Labour-intensive line-cell reconfiguration with cycle time adjustment attributed to changes in situational awareness
by Joshua Prakash; Chuan Choong Yang; Jeng Feng Chin
International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering (IJISE), Vol. 27, No. 2, 2017

Abstract: In line-cell reconfiguration, cycle time is adjusted whenever operators involve multiple tasks. One crucial factor frequently overlooked is changes in situational awareness, which relates to the comprehension on the task importance of operators. This paper presents a line-cell reconfiguration that considers changes in situational awareness. A mathematical model is developed and tested via simulation of a case study facility. The simulation model seeks to find the best operator assignment and obtain the number of cells needed to achieve the objective. The model also determines whether it performs better than the existing assembly line conveyor system. The cells marginally perform better than the original system but are subjected to constraints in the operator assignment method. Despite the close proximity of operators, the cycle time expansion of individual tasks contributes to the poor performance of the cells. This paper is the first to examine changes in situational awareness in the context of manufacturing.

Online publication date: Mon, 04-Sep-2017

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