Article
Engineering, Industrial
Niloofar Katiraee, Martina Calzavara, Serena Finco, Olga Battaia, Daria Battini
Summary: In manual assembly systems, the differences in workers' skills, expertise level, and physical effort perception greatly influence assembly line balancing and system performance. This study proposes a methodological framework and an easy-to-use Assembly Line Worker Assignment and Rebalancing Problem, which considers workers' performance variability, integration of worker-dependent physical exertion constraints, and the possibility of using trainers to assist inexperienced workers. A bi-objective linear programming model is introduced to minimize cycle time and the number of reassigned tasks while integrating new workers with different characteristics. The results obtained from three real cases demonstrate the successful application of the developed model in manufacturing companies to address workforce turnover and skills heterogeneity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Xuemei Liu, Xiaolang Yang, Mingliang Lei
Summary: This study utilized uncertainty theory and complexity theory to consider uncertain demand in mixed-model assembly line balancing. By introducing scenario probability and triangular fuzzy number to describe uncertain demand, and measuring station complexity based on information entropy and fuzzy entropy, a new optimization model was established. An improved genetic algorithm was applied to solve the model, and the effectiveness of the model was verified on instances of mixed-model assembly line for automobile engines.
JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Mohammed-Amine Abdous, Xavier Delorme, Daria Battini, Fabio Sgarbossa, Sandrine Berger-Douce
Summary: This article introduces a method for considering ergonomics in the design phase of assembly lines. Currently, assembly line workers face challenges related to musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomics problems, which deteriorate the economic condition of production systems. The authors propose a method based on integer linear programming to address the assembly line balancing problem with the consideration of fatigue recovery criteria.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Zikai Zhang, Qiuhua Tang, Manuel Chica, Zixiang Li
Summary: In practical assembly enterprises, customization and rush orders create an uncertain demand environment. This study presents a new robust mixed-integer linear programming model to minimize production and penalty costs in cost-oriented mixed-model multimanned assembly line balancing under uncertain demand. Furthermore, a reinforcement learning-based multiobjective evolutionary algorithm is developed to tackle the problem. Experimental results show the superiority of the proposed method compared to competitive approaches, and managerial insights and algorithm limitations are discussed.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CYBERNETICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Dian Huang, Zhaofang Mao, Kan Fang, Biao Yuan
Summary: The study addresses a mixed-model two-sided assembly line balancing problem, aiming to minimize the number of mated-stations while also considering the total number of operators. An exact algorithm based on combinatorial Benders decomposition is proposed, along with a sequence-based enumerative search method to calculate effective combinatorial Benders cuts. Extensive computational experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed solution in finding exact solutions even for large-sized instances.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Tobias Moench, Arnd Huchzermeier, Peter Bebersdorf
Summary: In today's fast-paced, high customization-demanding era, adopting a highly flexible assembly line can give companies a competitive edge. By aligning the assembly pace with the desired level of output, the optimal takt time can be determined to reduce the complexity of the mixed-model assembly line balancing problem.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Yuchen Li, Dan Liu, Ibrahim Kucukkoc
Summary: This paper studies the mixed-model assembly line balancing problem, considering the impact of learning effect and uncertain demand on the level of production. A novel model is proposed to optimize the total expected cost and average cycle time, and two algorithms are proposed to solve the model under different system response time requirements.
JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS
(2023)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
Summary: This paper discusses the ergonomic issues in the manufacturing industry's assembly process, proposing the use of a genetic algorithm for assembly line balancing and human-robot collaboration to enhance ergonomics. The optimization objectives include minimizing costs and energy load variance to improve assembly efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Kang Wang, Qianqian Han, Zhenping Li
Summary: This research investigates the mixed-model assembly line balancing problem in multi-demand scenarios and proposes a solution through a phased heuristic algorithm. The results show that considering demand fluctuations can improve workstation load balance and assembly line production efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING COMPUTATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Yilmaz Delice, Emel Kizilkaya Aydogan, Salih Himmetoglu, Ugur Ozcan
Summary: In the automotive industry, supermarkets are decentralized in-house logistic areas used for parts feeding to mixed-model assembly lines. This study simultaneously considers the mixed-model assembly line balancing problem and supermarket location problem in order to minimize the total costs. A mathematical model is developed and solved using constraint programming, and an approach based on Ant Colony Optimization and Simulated Annealing is presented for large-sized problems. The proposed approach effectively reduces total costs and achieves a more realistic and applicable structure.
