This paper considers a flow line with different numbers of parallel machines at each stage and discusses findings regarding the effect of cyclic queues of containers on line balance. Three types of containers for holding work-in-process following different routes are stored in the cyclic queues....

Although users of computerised production and inventory control systems may be aware of the possible occurrence of long periods of computer downtime, the authors believe that few companies are sufficiently prepared for such emergencies. This paper proposes guidance for drawing up contingency...

In each issue we shall usually be giving over one short paper to a major topic of general management interest, primarily addressed to senior management in a company and concerned with a particular technical aspect of manufacturing systems treated in a non‐technical way. Our first paper in this...