Incompletion costs versus labour efficiency on the fixed-item moving belt flowline

Abstract

This paper describes the operation of assembly lines where items are rigidly attached to a moving conveyor bolt and where the processing stations are confined within fixed boundaries. Another mechanical method of product transfer, namely indexing, is also discussed, Both Monte Carlo simulation models and two industrial examples yield convincing evidence that for good flowline design the ratio of on-line inventory to stations should be greater than unity. Such a condition would effectively discriminate against the use of stochastic assembly line balancing techniques, although they have been developed specifically for such systems. In addition, the results confirm that the most economic way of operating these lines is to sot a pace that is fast enough to generate a small proportion of unfinished items.