Mixed assembly line balancing method in scenarios with different mix of products

Abstract

A mixed-model assembly line can manufacture different products in the same assembly line, providing flexible production according to demand seasonal behavior. This article proposes a heuristic that aims to balance production lines subjected to several product models in order to attenuate capacity restrictions in workstations and increase the balancing efficiency. The proposed approach was applied to a mixed assembly line composed of seven product models. The results were considered satisfactory when assessed in terms of production capacity, manufacturing cycle time, and assembly line balancing.

Keywords:
Mixed-model assembly line; Line balance; Capacity; RPW