Title: Labour-intensive line-cell reconfiguration with cycle time adjustment attributed to changes in situational awareness

Authors: Joshua Prakash; Chuan Choong Yang; Jeng Feng Chin

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia ' Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, University Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia

Abstract: In line-cell reconfiguration, cycle time is adjusted whenever operators involve multiple tasks. One crucial factor frequently overlooked is changes in situational awareness, which relates to the comprehension on the task importance of operators. This paper presents a line-cell reconfiguration that considers changes in situational awareness. A mathematical model is developed and tested via simulation of a case study facility. The simulation model seeks to find the best operator assignment and obtain the number of cells needed to achieve the objective. The model also determines whether it performs better than the existing assembly line conveyor system. The cells marginally perform better than the original system but are subjected to constraints in the operator assignment method. Despite the close proximity of operators, the cycle time expansion of individual tasks contributes to the poor performance of the cells. This paper is the first to examine changes in situational awareness in the context of manufacturing.

Keywords: line-cell reconfiguration; situational awareness; assembly line conveyor; labour-intensive cellular manufacturing; cycle time expansion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2017.086268

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2017 Vol.27 No.2, pp.210 - 232

Received: 11 Oct 2014
Accepted: 28 Aug 2015
Published online: 04 Sep 2017 *

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