Title: Component inventory allocation in assembly line balancing with fuzzy performance ratings

Authors: Rifat G. Ozdemir; Tugbanur Sezen

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Istanbul Kültür University, Turkey ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Istanbul Kültür University, Turkey

Abstract: This paper aims to minimise the unused space of component inventory area in the assembly line through a mathematical model which determines optimal assignment of tasks into the stations and assignment of components to the inventory areas with respect to space requirement and total work content. The proposed model also determines the number of employees needed in each station based on the measures of performance rating. This study treats the performance ratings as fuzzy numbers. The fuzzy parameters of performance ratings are imposed into the developed mathematical model which was then implemented for an automobile manufacturer in Turkey.

Keywords: assembly line balancing; component inventory; inventory allocation; assembly lines; fuzzy performance ratings; alpha cut; fuzzy logic; unused space; mathematical modelling; task assignment; component assignment; inventory areas; space requirements; total work content; automobile industry; automotive manufacturing; Turkey.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDATS.2016.075972

International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies, 2016 Vol.8 No.1, pp.29 - 46

Published online: 20 Apr 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article