Walking worker vs fixed worker assembly considering the impact of components exposure on assembly time and energy expenditure

Abstract Recently, the need for assembly systems of better following market demand has led to spread alternative solutions with respect traditional fixed worker strategy. Walking systems, where operators move across line produce finished product, are gaining always more interest. In this paper, a comparison between (FW) and walking (WW) strategies is provided, by taking into account their differences both in terms performed activities during material exposure at workstations. The evaluation carried out through proposal mathematical model, understand impact on time operators’ energy expenditure. behavior model investigated parametric analysis real case study. results show that FW best one when system working its maximum throughput, while WW strategy turns be preferable lower values demand, from an expenditure perspective.