Question 1 -A set of four jobs A, B C & D have the machining time of 5, 25, 20

and 10 hours and are due at 20, 35, 40 and 25 hours respectively. The four
priority rules to be assessed for deciding the scheduling are recommended to be
EDD, SPT, LPT and CR.

Job
Process Due
Jobs time by CR
A 5 20 4
B 25 35 1.4
C 20 40 2
D 10 25 2.5
Rank ordering of jobs on rule
Priority rules basis
EDD JA, JD, JB, JC
SPT JA, JD, JC, JB
LPT JB, JC, JD, JA
CR JB, JC, JD, JA

1(a). Compute and analyse the set of critical performance metrics for each scheduling
process.

EDD Rule – A-D-B-C

1) Average completion time = Sum of total flow time / Number of jobs

= 30 days

2) Utilization metric = Total job (work) time / Sum of total flow time

= 50%

3) Average number of jobs in the system = Sum of total flow time / Total job work time
= 2 jobs

4) Average job lateness = Total late days / Number of jobs

 = 6.25 days

SPT Rule – A-D-C-B

1) Average completion time = Sum of total flow time / Number of jobs

= 28.75 days

2) Utilization metric = Total job (work) time / Sum of total flow time

= 52%

3) Average number of jobs in the system = Sum of total flow time / Total job work time
= 1.92 jobs

4) Average job lateness = Total late days / Number of jobs

= 6.25 days

LPT Rule – B-C-D-A

1) Average completion time = Sum of total flow time / Number of jobs

= 46.25 days

2) Utilization metric = Total job (work) time / Sum of total flow time

= 32%

3) Average number of jobs in the system = Sum of total flow time / Total job

= 3.08 jobs

4) Average job lateness = Total late days / Number of jobs

= 18.75 days
CR Rule – B-C-D-A

1) Average completion time = Sum of total flow time / Number of jobs

= 46.25 days

2) Utilization metric = Total job (work) time / Sum of total flow time

= 32%

3) Average number of jobs in the system = Sum of total flow time / Total job work time
= 3.08 jobs

4) Average job lateness = Total late days / Number of jobs

= 18.75 days

1(b). Identify the best priority rule. Support your answer with justifications.

From the best priority rule table & graph (in Excel), it is evident that SPT should be the
sequencing rule adopted as it has the best results (all four) when compared to the other
priority rules.

Considering the critical performance metrics,

The Average Completion time is least in SPT compared to the other priority rules. This
indicates that the jobs are completed in the time span of 28.75 days. Lower the time it
takes to complete the job, higher it proves to be the best rule.

Average number of jobs is also kept minimum i.e.1.92 jobs in SPT compared to the other
priority rules. This indicates that the average number of jobs waiting for job completion is
only 1.92 jobs. Companies should ensure to keep this metric at minimum.

The Average Lateness is only 6.25 days in SPT .i.e. jobs are delayed only by 6.75 days
while the rest are delayed by 18.75 days. Higher the delay, higher is the chance of losing
the customer satisfaction.

Similarly, the utilization metric is higher in SPT which is 52%. This means that the
organization and employees are utilized productively. Higher the utilization metric, higher
is the productivity.

1(c). Comment on the outcomes from other than the best priority rule.

EDD:
The Average completion time is 30 days and indicates that it completes the job at an
average of 30 days which is quite good since the difference is only two days when
compared to SPT.

And the Utilization metric 50% which is 2nd highest compared to SPT. Higher the
utilization metric higher is the efficiency and productivity. Thus, EDD proves second
best in utilization metric category.

The Average number of job is 2 jobs which means an average of 2 jobs are considered
to be work in progress inventory.

And the Average job lateness is 6.25 days which is the same as SPT. This means that
the job completion is expected to exceed by 6.25 days than the date that was
promised to the customer.

LPT:
The Average completion time is 46.25 days which is way too higher compared to the
other rules. Higher it takes to complete lower it proves to be the best rule.
Utilization metric is 32% which is very low and indicates that the productivity is low.

Average number of jobs that are waiting for completion (WIP) is 3.08 jobs which is
high compared to the other rules.

Also, the job is delayed by 18.75 days than the date it was promised to the customer.
The longer the job is delayed, the company loses its customers and the rule fails to
prove as best priority rule.

CR:
The outcomes for Critical Ratio rule is same as the Longest Processing Time rule since
the job sequence is the same for both.

The Average completion time is 46.25 days which is way too higher compared to the
other rules. Higher it takes to complete lower it proves to be the best rule.

