A study of in-process waiting time on a linear walking worker assembly line

Abstract This paper presents a study of in-process waiting times on a linear walking worker assembly line in a real buffer-constrained flowshop environment using the simulation method. The in-process waiting time can lead to production loss and in-process inventory; it can also affect the throughput...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part B, Journal of engineering manufacture Vol. 221; no. 12; pp. 1763 - 1770
Main Authors: Lassalle, S, Wang, Q, Owen, G W, Mileham, A R
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2007
Mechanical Engineering Publications
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Assembly lines
Buffers
Computer simulation
Constraints
Embedded systems
Exact sciences and technology
Lean manufacturing
Manufacturing cells
Mathematical models
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering. Machine design
Mechanics
Operational research and scientific management
Operational research. Management science
Queuing
Queuing theory. Traffic theory
Series (mathematics)
Simulation
Spreadsheets
lean manufacturing
manual assembly
modelling and simulation
queuing
walking workers
flexible assembly lines
Input output
Linear time
In-process inventory
Modeling
Waiting time
Spreadsheet
Flow shop
Queue
Assembly
Production process
Completion time
Legged locomotion
Production system
Assembly line
Probabilistic approach
Blocking
Buffer system
Lead time
Walking
Flexible manufacturing system
ISSN:0954-4054, 2041-2975
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Abstract This paper presents a study of in-process waiting times on a linear walking worker assembly line in a real buffer-constrained flowshop environment using the simulation method. The in-process waiting time can lead to production loss and in-process inventory; it can also affect the throughput time for completion of a product assembled in a sequential flowline-based manufacturing system. The aim of this research is to investigate the varying magnitude of the total in-process waiting time for individual walking workers who may have to wait to carry out operations at a station due to blocking on the line ahead. The results were obtained by varying a number of system parameters embedded in a simulation model created using Witness® with the key input/output data being manipulated by a series of MS Excel-spreadsheets. The main finding of this work is that the in-process waiting time (which affects the expected throughput time) can be determined and it is adjustable by the strategic application of walking workers on a linear assembly line, even if the system behaviour is random.
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ISSN:0954-4054
2041-2975
DOI:10.1243/09544054JEM769