A simulation based optimization algorithm for slack reduction and workforce scheduling

Abstract

In an assembly line with high labor proportion, the workforce planning and scheduling is a very complex problem. At the background of increasing labor costs, it is very important to increase workforce efficiency. It is essential for companies to remain competitive on global markets. Increasing efficiency is our motivation to work on simulation-based workforce scheduling for complex assembly lines. In this paper, we will focus on the heuristic algorithm in our simulation-based optimization approach. The objective is workforce quantity and slack reduction. To improve the objective, an algorithm assigns the number of workers for activities, scheduled in the simulation run. We will present three different strategies implemented in these optimization algorithms. They basically use the performance indicator slack time, work center utilization and a mix of both parameters. We will compare the algorithms according to their achieved objective and the required computation time.

Analysis of the Robustness of Production Scheduling in Aeronautical Manufacturing Using Simulation: A Case Study

“…It considers supplier and production disruptions. Lu (2012) used simulation to identify bottlenecks and Noack (2008) proposed simulation optimization for workforce balancing. Nonetheless, the literature is still surprisingly lacking of contributions discussing the utilization of simulation in the aero structure production.…”

A Conceptual Architecture Based on Intelligent Services for Manufacturing Support Systems

“…Human initiative at different organisational levels: In contrast to a fully-automated computation of production planning and control instructions, the production in the lowvolume production is labour-intensive [19]. Consequently, some decision support has to be offered to the staff at the production planning and control department, but at the same time, the operational decisions made by assembly line managers, station managers, and workers have to be supported.…”

“…Negotiation-based coordination of schedules: From a production planning and control point of view, a single project is created for each customer order [19], [21]. The corresponding network plan is used to determine milestones for each customer order.…”

“…From a scheduling point of view, the scheduling problem on the task level can be modelled as a multi-mode resource constraint project scheduling problem (RCPSP) (cf. [19], [21]). A certain set of modes is assigned to each task.…”

Scheduling with limited resources along the aeronautical supply chain : from parts manufacturing plants to final assembly lines

“…It considers supplier and production disruptions. Lu [Lu et al, 2012] used simulation to identify bottlenecks and Noack [Noack and Rose, 2008] proposed simulation optimization for workforce balancing within a line.…”