Assembly Line

Rohit Kapoor

Illustration 1
Tasks A through I have the predecessor and time requirements
shown in Table. Output is to be 200 units per day, and operating
time is 450 minutes per day. Using the most successors rule to
assign tasks to work centers, and the longest work-time rule as a
tie breaker, (0) group the tasks into work centers, WCs, and
compute (b) the balance efficiency, (c) the idle time, and (d) the
balance delay.
Task
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I

Predecessor
None
A
None
C
D
None
F
G
H

Time (see)
40
20
60
40
30
35
45
60
40

 An electric appliance assembly area is as shown in Fig. A with

potential workstations A through F. The tasks that must be done,
along with their respective times, are indicated in the precedence
diagram, Fig. B The machine scan is automatic and can come any
time after task 2. The manufacturer desires an output of 367 units
per 8-hour day and stops the line for a 20-minute break in the
middle of the morning and the afternoon. (a) Group the assemblyline tasks into appropriate workstations using the longest time
rule, and (b) compute the balance efficiency.
Fig. A

Fig. B

Robotic Controls Corp. uses a robotic-controlled flexible production

system to assemble the robots it sells. Five robots are available and
must complete the tasks specified in Table.
Table
Task

Time

Preceding

(sec)

Task(s)

10

None

24

None

17

49

12

14

27

20

F, G

23

D, H, I

36

18

J, K

(a) Draw a precedence diagram. (b) What is the theoretical minimum

(target) cycle time if all five robots are fully utilized in a five-station
assembly line? (c) Group the tasks into the most efficient five-station
assembly line. (d) What is the cycle time? (e) What is the balance
efficiency?