Answer :
c. if batch size is B, then activity time of step 3 is 20 + 0.20B which is always lesser than the activity time of step 2, 30 + 25B for a positive value of B. Hence step 3 can never be the bottleneck.
d. Under the new technology, the process capacity of step 1 is no longer dependent on batch size and is equal to (1/0.45 min/unit) * (60 min/hr) = 133.33 units/hr. This is clearly the maximum overall process capacity that can be targeted.
Given that step 3 can never be the bottleneck, the maximum overall process capacity of 133.33 units/hour can be achieved by choosing a batch size for which step 1 is the bottleneck. So if B is the batch size for which step 1 is the bottleneck, then we have B/(30 + 0.25B) >= 1/0.45. Solving for B, we get B >= 150