Title: Productivity improvement through balancing process using multi-skilled manpower in apparel industries

Authors: Rezaul Hasan Shumon; Kazi Arif-Uz-Zaman; Azizur Rahman

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Khulna 9203, Bangladesh ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Khulna 9203, Bangladesh ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Khulna 9203, Bangladesh

Abstract: The apparel industries must produce momentous quantities in shorter lead times. Apparel product is highly correlated with high level of productivity; sewing line should be balanced in shorter possible time and effective way for each style and quantity. The focal constraint against the higher productivity is the variation in individual capacity which is the cause of improper line balancing and bottle neck process. This paper is based on an effective layout model where to hit upon the bottleneck process through benchmark capacity and led us to use balancing process using two separate concept of manufacturing processes – modular line and traditional system both together. The research shows that this balanced layout model has increased the efficiency by 21%, and labour productivity by 22%.

Keywords: scheduling; assembly line balancing; layout design; modelling; bundle systems; modular lines; apparel industry; bottleneck process; SAM; standard allowable minute; garment industry; clothing industry; productivity improvement; multi-skilled employees.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2012.046653

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2012 Vol.11 No.1/2, pp.31 - 47

Published online: 20 Dec 2014 *

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