I want to be able to determine approx how long each item takes to produce.

I know that it took 6980 total hrs to produce all of these items.
New items take twice as long as renewals and 4 times as long as mods.
Hard items take longer then medium items and medium take longer then easy.
Is this the type of problem solver can help with, or is there an easier way?


Hi. Here's my take on Solver.
When you say...

Hard items take longer then medium items and medium take longer then easy.


I believe at this point there are many solutions.
Either Medium take just a little longer than Easy, and hard takes an extra long time...
or hard is just a little longer then medium, ect.

Here's an attempt via equations.
Let's separate the matrix for now, and multiply them together item by item later.
Here are the number of items each.

{{53, 71, 87}, {18, 19, 24}, {29, 24, 29}}

For time, let's set "x" as the time for easy Mod's.
Then the array for easy is {4x, 2x, x}
The Medium row "Is just a little longer in time." Therefore, we add a t1 to x in the above.
{4 (t1 + x), 2 (t1 + x), t1 + x}
The last row is longer still, t2, and we have to remember that x<t1<t2
{4 (t2 + x), 2 (t2 + x), t2 + x}

If we "Multiply" the two matrix's together, and add them up, we are left with this equation:
134 t1 + 193 t2 + 768 x = 6980

Hence, we see that there are multiple solutions with the constraint that x<t1<t2.

I may be wrong, but I show only 1 "Integer" solution, so maybe this is what you want?
{x - 4, t1 - 9, t2 - 14}

Hence, here is the one "Integer" table for the appox time to produce each item.

{16, 8, 4}, {52, 26, 13}, {72, 36, 18}

An "Easy, Mod" takes 4 hours.
An "Easy, New" takes 16 hours.
Notice that all Renew's are twice as long as the Mod's, and the New's are twice as long as the Renew's, as per you stated constraint.
The Medium and Hard's are in an increasing manner as stated.
--
HTH :)
Dana DeLouis


"Belinda7237" wrote in message ...

I am not sure the best way to solve my problem and am hoping someone can help.

I want to be able to determine approx how long each item takes to produce.
I have types of work new, renewal and mod - and then a complexity level.
I know that it took 6980 total hrs to produce all of these items.

Assumptions that i wanted to build in:
New items take twice as long as renewals and 4 times as long as mods.
Hard items take longer then medium items and medium take longer then easy.

Totals
NEW RENEWAL MOD
EASY 53 71 87
MEDIUM 18 19 24
HARD 29 24 29


Total Hrs 6980

Is this the type of problem solver can help with, or is there aneasier way?