Buffering

Very common in manufacturing which uses various automated and manual processes that often work at different shifts and days. Also common in balancing inbound receiving (which often come in by the truck load early in the morning) and the flow to QC (Quality Control) which has to prioritize inbound based on demand and outgoing shipments.

By allowing different zones to work at peak performance regardless of hourly or daily demands can increase operations efficiencies. An example are, plastic extruders at a facility that often work long hours, but fewer days per week, while assembly works less hours per day, but more days per week. By allowing an automated process to run at peak capacity cost per unit is often decreased.

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