CIRP JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Eduardo alvarez-Miranda, Sebastian Chace, Jordi Pereira
Summary: The study investigates a variant of the simple assembly line balancing problem and examines the impact of parallel workstations on achieving maximum theoretical efficiency. By analyzing the complexity of the problem and proposing a heuristic solution, a new approach to improving the efficiency of the assembly process is introduced.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Maria Luiza Caires Comper, Patricia Rodrigues da Silva, Alexandher Weslley de Negreiros, Cristiana Caroline Villas Boas, Rosimeire Simprini Padula
Summary: This study investigated the influence of adherence to autonomous job rotation on the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, occupational exposure, and work ability of blue-collar workers in an automotive manufacturing company. The results showed that high adherence to job rotation did not have a positive impact on the musculoskeletal symptoms, work ability, and occupational exposure of the workers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Manufacturing
Maximilian Johannes Schlueter, Frederik Ferid Ostermeier
Summary: Dynamic line balancing is a promising approach to achieve both equal loads for operators and high throughput for manufacturers. Tasks can be shared between adjacent stations in addition to the fixed allocated tasks.
CIRP JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Serena Finco, Mohammed-Amine Abdous, Martina Calzavara, Daria Battini, Xavier Delorme
Summary: This paper proposes a bi-objective manual assembly line design model to avoid excessive daily vibration exposures in occupational sectors. The model minimizes total equipment costs and vibration levels by respecting ISO 5349-1 threshold values, using the epsilon-constraint approach to find the Pareto frontier. The method can solve small and medium size instances, providing safe vibration exposure levels with low additional investment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Thiago Cantos Lopes, Nadia Brauner, Leandro Magatao
Summary: The study shows that fractional allocations often lead to better resource utilization with relatively low costs. Higher space requirement costs are typically one-time investments, while lower cycle time represents fundamentally continuous gains.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Francesco Pistolesi, Beatrice Lazzerini, Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL INFORMATICS
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
CIRP ANNALS-MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
CIRP JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Michela Dalle Mura, Francesco Pistolesi, Gino Dini, Beatrice Lazzerini
Summary: The amount of electronic waste generated annually is substantial, with only a small percentage being recycled. Disassembling end-of-life products is crucial for reusing and recycling parts while ensuring worker safety. This paper introduces a multi-objective formulation for balancing efficiency and safety in disassembly lines, with a focus on maximizing profit, feasibility, and prioritizing extraction of dangerous parts.
JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
Summary: One major challenge in automotive assembly is aligning car panels within specified tolerances for the bodywork. Augmented Reality (AR) is identified as a promising tool to guide workers and reduce errors and time in assembly tasks. This study introduces an AR prototype system to assist operators in panel fitting operations and presents a real case study on aligning car body panels with the front light projector.
JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
Summary: The high-tech properties of CFRPs have led to increasing industrial applications in aerospace and automotive sectors, where lightweight structures are needed. An experimental study on CFRP panels showed that pre-cooling the material before drilling process could improve hole quality by reducing delamination and improving surface roughness, with effects on thrust force, tool wear, and feed rate.
JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
Summary: This paper discusses the ergonomic issues in the manufacturing industry's assembly process, proposing the use of a genetic algorithm for assembly line balancing and human-robot collaboration to enhance ergonomics. The optimization objectives include minimizing costs and energy load variance to improve assembly efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Antonio Maffei, Michela Dalle Mura, Fabio Marco Monetti, Eleonora Boffa
Summary: Augmented (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies are rapidly developing in the field of production, with main applications in design, training, and assembly guidance. This research presents a comprehensive MR application that guides novice operators in simple assembly tasks, utilizing innovative programming logic and component tracking. Testing and user feedback indicated that the MR application was effective in providing guidance and boosting confidence for inexperienced users. Further development is needed to create a complete and usable architecture, but this research lays the foundation for improved assembly guidance based on component tracking.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Ahmed Sayem, Pronob Kumar Biswas, Mohammad Muhshin Aziz Khan, Luca Romoli, Michela Dalle Mura
Summary: The fourth industrial revolution, driven by automation and digital technology, allows for effective management of manufacturing systems. Its deployment is becoming increasingly important in developed and emerging economies. This study identified and examined the major barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption, revealing their interrelationships.
JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING AND MATERIALS PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
Summary: This study aims to design a software tool to solve the assembly line balancing problem. The software, based on a genetic algorithm, aims to distribute assembly tasks among workers considering their physical capabilities and limits, in order to optimize the efficiency of the process and ergonomics. Experimental results demonstrate that the developed tool can optimize the two objectives in different scenarios, showing its profitable use in planning manual assembly processes without overloading workers.
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING-RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
M. Dalle Mura, G. Dini
CIRP JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
John Ahmet Erkoyuncu, Inigo Fernandez del Amo, Michela Dalle Mura, Rajkumar Roy, Gino Dini
CIRP ANNALS-MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2017)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Industrial
Michela Dalle Mura, Gino Dini
6TH CIRP CONFERENCE ON ASSEMBLY TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS (CATS)
(2016)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Industrial
G. Dini, M. Dalle Mura
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THROUGH-LIFE ENGINEERING SERVICES
(2015)