Multi-Manned Assembly Line Balancing: Workforce Synchronization for Big Data Sets through Simulated Annealing

The assembly of large and complex products such as cars, trucks, white goods typically involves a huge amount production resources workers, pieces equipment, layout areas. In this context, multi-manned workstations commonly characterize these lines. simultaneous operators’ activity in the same station suggests considering compatibility/incompatibility between different mounting positions, equipment sharing, worker cooperation. management all aspects significantly increases balancing problem complexity due to determination start/end times each task. This paper proposes new mixed-integer programming model simultaneously optimize line efficiency, length, workload smoothness. A customized procedure based on simulated annealing algorithm is developed effectively solve problem. aforementioned applied real European sports car manufacturers distinguished by 665 tasks numerous synchronization constraints. experimental results present remarkable performances obtained proposed both terms solution quality computation time. approach practical reference for efficient design, task assignment, allocation, position considered industrial fields.