EXISTENCE AND SIZING OF BUFFERS IN PARALLEL ASSEMBLY LINES WITH MULTI-LINE WORKSTATIONS AND DIFFERENT CYCLE TIMES

ABSTRACT: Parallel Assembly Lines with multi-line stations (PALBs) have been widely studied in recent years because PALBs can help improve the efficiency of a production system. However, need buffers has not considered PALBP literature. In this study, for first time literature, it is shown and demonstrated to consider use type line when their cycle times are different. Moreover, buffer sizing problem workstation presented formalized. It that sequencing scheduling task influences size. Finally, designed resolution method shown: solve mixed integer linear programming model commercial software, objective minimizing size buffers. Keywords: assembly lines balancing, sizing, scheduling.