Also, part of the time vehicles traveled empty to their pickup location, reducing their efficiency. Continuous conveyor networks move all work simultaneously at will. No work needs waiting, all free work in process is always on its way to a new destination. Because of this, continuous conveyors have a very large capacity to move work. Also, all work is on the move, no space to store waiting work in process is needed.
Expensive stockers become optional.
The fast response to variable demands to move is a result of the large capacity to move. First, when a demand to move occurs, readiness to move is instantly available at all sites. Second, even if demand to move varies with time, quantity and location, the response to move remains instantaneous because of the large capacity. This allows for tool, cluster or manufacturing bay shutdowns temporarily. This also allows for varying the lot size to be transported since increasing the number of moving work will not matter.