Line Balancing in Operations Management Visit for Management notes and presentations

Line Balancing in Line Balancing in Operations ManagementOperations Management

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Definition:Definition:Line balancing is the procedure

in which tasks along the assembly line are assigned to work station so each has approximately same amount of work.


Line Balancing ProblemLine Balancing ProblemThe objective of line balancing is to

assign tasks to minimize the workers’ idle time, therefore idle time costs, and meet the required production rate for the line

In a perfectly balanced line, all workers would complete their assigned tasks at the same time (assuming they start their work simultaneously)

This would result in no idle timeVisit www.mbaknol.com for Management notes and presentations

Line Balancing ProblemLine Balancing ProblemUnfortunately there are a number

of conditions that prevent the achievement of a perfectly balanced line◦The estimated times for tasks◦The precedence relationships for the

tasks◦The combinatorial nature of the

problem


Line Balancing ProblemLine Balancing ProblemWork stations are arranged so

that the output of one is an input to the next, i.e., a series connection

Layout design involves assigning one or more of the tasks required to make a product to work station.


Example of Line Example of Line BalancingBalancing

You’ve just been assigned the job a setting up an electric fan assembly line with the following tasks:

Task Time (Mins) Description PredecessorsA 2 Assemble frame NoneB 1 Mount switch AC 3.25 Assemble motor housing NoneD 1.2 Mount motor housing in frame A, CE 0.5 Attach blade DF 1 Assemble and attach safety grill EG 1 Attach cord BH 1.4 Test F, G


Example of Line Balancing: Example of Line Balancing: Structuring the Precedence Structuring the Precedence DiagramDiagram

Task PredecessorsA None

A

B A

B

C None

C

D A, C

D

Task PredecessorsE D

E

F E

F

G B

G

H E, G

H

2 1

3.25 1.2 0.5 1

1

1.4


Kilbridge and Webstor Kilbridge and Webstor MethodMethod Step 1- draw a precedence

diagram and arrange them into different zones so that the average time is equal or nearly equal.


Line Balancing Problem

A

B

C

4.1mins

D

1.7mins

E

2.7 mins

F

3.3 mins

G

2.6 mins

2.2 mins

3.4 mins


Here idle time=16.8 idle time

%age=(16.8/9.2)X100=182.60%This is not acceptable


Step 2- transferability; in this principle the activities are transferred from one zone to another as long as they don’t affect the sequence denoted by ordered pair

.Step 3- from step 2 and by arranging the work centres, the lines balancing becomes


Line Balancing Problem

A

B

C

4.1mins

D

1.7mins

E

2.7 mins

F

3.3 mins

G

2.6 mins

2.2 mins

3.4 mins


here idle time=4 min idle time

%age=(4/6)X100=66.6%


Thank You


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Line Balancing in Operations Management Visit for Management notes and presentations