In this paper a process-oriented simulator for assembly lines is presented. The simulator considers mixed model lines, with stochastic task times, the possibility to have parallel stations, and to consider different scheduling sequences. The simulator is a flexible supporting tool in finding solution of the assembly line balancing problem (and the optimal sequencing problem associated to it) an...

In this study, material flow from decentralized supermarkets to stations in mixed model assembly lines using tow (tugger) trains is investigated. Train routing, scheduling, and loading problems are investigated in parallel to minimize the number of trains, variability in loading and in routes lengths, and line-side inventory holding costs. The general framework for solving these problems in par...

the theoretical and experimental investigation on the thermo-mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (cnt) as reinforcer for oil and gas pipes has increasingly become a hot research area for many engineers and material scientists in recent years. this is mainly due to the advent of the new composite material systems that exhibit exotic material and mechanical properties as compared to the trad...

A new versatile mammalian vector system for protein production, cell biology analyses, and cell factory engineering was developed. The vector system applies the ligation-free uracil-excision based technique--USER cloning--to rapidly construct mammalian expression vectors of multiple DNA fragments and with maximum flexibility, both for choice of vector backbone and cargo. The vector system inclu...

O way to organize workers that lies between traditional assembly lines, where workers are specialists, and craft assembly, where workers are generalists, are “bucket brigades.” We describe how one firm used bucket brigades as an intermediate strategy to migrate from craft assembly to assembly lines. The adoption of bucket brigades led to a narrowing of tasks for each worker and thus accelerated...

An interesting empirical result in the assembly line literature states that slightly unbalanced assembly lines (in the format of a bowl with central stations less loaded than the external ones) present higher throughputs than perfectly balanced ones. This effect is known as the bowl phenomenon. In this study, we analyze the presence of this phenomenon in assembly lines with integer task times. ...

Mixed-model assembly line (MMAL) is a type of production line where a variety of product models similar to product characteristics are assembled. Line balancing and model sequencing problems are important for an efficient use of such lines. This paper presents integer programming formulation and a solution for a loading and assembly plan selection problem in a mixed-model assembly system. The p...

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 p...