Balancing large-scale machining lines with multi-spindle heads using decomposition

Abstract

International audienceThe paper deals with optimal logical layout design for a type of machining lines. Such lines are made of many machine-tools (workstations) located in sequence. On each workstation there are several multi-spindle heads. A spindle head does not execute one operation but a block of machining operations simultaneously. The problem studied in this paper consists of finding the best partition of the set of all operations to be executed on the line into blocks and workstations. The objective is to minimize the number of blocks and workstations. An optimal decision must satisfy a desired productivity rate (cycle time) and precedence and compatibility constraints for machining operations. A heuristic approach based on decomposition of a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model is developed. Two ways of forming sub-problems are proposed. One treats the obtained subsets independently. The second aggregates the solution of the previous subproblems. Results of their computational evaluation are reported

Re-balancing problem for assembly lines: new mathematical model and exact solution method

“…The sole error could be from decomposition. Several decomposition approaches developed for balancing machining lines (Dolgui et al, 2006;Guschinskaya et al, 2008Guschinskaya et al, , 2011 and Dolgui, 2009) can be adapted to reduce the error of decomposition using different advanced techniques. Another possible way of using this model consists in stopping the solver before proving the optimality, just when a given calculation time is expired.…”

Flow line balancing problem: A survey

“…As a result, a great number of different formulations for the so-called Generalized Assembly Line Balancing Problem (GALBP) have appeared in the literature. Some of them show a similar problem structure as SALBP whereas others deviate considerably [14], for example, a special GALBP called the Transfer Line Balancing Problem (TLBP) [15] where operations can be combined into blocks, each block of operations is processed by a multi-tool unit called a multispindle head. Each tool of a multi-spindle head executes one operation.…”

Combinatorial techniques to optimally customize an automated production line with rotary transfer and turrets

“…This problem is a novel optimization problem in the family of transfer line balancing problems (Dolgui et al, 2005;Dolgui, Finel, Guschinskaya, et al, 2006;Guschinskaya et al, 2008;Guschinskaya and Dolgui, 2009;Guschinskaya et al, 2011) where a sequential activation of spindle heads is commonly considered. The closest optimization problem was formulated by for the design of a transfer machine with a rotary table but without the possibility to use turrets in order to reduce the cost of the machine.…”