title: Heuristic procedure for the assembly line balancing problem with postural load smoothness.
abstract: This paper presents a heuristic procedure for assigning assembly tasks to workstations where both productivity and ergonomics issues are considered concurrently. The procedure uses Kilbridge and Wester's algorithm to obtain an initial task-workstation assignment solution which minimizes the balance delay of an assembly line. A task reassignment algorithm was applied to improve the initial solution by exchanging assembly tasks, which smooth postural load among workers, between workstations. A composite index of variation was used to measure the effectiveness of the task-workstation assignment solution. On the basis of clothes assembling, it was found that the task-workstation assignment solution with a minimum composite index of variation can be obtained with relatively equal weights in balance delay and postural load.
authors: Department of Production Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand. chorkaew.jat@kmutt.ac.th.
authors: Chorkaew
authors: C
authors: Jaturanonda
authors: Suebsak
authors: S
authors: Nanthavanij
authors: Sanchoy K
authors: SK
authors: Das
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004526:Efficiency; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013783:Textile Industry