Optimization of Line Configuration and Balancing for Flexible Machining Lines

• Published in: Chinese journal of mechanical engineering 2016-05, Vol.29 (3), p.579-587
• Main Authors: Liu, Xuemei, Li, Aiping, Chen, Zurui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Manufacturing Technology; Algorithms; Balancing; Clustering; Computing time; Configurations; Constraint modelling; Cycle time; Electrical Machines and Networks; Electronics and Microelectronics; Engineering; Engineering Thermodynamics; Ethernet; Heat and Mass Transfer; Heuristic; Heuristic methods; Instrumentation; Machines; Machining; Manufacturing; Mathematical programming; Mechanical Engineering; Numerical controls; Optimization; Power Electronics; Processes; Sequences; Strategy; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Transfer lines; Variation; Work stations; Workstations; 分配算法; 启发式算法; 周期时间; 基于特征; 多色集合理论; 平衡问题; 柔性加工线; 结构优化
• ISSN: 1000-9345; 2192-8258
• DOI: 10.3901/CJME.2016.0203.020

Line configuration and balancing is to select the type of line and allot a given set of operations as well as machines to a sequence of workstations to realize high-efficiency production. Most of the current researches for machining line configuration and balancing problems are related to dedicated transfer lines with dedicated machine workstations. With growing trends towards great product variety and fluctuations in market demand, dedicated transfer lines are being replaced with flexible machining line composed of identical CNC machines. This paper deals with the line configuration and balancing problem for flexible machining lines. The objective is to assign operations to workstations and find the sequence of execution, specify the number of machines in each workstation while minimizing the line cycle time and total number of machines. This problem is subject to precedence, clustering, accessibility and capacity constraints among the features, operations, setups and workstations. The mathematical model and heuristic algorithm based on feature group strategy and polychromatic sets theory are presented to find an optimal solution. The feature group strategy and polychromatic sets theory are used to establish constraint model. A heuristic operations sequencing and assignment algorithm is given. An industrial case study is carried out, and multiple optimal solutions in different line configurations are obtained. The case studying results show that the solutions with shorter cycle time and higher line balancing rate demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. This research proposes a heuristic line configuration and balancing algorithm based on feature group strategy and polychromatic sets theory which is able to provide better solutions while achieving an improvement in computing time.