1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

A study of line-balancing and sequencing of a multiple product assembly line

AuthorShon, See Chou
Call NumberAIT Thesis no. IE-87-08
Subject(s)Manufacturing processes--Mathematical models

NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series StatementThesis ; no. IE-87-08
AbstractThe main purpose of this study is to redesign a production line from single model line basis to mixed model line basis. The plant concerned manufactures television sets in which most of the parts I components are electrical in nature. The design of mixed model assembly line is considered when the numbers of models exceeds the numbers of assembly lines and it is desired to keep every product exceeds the number of assembly in production rather than make batches intermittently for inventory and changeover time. However, the disadvantage resulting in the ever flow of work and consequent station idle time I or congestion of semi-finished products. The steps of this study are : (i) Investigating the existing process in the television assembly plant by application of Hoffman single model line balancing technique. (ii) Adapting single model line balancing techniques to mixed model line schedules. (iii) Applying Dar-El and R.F. Cother sequencing algorithm to determine the line length for no idle time and operator interference. (iv) Applying the R.C.Wilson & F.Z. Wang sequencing algorithm to find out the amount of idle time and utility work of the three designs (a) moving belt with fixed items, (b) moving line with removable items, (c) moving line with accumulation. (iv) Comparing the two sequencing algorithm mentioned above. A comparison between the existing production line and the mixed model line shows that approximately 7.4% of labor costs can be saved. However, in line sequencing, the large amount of idle time and utility work resulting in moving line with fixed and removable items; the large number of accumulation for no blocking degrades the line performance significantly. Hence, the mixed model line is not recommended in this case study.
Year1987
Corresponding Series Added EntryAsian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. IE-87-08
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Engineering and Technology
DepartmentOther Field of Studies (No Department)
Academic Program/FoSIndustrial Engineering (IE)
Chairperson(s)Awate, Prakash G. ;
Examination Committee(s)Oudheusden, Dirk L. van ;Fujiwara, Okitsugu ;
Scholarship Donor(s)Lee Foundation, Singapore ;
DegreeThesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1987


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