Buffer allocation in unbalanced three-station serial lines.

We consider the problem of allocating buffer storage to unbalanced serial production lines so as to maximize steady-state throughput. We focus on the three-station line whose processing time probability distributions differ in either or both mean and variance. We develop rules of thumb for the optimal placement of buffers, and demonstrate the counterintuitive result that a balanced or nearly balanced buffer allocation is optimal for many highly unbalanced lines. We also demonstrate that an imbalance in means has a greater impact on buffer allocation than an imbalance in variances. Finally, we explore the extension of these results to the general serial line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]