Meeting demand variation using flexible U-shaped assembly lines

• Published in: International journal of production research 2009-07, Vol.47 (14), p.3937-3955
• Main Authors: Simaria, A.S., Zanella de Sá, M., Vilarinho, P.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ant colony optimisation; Applied sciences; assembly line balancing; assembly lines; assembly planning; assembly systems; balancing; combinatorial optimisation; Customization; Exact sciences and technology; Facilities planning; Flexible manufacturing systems; Flows in networks. Combinatorial problems; Heuristic; Inventory control, production control. Distribution; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Optimization algorithms; Security systems; Studies
• ISSN: 0020-7543; 1366-588X
• DOI: 10.1080/00207540701871044

Nowadays, companies must be able to provide a higher degree of product customisation to fulfil the needs of the increasingly sophisticated customer demand. This can only be achieved by having flexible production systems, able to cope with extended product ranges and with the uncertainty and variability of demand in the current market environment. The purpose of this paper is to present a contribution related to facilities design that accounts for this issue, by presenting flexible U-shaped line configurations for an assembly system. In this type of line, whenever the production volume or product mix changes, the only modification in the line will be the number of operators working in the line, as the physical workstations remain fixed. The relevance of the problem is stated and a heuristic procedure, based on ant colony algorithms, developed to address this problem is described. The results of the application of the proposed procedure to an assembly line of a major manufacturer of electronic security systems are reported.