An integrated model to incorporate ergonomics and resource restrictions into assembly line balancing

Abstract

This study incorporates ergonomics and resource restrictions into assembly line balancing (ALB). For this purpose, an integrated model is proposed. The proposed model is essentially a cost-oriented formulation for ALB under psychological strain, physical strain, worker skills, multiple workers, equipment, working postures and illumination level restrictions. The integrated nature of the proposed model is one of its distinctive features in ALB literature. In addition, the proposed model modifies the existing restrictions by means of real-life facts and introduces two new restrictions arisen from the industry that have not been addressed in the literature. The model minimises the overall cost associated with operating costs of workforce and resources utilised under the ergonomics and resource restrictions. The model is illustrated and validated using some examples.

Keywords:

• assembly line balancing
• energy expenditure
• strain
• integer programming

Acknowledgement

We express our special thanks to the anonymous reviewer and editor for their careful reading of the paper, and for providing valuable comments and suggestions which have helped improve both the content and the presentation.