13-53    Theory of Constraints Chemical Products Company (CPC) produces a variety of chemicals, prima- rily adhesives, lubricants, and polymers for industrial use by manufacturers to produce plastics and other compounds. Don Leo, the production vice president, has been informed of a disturbing trend of increasing customer complaints regarding late deliveries from the Canton, Kentucky, plant. The Canton plant is one of the firm’s newest and most modern plants and is dedicated to the manufacture of two products, Polymer 1 and Polymer 2. Don has downloaded some incomplete recent information about the Canton plant onto his laptop; he plans to analyze the information in the hour or so he has before his next meeting of the CPC executive committee. He is concerned that some comments will be made about the problems at Canton, and he wants to have an idea of how to respond. Because CPC views Polymer 1 and Polymer 2 as very promising in terms of both sales and profit potential, the news of these problems is likely to spark some comment. The data downloaded by Don is as follows:

 

Number of Hours Required for Each Product

  Activity	  Polymer 1	  Polymer 2	Number of Hours Available per Week
Filtering	2	4	320
Stripping	2	3	320
Reacting	3	5	320
Final filtering	2	1	160
Mixing Other information Current sales demand (per week)	3   60	3   40	320
Price	$145	$185	Â

 

 

 

 

 

Don has sketched the following flow diagram for the Canton plant. He believes it is relatively accu- rate because of his frequent contact with the plant.

 

 

 

 

Required Prepare a set of notes that Don can use in the executive meeting if questions come up about the problems at the Canton plant.