The inherent advantages of a flexible work-force have been brought to the forefront by innovative manufacturing techniques developed by the Japanese. The flexible work-force presents new opportunities for operating assembly lines, including the possibility of manning a line with fewer operators than stations. A method for determining a flexible work-force assignment and buffer capacity that operates at or near minimum cost is presented. The method, OFRO (organizing flexible, rotating operators), allows an assembly line to operate with fewer operators than stations.