Helen Reeves Furniture assembles Y$-$shaped products. Stages A$,$ B$,$ and C make one part of the Y; stages J$,$ K$,$ and L assemble the other part of the Y; stage X is where the two subassemblies are brought together; and some final tasks are completed in stages Y and Z$.$ One employee works at each of the stages. The line is paced $($each station is synchronized$)$ so that inventory accumulates only briefly between the stages $($all the stages work at the same pace$).$