What happens to production when Takt time is increased while throughput remains the same?

Increasing Takt time means that the available production time per unit increases, allowing more time to produce each item. If the throughput – the actual rate of production – remains unchanged, this discrepancy can lead to reduced production efficiency. Specifically, when Takt time increases without a corresponding increase in throughput, it can create a scenario where there is a backlog of work or a mismatch in the production flow, leading to a production bottleneck.

Bottlenecks occur when the production capacity of a particular stage is unable to keep up with the demand or the established Takt time for the entire process. Because the throughput is fixed, any increase in Takt time means that there’s less urgency to produce items, leading to potential idle time and an inability to meet production targets. This imbalance is a common challenge in production environments where timing and speed play crucial roles in overall efficiency and productivity.

Thus, with the context of unchanged throughput, the increase in Takt time creates inefficiency that manifests as bottlenecks in production, making 'Production bottleneck occurs' the most fitting conclusion in this scenario.