IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/flsman/v31y2019i1d10.1007_s10696-018-9309-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Benefits of robust multiobjective optimization for flexible automotive assembly line balancing

Author

Listed:
  • Manuel Chica

    (The University of Newcastle)

  • Joaquín Bautista

    (Universitat Politcnica de Catalunya)

  • Jesica de Armas

    (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)

Abstract

Changing conditions and variations in the demand are frequent in real industrial environments. Decision makers have to take into account this uncertainty and manage it properly. One clear example is the automotive industry where manufacturers have to assume an uncertain and heterogeneous demand. For instance, automotive manufacturers must adapt their decisions when balancing the assembly line by considering different flexible solutions. Our proposal is using robust multiobjective optimization and simulation techniques to provide managers with a set of robust and equally-preferred solutions for assembly line balancing. We study a Nissan case where the demand of each product family is uncertain. The problem is addressed by considering a robust multiobjective model for assembly line balancing based on a high number of production plans. After the selection of six different assembly line configurations, we study the implications of robustness metrics based on workstations’ overload. We show that the adverse managerial effects of not having flexible line configuration when demand changes are alleviated. For the real Nissan automotive case, our analysis and conclusions show the managerial and industrial benefits of using robust assembly lines. We also encourage decision makers to use robust multiobjective optimization methods for selecting the most flexible decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuel Chica & Joaquín Bautista & Jesica de Armas, 2019. "Benefits of robust multiobjective optimization for flexible automotive assembly line balancing," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 75-103, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:flsman:v:31:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10696-018-9309-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10696-018-9309-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10696-018-9309-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10696-018-9309-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Scholl, Armin & Becker, Christian, 2006. "State-of-the-art exact and heuristic solution procedures for simple assembly line balancing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 168(3), pages 666-693, February.
    2. Boysen, Nils & Fliedner, Malte & Scholl, Armin, 2008. "Assembly line balancing: Which model to use when," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(2), pages 509-528, February.
    3. Richard E. Nance & Robert G. Sargent, 2002. "Perspectives on the Evolution of Simulation," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 50(1), pages 161-172, February.
    4. Saul I. Gass & Arjang A. Assad, 2005. "Model World: Tales from the Time Line—The Definition of OR and the Origins of Monte Carlo Simulation," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 35(5), pages 429-435, October.
    5. Boysen, Nils & Fliedner, Malte & Scholl, Armin, 2007. "A classification of assembly line balancing problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(2), pages 674-693, December.
    6. Chica, Manuel & Cordón, Óscar & Damas, Sergio & Bautista, Joaquín, 2013. "A robustness information and visualization model for time and space assembly line balancing under uncertain demand," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 761-772.
    7. Roy, Bernard, 2010. "Robustness in operational research and decision aiding: A multi-faceted issue," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 200(3), pages 629-638, February.
    8. .Ilker Baybars, 1986. "A Survey of Exact Algorithms for the Simple Assembly Line Balancing Problem," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(8), pages 909-932, August.
    9. Bautista, Joaquín & Alfaro, Rocío & Batalla, Cristina, 2015. "Modeling and solving the mixed-model sequencing problem to improve productivity," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 83-95.
    10. Bautista, Joaquín & Batalla-García, Cristina & Alfaro-Pozo, Rocío, 2016. "Models for assembly line balancing by temporal, spatial and ergonomic risk attributes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 251(3), pages 814-829.
    11. Juan, Angel A. & Faulin, Javier & Grasman, Scott E. & Rabe, Markus & Figueira, Gonçalo, 2015. "A review of simheuristics: Extending metaheuristics to deal with stochastic combinatorial optimization problems," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 2(C), pages 62-72.
    12. Chica, Manuel & Bautista, Joaquín & Cordón, Óscar & Damas, Sergio, 2016. "A multiobjective model and evolutionary algorithms for robust time and space assembly line balancing under uncertain demand," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 55-68.
    13. Thomas W. Lucas & W. David Kelton & Paul J. Sánchez & Susan M. Sanchez & Ben L. Anderson, 2015. "Changing the paradigm: Simulation, now a method of first resort," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 62(4), pages 293-303, June.
