To calculate the utilization of washers, we need to understand how much of the washing capacity is being used on average.

Given:

• There are 12 washers.
• There are 2 orders in the washing stage on average.
• The laundry receives 2 orders every hour.

Step 1: Determine the demand rate for washers

The demand rate is given by the number of orders in the washing stage, which is 2 orders per hour. This means that on average, there are 2 orders waiting to be washed every hour.

Step 2: Determine the supply rate of washers

The supply rate is based on the number of washers available and how fast they can process orders. We are not given the speed of washing explicitly, so we can assume each washer can process one order per hour (a common assumption for this type of problem).

Thus, the supply rate is the total number of washers, which is 12 washers. This means the washers can process up to 12 orders per hour.

Step 3: Calculate utilization

The formula for utilization is:

$\text{Utilization} = \frac{\text{Demand rate}}{\text{Supply rate}} \times 100$

Where:

• Demand rate = 2 orders per hour
• Supply rate = 12 orders per hour

So:

$\text{Utilization} = \frac{2}{12} \times 100 = 16.67\%$

Final Answer:

The utilization of washers is 16.67%.

Would you like more details on how I got this answer, or do you have any further questions?

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Related Questions:

1. How would the utilization change if the number of orders increased?
2. How can I calculate the utilization for dryers?
3. If the manager buys a new machine, how will the total capacity change?
4. What is the difference between demand and supply rate in this context?
5. How would the utilization of washers be affected by an increase in the speed of washing?

Tip:

Utilization is a measure of how effectively resources (like washers or dryers) are being used. It helps managers understand whether they have the right amount of capacity for the volume of work.