Analysis and Approximation of a JIT Production Line*

Production lines are often modeled as queueing networks with finite inventory between each stage. Little is known, however, about the average production rate and inventory levels when the service distribution at each stage is normal. This paper approximates the service distribution using iterative methods rather than simulation. The results show that iterative methods are useful when the problem is small and that approximation of the service distribution, by another distribution with the same mean and variance, is valid for steady‐state results such as average production rate or average inventory level.