    14. Agoston E. Eiben & Jim Smith, 2015. "From evolutionary computation to the evolution of things," Nature, Nature, vol. 521(7553), pages 476-482, May.
    15. Bautista, Joaquin & Pereira, Jordi, 2007. "Ant algorithms for a time and space constrained assembly line balancing problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(3), pages 2016-2032, March.
    16. Antonio Moreno & Christian Terwiesch, 2015. "Pricing and Production Flexibility: An Empirical Analysis of the U.S. Automotive Industry," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 17(4), pages 428-444, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mustapha Anwar Brahami & Mohammed Dahane & Mehdi Souier & M’hammed Sahnoun, 2022. "Sustainable capacitated facility location/network design problem: a Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm based multiobjective approach," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 311(2), pages 821-852, April.
    2. Sikora, Celso Gustavo Stall, 2024. "Balancing mixed-model assembly lines for random sequences," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 314(2), pages 597-611.
    3. 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).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chica, Manuel & Bautista, Joaquín & Cordón, Óscar & Damas, Sergio, 2016. "A multiobjective model and evolutionary algorithms for robust time and space assembly line balancing under uncertain demand," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 55-68.
    2. 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.
    3. Scholl, Armin & Fliedner, Malte & Boysen, Nils, 2010. "Absalom: Balancing assembly lines with assignment restrictions," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 200(3), pages 688-701, February.
    4. Battaïa, Olga & Dolgui, Alexandre, 2013. "A taxonomy of line balancing problems and their solutionapproaches," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 259-277.
    5. Chica, Manuel & Cordón, Óscar & Damas, Sergio & Bautista, Joaquín, 2013. "A robustness information and visualization model for time and space assembly line balancing under uncertain demand," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 761-772.
    6. Sternatz, Johannes, 2015. "The joint line balancing and material supply problem," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 304-318.
    7. Sternatz, Johannes, 2014. "Enhanced multi-Hoffmann heuristic for efficiently solving real-world assembly line balancing problems in automotive industry," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 235(3), pages 740-754.
    8. Moreira, Mayron César O. & Costa, Alysson M., 2013. "Hybrid heuristics for planning job rotation schedules in assembly lines with heterogeneous workers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 552-560.
    9. García-Villoria, Alberto & Corominas, Albert & Nadal, Adrià & Pastor, Rafael, 2018. "Solving the accessibility windows assembly line problem level 1 and variant 1 (AWALBP-L1-1) with precedence constraints," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 271(3), pages 882-895.
    10. Borba, Leonardo & Ritt, Marcus & Miralles, Cristóbal, 2018. "Exact and heuristic methods for solving the Robotic Assembly Line Balancing Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 270(1), pages 146-156.
    11. Parames Chutima, 2022. "A comprehensive review of robotic assembly line balancing problem," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 1-34, January.
    12. Hamta, Nima & Fatemi Ghomi, S.M.T. & Jolai, F. & Akbarpour Shirazi, M., 2013. "A hybrid PSO algorithm for a multi-objective assembly line balancing problem with flexible operation times, sequence-dependent setup times and learning effect," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(1), pages 99-111.
    13. Tiacci, Lorenzo & Mimmi, Mario, 2018. "Integrating ergonomic risks evaluation through OCRA index and balancing/sequencing decisions for mixed model stochastic asynchronous assembly lines," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 112-138.
    14. Otto, Alena & Otto, Christian & Scholl, Armin, 2013. "Systematic data generation and test design for solution algorithms on the example of SALBPGen for assembly line balancing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 228(1), pages 33-45.
    15. Klindworth, Hanne & Otto, Christian & Scholl, Armin, 2012. "On a learning precedence graph concept for the automotive industry," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 217(2), pages 259-269.
    16. 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.
    17. Bautista, Joaquín & Pereira, Jordi, 2011. "Procedures for the Time and Space constrained Assembly Line Balancing Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 212(3), pages 473-481, August.
    18. 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).
    19. Araújo, Felipe F.B. & Costa, Alysson M. & Miralles, Cristóbal, 2012. "Two extensions for the ALWABP: Parallel stations and collaborative approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(1), pages 483-495.
    20. Costa, Alysson M. & Miralles, Cristóbal, 2009. "Job rotation in assembly lines employing disabled workers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 625-632, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:flsman:v:31:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10696-018-9309-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.