Designing a Robust Mixed-Model Assembly Line Appropriate for Mixing Ratio Variations

Abstract

The recent Great East Japan Earthquake and Thailand Žoodsmade the supply and procurement of parts di fficult and caused a downstream production stop. Such a stoppage of a supply chain results in the concerned mixed-production lines being thrown into confusion. Designing robust mixed-model assembly lines is one of the critical issues for responding effectively to supply and demand Žuctuations. In this study, the relationships between alteration of the mixing ratio and line length are considered under the assumption of the same planning period length. Based on these relationships, a procedure of designing a robust mixed-model assembly line is shown with a numerical analysis example.