Bicriteria sequencing methods for the mixed-model assembly line in just-in-time production systems

A mixed-model manufacturing facility operating in a pull production environment can be controlled by setting a production schedule only for the last process in the facility which is usually an assembly line of mixed-model type. In the mixed-model sequencing problems, two major goals are considered: (1) smoothing the workload on each workstation on the assembly line, and (2) keeping a constant rate of usage of all parts used on the assembly line. In this study, first, some well-known solution approaches with goal 2 are analyzed through minimizing the sum-of-deviations of actual production from the desired amount. The approaches that are found to be performing better than the others are extended for the bicriteria problem considering goals 1 and 2, simultaneously. It is also shown that the bicriteria problem with the sum-of-deviations type objective function can also be formulated as an assignment problem, and the optimal solution to the small-sized problems can thus be obtained by solving the assignment problem. Finally, the conditions when it is important to take the workload-smoothing goal into consideration are analyzed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.