Performance of bucket brigades when work is stochastic

"Bucket brigades" are a way of sharing work on a flow line that results in the spontaneous emergence of balance and consequent high throughput. All th is happens without a work-content model or traditional assembly line balanc ing technology. Here we show that bucket brigades can be effective even in the presence of variability in the work content. In addition, we report con firmation at the national distribution center of a major chain retailer, wh ich experienced a 34% increase in productivity after the workers began pick ing orders by bucket brigade.