Utilization metric is 32% which is very low and indicates that the productivity is low.

Average number of jobs that are waiting for completion (WIP) is 3.08 jobs which is
high compared to the other rules.

Also, the job is delayed by 18.75 days than the date it was promised to the customer.
The longer the job is delayed, the company loses its customers and the rule fails to
prove as best priority rule.
Question 2 Titan produces from their manufacturing units two brands of watches
– Sonata and Nebula. Sonata is targeted for a mass market while Nebula is
targeted at a premium segment.

2(a). Should Titan produce & manage both brands with the same operational supply
chains? Why?

Generally, Supply chain operations include the systems, structures and processes to plan
and execute the flow of goods and services from supplier to customer.

Titan shouldn’t produce and manage Sonata and Nebula with the same operational supply chain.
However, most of the operations are carried under the same roof, procurement from vendor
and delivery to the appropriate consumer market differs in the supply chain. But they use an
integrated approach.

Each division of the company brings in and wake its own complex supply chain.
• Vendors:
It acquires variety of raw materials such as stainless steel, tool steel, leaded
brass, engineering plastic, tools, consumables, case components and specialty
movements for watch manufacturing operations from
vendors spread over 32 countries, mainly in Asia and Europe.

• Manufacturing:
Titan Company is one of the few manufacturers in the world that manufactures
watch movements, watch cases, and watch assembly under one roof.
Manufacturing facilities at Hosur, Bommasandra, Chikkaballapur, Dehradun,
Roorkee and Pantnagar

• Consumers:
Sonata – Lower & Lower Middle Income Level, Mass market, targets rural and
semi-urban areas
Nebula – Upper Middle & Upper Income Level, Premium segment, customized
for women.

2(b). Should they share the manufacturing facilities, production process,

and quality assurance systems?

Titan Company is one of the few manufacturers in the world that manufactures
watch movements, watch cases, and watch assembly under one roof. Sonata and
Nebula are two products which have different manufacturing parts and involves
specialised skills men. They can share the same manufacturing facilities
provided the manufacturing facility is large enough to occupy the different
skilled labourers and equipment.

As far as the production process is concerned, the raw materials used for
Sonata is different from the raw materials used for Nebula. Sonata uses
leather, plastic, steel etc. whereas Nebula uses gold, diamonds, pearls etc. Also,
Sonata is a product which requires high production to stay in line with demand
in the market whereas Nebula is a premium product for which the demand is low
and thus requires less production. Thus, the production process should be
different for both.

Quality assurance system has two aspects: Quality Control and Quality
Management. Quality control uses different equipment and instruments like
Testers, Roughness testers, measuring instruments, bore micrometers etc.
Both Sonata and Nebula’s quality should be tested based on different
parameters or criteria since both the brands undergo different production
process.

2(c). Should the packaging, warehousing, transportation, customer

relationship management be different for both? Support your answers with
reasons.

In my view, the packaging, the warehouses and the transport must be different
for both.

Nebula being focussed on premium segment should be given utmost care in

storing and transporting since it’s an 18 Karat gold product and used premium
materials. Also considering the price range of Nebula, the packaging should also
be premium like packing with handcrafted wooden box etc.

Sonata is a mass-market brand that is dependable and inexpensive. Sonata

employs a variety of materials, including leather and steel. As a result, the
packaging may be kept basic but appealing. Sonata can utilise blue dart,
delhivery, and other Ecom express logistics. Also, because Sonata is the most
popular brand, it may be stocked and made available at all Titan locations.

Customer Relationship Management can be the same for both irrespective of

the market segment they serve because ultimately the core of the company
philosophy is the principle of respect for the individual. This spans across all the
 brands that come under the Titan umbrella.

Sonata Nebula
Mass market Premium market
General Customers Luxury Customers
Market segment
Age – 18 to 30 Age – 30 to 35
Gender - Unisex Gender - Women

Sonata offers different Nebula, the premium 18-karat

collections ranging from gold watch brand from Titan
Designing studded gold collection to Industries Ltd was launched
smart steel and sporty and in the year 2000.
young Super Fibre, with more The entire Nebula collection
than 600 models of jewellery watches has
around 70 models

Price ranges from Rs.400 Price ranges from Rs.

Price range to Rs.3600. 29,000 to Rs. 2,65,000

all titan retail stores sells online shopping of gold

its sub brand – sonata. nebula watches since
Storage Being the largest selling stores can only hold a
watch. certain amount of variety
due to storage and
safekeeping issues.