We compared a DBR(drum-buffer-rope) system with a CONWIP(constant work-in-process) system in a production line with constant processing times. Based on the observation that a WIP-controlled line production system such as DBR and CONWIP is equivalent to a m-node tandem queue with finite buffer, we applied a max-plus algebra based solution method for the tandem queue to evaluate the performance of two systems. Numerical examples with 6 workstations were also used to demonstrate the proposed analysis. The mathematical analyses support that CONWIP outperforms DBR in terms of expected waiting time and WIP. Unlike the CONWIP case, sequencing workstations in a DBR affects the performance of the system. Delaying a bottleneck station in a DBR reduces expected waiting time.