production cycle is relevant to the throughput because efficiency of the whole production based on efficiency of various segments.

So that thorough assessment of every production segment will be necessary in order to reduce the production time. For example drying segment of the process is the main bottleneck of the company because the demand of berries is higher and it processes slowly therefore efficiency will reduce. Poor efficiency in operations and process will leads to back log of work that means the work load increases on the process which results in delays in meeting with targets....................

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