University Mustapha Stambouli
Assembly Line
Solving the mixed-model assembly line balancing problem type-I using a Hybrid Reactive GRASP
Balancing an assembly line is a critical problem in manufacturing systems, it aims to assign a set of assembly tasks or operations into a set of workstations in order to optimize different performance measures (Fathi et al., 2018). Workstations can be arranged in a straight assembly line, U-shaped assembly line, or parallel assembly line (see, Figure 1), and to move work-pieces between these workstations a transportation system is used, for example, a conveyor belt or any mechanical material handling system. The time taken by each workstation to accomplish all assembly tasks required by the work-piece is called cycle time. The assignment of assembly tasks into workstations is restricted by precedence relations that are presented in a diagram known as precedence graph which demonstrates all relations between tasks (Saif et al., 2014).