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Traveling worker assembly line (re)balancing problem: Model, reduction techniques, and real case studies

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  • Sikora, Celso Gustavo Stall
  • Lopes, Thiago Cantos
  • Magatão, Leandro

Abstract

The assembly line balancing problem arises from equally dividing the workload among all workstations. Several solution methods explore different variants of the problem, but no model includes all characteristics real assembly lines might contain. This paper presents a mixed integer linear programming model that solves the Traveling Worker Assembly Line Balancing Problem (TWALBP). In this problem, the tasks’ balancing along with the assignment of workers to one or more workstations is determined for a given layout. The assignment flexibility is solved with a traveling salesman problem formulation integrated in the balancing model. Adapted standard datasets and three real case scenarios are used as benchmark sets. These scenarios present particularities such as human and robotic workers, assignment restrictions, zoning constraints, automatic and common tasks. The model successfully determines the tasks’ assignments and the routing of every worker for a layout aware optimization of assembly lines. Better quality balancing solutions were achieved allowing workers to perform tasks at multiple stations, showing a trade-off between assignment flexibility and movement time.

Suggested Citation

  • Sikora, Celso Gustavo Stall & Lopes, Thiago Cantos & Magatão, Leandro, 2017. "Traveling worker assembly line (re)balancing problem: Model, reduction techniques, and real case studies," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(3), pages 949-971.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:259:y:2017:i:3:p:949-971
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.11.027
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    2. Hashemi-Petroodi, S. Ehsan & Thevenin, Simon & Kovalev, Sergey & Dolgui, Alexandre, 2023. "Markov decision process for multi-manned mixed-model assembly lines with walking workers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    3. Christian Weckenborg & Karsten Kieckhäfer & Christoph Müller & Martin Grunewald & Thomas S. Spengler, 2020. "Balancing of assembly lines with collaborative robots," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(1), pages 93-132, April.
    4. Lopes, Thiago Cantos & Pastre, Giuliano Vidal & Michels, Adalberto Sato & Magatão, Leandro, 2020. "Flexible multi-manned assembly line balancing problem: Model, heuristic procedure, and lower bounds for line length minimization," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Boysen, Nils & Schulze, Philipp & Scholl, Armin, 2022. "Assembly line balancing: What happened in the last fifteen years?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(3), pages 797-814.
    6. Murat Şahin & Talip Kellegöz, 2023. "Benders’ decomposition based exact solution method for multi-manned assembly line balancing problem with walking workers," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 321(1), pages 507-540, February.
    7. Battaïa, Olga & Dolgui, Alexandre, 2022. "Hybridizations in line balancing problems: A comprehensive review on new trends and formulations," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    8. Lopes, Thiago Cantos & Sikora, C.G.S. & Molina, Rafael Gobbi & Schibelbain, Daniel & Rodrigues, L.C.A. & Magatão, Leandro, 2017. "Balancing a robotic spot welding manufacturing line: An industrial case study," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 263(3), pages 1033-1048.
    9. Minghai Yuan & Hongyan Yu & Jinting Huang & Aimin Ji, 2019. "Reconfigurable assembly line balancing for cloud manufacturing," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 30(6), pages 2391-2405, August.
    10. Michels, Adalberto Sato & Lopes, Thiago Cantos & Magatão, Leandro, 2020. "An exact method with decomposition techniques and combinatorial Benders’ cuts for the type-2 multi-manned assembly line balancing problem," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 7(C).
    11. Thiago Cantos Lopes & Celso Gustavo Stall Sikora & Adalberto Sato Michels & Leandro Magatão, 2020. "Mixed-model assembly lines balancing with given buffers and product sequence: model, formulation comparisons, and case study," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 286(1), pages 475-500, March.
    12. Michels, Adalberto Sato & Lopes, Thiago Cantos & Sikora, Celso Gustavo Stall & Magatão, Leandro, 2019. "A Benders’ decomposition algorithm with combinatorial cuts for the multi-manned assembly line balancing problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 278(3), pages 796-808.

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