The multi-objective assembly line worker integration and balancing problem of type-2

•Definition of a variant of the assembly line worker integration and balancing problem, which considers an even distribution of workers.•Proposal of a three constructive heuristics.•Computational experiments demonstrates that the regularity distribution goal can be easily incorporated without major...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers & operations research 2017-06, Vol.82, p.114-125
Main Authors: Moreira, Mayron César O., Pastor, Rafael, Costa, Alysson M., Miralles, Cristóbal
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assembly line balancing
Assembly lines
Assembly-line methods
Disabled workers
Economia i organització d'empreses
Heuristic algorithms
Integration
Planificació
Producció
Production planning
Productivity
Programació heurística
Regularity criterion
Studies
Treball en cadena
Worker integration
Workers with disabilities
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
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Summary:•Definition of a variant of the assembly line worker integration and balancing problem, which considers an even distribution of workers.•Proposal of a three constructive heuristics.•Computational experiments demonstrates that the regularity distribution goal can be easily incorporated without major productivity losses. The consideration of worker heterogeneity in assembly lines has received a fair amount of attention in the literature in the past decade. Most of this exploration uses as motivation the example of assembly lines in sheltered work centers for the disabled. Only recently has the community started looking at the situation faced in assembly lines in the general industrial park, when in the presence of worker heterogeneity. This step raises a number of questions around the best way to incorporate heterogeneous workers in the line, maximizing their integration while maintaining productivity levels. In this paper we propose the use of Miltenburg’s regularity criterion and cycle time as metrics for integration of workers and productivity, respectively. We then define, model and develop heuristics for a line balancing problem with these two goals. Results obtained through an extensive set of computational experiments indicate that a good planning can obtain trade-off solutions that perform well in both objectives.
ISSN:0305-0548
1873-765X
0305-0548
DOI:10.1016/j.cor.2017.01.003