Buffer stocks in automatic transfer lines

Automatic transfer lines are playing an increasingly important role in production. As production rates and capital investment increase, the cost of line stoppages also increases. A line stoppage of an automatic transfer line occurs every time any of the machines stop, unless there is a sufficient buffer stock between each machine in the line. Thus there arises the question of how much buffer stock between each machine is required to optimize line operation in accordance with some criterion such as maximum output or minimum cost. This paper describes in the first, part, one such solution for the case of an automatic bottling plant in a brewery. As a bottling line is a prime example of an automatic transfer line, we believe that the method hero described can be applied to all similar problems. In the second part an analysis of the theoretical structure of the most common form of automatic transfer line is given, and the practical consequences of this analysis arc discussed.