Design configuration for a closed-station, mixed-model assembly line: A filing cabinet manufacturing system

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-10-2001

Abstract

A closed-station assembly line with mixed models encountered in a filing cabinet manufacturing company is considered. Utility and idle times play an important role on the performance and economy of a closed-station system. This paper addresses a problem that minimizes the total cost of the utility and idle times caused due to different line parameters (launch interval, station length, starting point of work, upstream walk, locus of the operator's movement, etc.) and operation sequences of the mixed models. A mixed-integer-programming model for a closed-station system is developed to determine line parameters optimally. The model is tested on a three-station, mixed-model assembly line in a filing cabinet manufacturing system. The research shows that a set of line parameters is available for which the total cost of utility and idle times is minimal. Results also indicate that the minimum total cost of utility and idle times in a closed-station system decreases with line length. A sensitivity analysis is performed to study the effects of line and launch intervals in such a manufacturing line.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

International Journal of Production Research

First Page

2251

Last Page

2270

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS