Sequencing mixed-model assembly lines operating with a heterogeneous workforce

Abstract

We study the problem of sequencing mixed-model assembly lines operating with a heterogeneous workforce. The practical motivation for this study comes from the context of managing assembly lines in sheltered work centres for the disabled. We propose a general framework in which task execution times are both worker and model dependent. Within this framework, the problem is defined and mathematical mixed-integer models and heuristic procedures are proposed. These include a set of fast constructive heuristics, two local search procedures based on approximate measures using either a solution upper bound or the solution of a linear program and a GRASP metaheuristic. Computational tests with instances adapted from commonly used literature databases are used to validate the proposed approaches. These tests give insight on the quality of the different techniques, which prove to be very efficient both in terms of computational effort and solution quality when compared to other strategies such as a random sampling or the solution of the MIP models using a commercial solver.

Keywords:

• mixed-model assembly lines
• heterogeneous workers
• disabled workers
• heuristics
• mixed-integer programming

Acknowledgements

The authors thank two anonymous referees and the Associated Editor for their thoughtful comments which have helped improve both the presentation and the content of this article. The authors also thank FAPESP – Brazil, for the financial support.