Multi-objective Analysis for a Sequencing Planning of Mixed-model Assembly Line

Abstract

Diversified customer demands are raising importance of just-in-time and agile manufacturing much more than before. Accordingly, introduction of mixed-model assembly lines becomes popular to realize the small-lot-multi-kinds production. Since it produces various kinds on the same assembly line, a rational management is of special importance. With this point of view, this study focuses on a sequencing problem of mixed-model assembly line including a paint line as its preceding process. By taking into account the paint line together, reducing work-in-process (WIP) inventory between these heterogeneous lines becomes a major concern of the sequencing problem besides improving production efficiency. Finally, we have formulated the sequencing problem as a bi-objective optimization problem to prevent various line stoppages, and to reduce the volume of WIP inventory simultaneously. Then we have proposed a practical method for the multi-objective analysis. For this purpose, we applied the weighting method to derive the Pareto front. Actually, the resulting problem is solved by a meta-heuristic method like SA (Simulated Annealing). Through numerical experiments, we verified the validity of the proposed approach, and discussed the significance of trade-off analysis between the conflicting objectives.

Multi-Objective Analysis Applied to Mixed-Model Assembly Line Sequencing Problem through Elite Induced Evolutionary Method

“…Since the weighting method outperformed the other methods for the problem under consideration (8) , we will focus on the weighting method below. In general, we can use an appropriate one from above-mentioned method depending on the problem under consideration.…”

Multi-Objective Sequencing Optimization for Mixed-Model Assembly Line Considering Due-Date Satisfaction

“…Relying on the so far study (12) , we will below adopt the weighting method for MOA for this purpose.…”

“…We are also interested in considering the due dates of finished products. Taking these new concerns in our conventional ones (11) - (13) , we formulate a bi-objective optimization problem that aims at reducing tardiness and inventory volume at the same time. This formulation is relevant because these two goals conflict with each other and their relative importance will change depending on the decision maker (DM) and/or the circumstance under consideration.…”

Multi-Objective Optimization on a Sequencing Planning of Mixed-Model Assembly Line

“…There, we intended to apply a two-stage method in terms of multi-objective optimization method termed MOON 2R (1) . The aim of this study is to extend the foregoing studies (2), (3) that are staying at the concerns related with multi-objective analysis to multi-objective optimization. We can cope with the resulting NP-hard combinatorial problem under multiple objectives through the proposed procedure in such a flexible and adaptive manner that any conventional interactive methods and/or recent evolutionary approaches cannot do.…”