Abstract
The paper deals with optimal balancing transfer lines where the operations in each workstation are grouped into blocks. All operations of the same block are executed simultaneously by one spindle head. Spindle heads of the same workstation are activated sequentially. The workstation time is the sum of the processing times of its blocks. The problem is to find the best assignment of operations to blocks and assignment of blocks to workstations that leads to the minimal transfer line cost (a weighted sum of blocks and workstation numbers). The solution must provide a desired productivity rate (cycle time). It must also satisfy precedence and compatibility constraints. Two heuristic algorithms based on the COMSOAL technique are proposed. Results from computer testing are reported.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
E.-H. Aghezzaf A. Artiba (1995) ArticleTitleLagrangean relaxation technique for the general assembly line balancing problem Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 6 123–131
A. L. Arcus (1966) ArticleTitleCOMSOAL: a computer method of sequencing operations for assembly lines International Journal of Production Research 4 259–277
I. Baybars (1986) ArticleTitleA survey of exact algorithms for the simple assembly line balancing Management Science 32 909–932
Dolgui, A., Guschinsky, N. and Levin, G. (1999) On Problem of Optimal Design of Transfer Lines with Parallel and Sequential Operations. In: Proceedings of the 7th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA’99), October 18–21, 1999, Barcelona, Spain, Vol. 1, pp. 329–334
Dolgui, A., Guschinsky, N. and Levin, G. (2000) Approaches to balancing of transfer line with block of parallel operations, Institute of Engineering Cybernetics/University of Technology of Troyes, Minsk, Preprint No. 8, 42 pages
Dolgui, A., Guschinsky, N., Levin, G. and Harrath, Y. (2001) Optimal design of a class of transfer lines with parallel operations. In: Manufacturing, Modeling, Management and Control: A Proceedings Volume of the IFAC Symposium, P. Groumpos and A. Tzes (eds.), Elsevier Science, pp. 36–41.
A. Dolgui N. Guschinsky Y. Harrath G. Levin (2002a) ArticleTitleUne approche de programmation linéaire pour la conception des lignes de transfert European Journal of Automated Systems (JESA) 36 IssueID1 11–33
Dolgui, A., Finel, B., Guschinsky, N., Levin, G. and Vernadat, F. (2002b) A transfer line design and balancing approach. In: Proceedings of the Digital Enterprise Technology Seminar, (DET’02) Durham, UK, pp. 207–210
E. Erel S. C. Sarin (1998) ArticleTitleA survey of the assembly line balancing procedures Production Planning and Control 9 IssueID5 414–434
S. Ghosh R. Gagnon (1989) ArticleTitleA comprehensive literature review and analysis of the design, balancing and scheduling of assembly lines International Journal Production Research 27 IssueID4 637–670
M. P. Groover (1987) Automation, Production Systems and Computer Integrated Manufacturing Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs New Jersey
W.B. Helgenson D. P. Birnie (1961) ArticleTitleAssembly line balancing using ranked positional weight technique Journal of Industrial Engineering 12 394–398
Hitomi, K. (1996) Manufacturing Systems Engineering: Taylor & Francis.
B. Rekiek P. De Lit A. Delchambre (2000) ArticleTitleDesigning mixed-product assembly lines IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation 16 IssueID3 268–280
B. Rekiek P. De Lit F. Pellichero T. L’Eglise P. Fouda E. Falkenauer A. Delchambre (2001) ArticleTitleA multiple objective grouping genetic algorithm for assembly line design Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 12 IssueID5,6 467–485
B. Rekiek A. Dolgui A. Delchambre A. Bratcu (2002) ArticleTitleState of art of assembly lines design optimisation Annual Reviews in Control 26 IssueID2 163–174
I. Sabuncuoglu E. Erel M. Tanyer (2000) ArticleTitleAssembly line balancing using genetic algorithms Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 11 IssueID3 295–310
A. Scholl R. Klein (1998) ArticleTitleBalancing assembly lines effectively: a computational comparison European Journal of Operational Research 114 51–60
Scholl, A. (1999) Balancing and Sequencing of Assembly Lines, Heidelberg Physica.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dolgui, A., Finel, B., Vernadat, F. et al. A heuristic approach for transfer lines balancing. J Intell Manuf 16, 159–172 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-004-5886-6
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-004-5886-6