CONVOCATION CEREMONY AT TIMES: A PROCESS ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
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SYNOPSIS
This case analyzes how the convocation administrators at TIMES took care of the process of managing the
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entire convocation within the stipulated time. The convocation is examined from a process perspective,
whereby the mismatch between supply and demand results in waiting times and may also mean that an
inventory is needed. The situation described in the case is suitable for analysis using Little’s law, which
states that the average inventory equals the average flow time multiplied by the average flow rate. This
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short case concerns various process parameters such as bottlenecks, capacity, loading, inventory, flow rate,
throughput rate, takt time, and cycle time.
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The Case Solution Starts From page 5
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ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
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1. What is takt time? What are the takt times for Phases I & II? What is the overall takt time for both
phases?
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2. What is cycle time? What decides the cycle time? What are the cycle times for Phases I & II?
3. What is the flow rate (throughput rate)? What are the flow rates for Phases I & II?
4. What is the flow time (throughput time)? What is Little’s law? How does it help us in computing flow
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time? What is the flow time for a student from the time he or she begins receiving their medal and/or
certificate until he or she walks off the stage?
5. What is the capacity of a process? What is the capacity of each phase given the time constraints and the
number of students present?
6. Was it possible to achieve the goal of finishing the ceremony in 70 minutes? If yes, explain how and
why. If no, explain why not.
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
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ANALYSIS
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1. What is takt time? What are the takt times for Phases I & II? What is the overall takt time for both
phases?
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What is takt time?
Takt time: Takt time is a term used in lean manufacturing and refers to the rate at which a product or service
must be produced to meet customer demand. It is defined as the available production time divided by the
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customer demand during that period. In other words, takt time is the amount of time a worker or production
line has available to produce one unit of a product to meet customer demand. It is often used to determine
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how long each step in a production process should take to ensure that production meets customer demand
without overproducing or creating unnecessary waste. By understanding and optimizing takt time, a
company can increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction.
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What are the takt times for Phases I & II?
As the entire process can be divided into two halves—the medal distribution and the diploma/degree
certificate distribution—we can compute the activity times separately. That is, the time allocated to
distribute medals to the 13 winners is 5 minutes, and the remaining 65 minutes are for the distribution of
the primary diplomas/degrees.
Takt time = amount of time available / units demanded
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, 6. What is the flow time (throughput time) for a student from the time he or she begins the medal
and certificate receiving process until he or she walks off the stage? Could the goal of 70
minutes be met? If yes or no, explain how and why?
If we refer to Assignment Question 4 above, it would seem to be impossible to finish the awarding part of
the event within the given time limits. Still, we need to understand that there may be a disparity between
the time allocated for activities and the time actually needed to carry out those activities.
Take the case of the first act, i.e., the awarding and felicitation of medal winners—although the time
allocated is 5 minutes, the activity is completed in 130 seconds, i.e., 2.17 minutes.
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tio
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The Case Solution Starts From page 5
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
e
pl
m
SYNOPSIS
This case analyzes how the convocation administrators at TIMES took care of the process of managing the
Sa
entire convocation within the stipulated time. The convocation is examined from a process perspective,
whereby the mismatch between supply and demand results in waiting times and may also mean that an
inventory is needed. The situation described in the case is suitable for analysis using Little’s law, which
states that the average inventory equals the average flow time multiplied by the average flow rate. This
n
short case concerns various process parameters such as bottlenecks, capacity, loading, inventory, flow rate,
throughput rate, takt time, and cycle time.
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, e
pl
m
Sa
n
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
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1. What is takt time? What are the takt times for Phases I & II? What is the overall takt time for both
phases?
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2. What is cycle time? What decides the cycle time? What are the cycle times for Phases I & II?
3. What is the flow rate (throughput rate)? What are the flow rates for Phases I & II?
4. What is the flow time (throughput time)? What is Little’s law? How does it help us in computing flow
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time? What is the flow time for a student from the time he or she begins receiving their medal and/or
certificate until he or she walks off the stage?
5. What is the capacity of a process? What is the capacity of each phase given the time constraints and the
number of students present?
6. Was it possible to achieve the goal of finishing the ceremony in 70 minutes? If yes, explain how and
why. If no, explain why not.
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, e
pl
ANALYSIS
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1. What is takt time? What are the takt times for Phases I & II? What is the overall takt time for both
phases?
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What is takt time?
Takt time: Takt time is a term used in lean manufacturing and refers to the rate at which a product or service
must be produced to meet customer demand. It is defined as the available production time divided by the
n
customer demand during that period. In other words, takt time is the amount of time a worker or production
line has available to produce one unit of a product to meet customer demand. It is often used to determine
tio
how long each step in a production process should take to ensure that production meets customer demand
without overproducing or creating unnecessary waste. By understanding and optimizing takt time, a
company can increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction.
lu
So
What are the takt times for Phases I & II?
As the entire process can be divided into two halves—the medal distribution and the diploma/degree
certificate distribution—we can compute the activity times separately. That is, the time allocated to
distribute medals to the 13 winners is 5 minutes, and the remaining 65 minutes are for the distribution of
the primary diplomas/degrees.
Takt time = amount of time available / units demanded
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, 6. What is the flow time (throughput time) for a student from the time he or she begins the medal
and certificate receiving process until he or she walks off the stage? Could the goal of 70
minutes be met? If yes or no, explain how and why?
If we refer to Assignment Question 4 above, it would seem to be impossible to finish the awarding part of
the event within the given time limits. Still, we need to understand that there may be a disparity between
the time allocated for activities and the time actually needed to carry out those activities.
Take the case of the first act, i.e., the awarding and felicitation of medal winners—although the time
allocated is 5 minutes, the activity is completed in 130 seconds, i.e., 2.17 minutes.
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Sa
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tio
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So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
