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A zero latency process is one in which there is no elapsed time
between the last activity in the prior process and the start
of the first activity in the current process. In theory, the
work queues of a zero latency process would always be empty,
because new materials would be arriving precisely at the time
that activities were ready to be initiated.
The advent of just-in-time manufacturing, wherein materials
required for production are delivered as close as possible to
the moment of initiation of a product assembly cycle – but
no sooner – is an example of zero latency processes.
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The benefits of a
zero latency process are:
· Increased speed
· Reduction in steps in processes
· Improved communications among processes, because they are more dependent
(due to one beginning immediately where the other leaves off)
The costs of a zero latency process are:
· Additional expense having one process slow down or speed up to be timed
according to the needs of the other process
· The possible delays caused by having zero downtime between the end of
one process and the beginning of the next one |
