Including rest allowance in mixed-model assembly lines

Abstract

Including rest allowance in mixed-model assembly lines Abstract Ergonomics has a significant impact on productivity and human safety in manual assembly lines. For this reason, several studies in recent years have proposed including ergonomics in assembly lines. However, most works are focused on simple assembly lines, while only a few studies exist for mixed-model assembly lines (MMALs). Thus, in this paper, we propose a new methodological approach to include physical fatigue and rest allowance (RA) as ergonomic parameters in MMAL problems. For the balancing problem, we propose a linear mathematical model that minimises the cycle time by including RA. For the sequencing decision, we develop a heuristic approach that assigns workers to workstations according to the workers' age and their related maximum physical capacity. Then, we propose a linear sequencing model that minimises the work-overload by also evaluating RA to assign each worker according to her or his features. Finally, to complete the study, we test the mathematical models in a real case application and provide a detailed discussion of the results to highlight the benefits we can achieve with this approach.

Assessing cognitive workloads of assembly workers during multi-task switching

“…With these sensing devices, the researcher can develop more reliable studies for various purposes. For example, Finco et al studied the rest allowance of workshop operators and optimize the work allocation based on physiological and psychological parameters 29 .…”

Framework for incorporating human factors into production and logistics systems

“…The results show that graphics-based information on the HWD increased performance and decreased the perceived workload of operators. Finco, Calzavara, et al (2020) have studied operational policies using job sequencing, and the physical conditions of the operator. Operator physical aspects were investigated using the energy expenditure of the operators, performance being measured by the productivity and well-being of operators.…”

“…Engineers can, based on decisions at DL and on resulting HF aspects, introduce dynamic scheduling (job allocation) at OL by taking into consideration the physical fatigue level of the operators. Operators could therefore be scheduled such that the less fatigued operators are assigned to workstations with heavier tasks and more fatigued operators to workstations with lighter tasks (Finco, Calzavara, et al 2020). Performance will ultimately show that this not only improves performance measured by productivity but also worker well-being (Battini, Finco, and Sgarbossa 2020).…”

Balancing assembly lines operating with heterogeneous workers under uncertainty in task processing times

“…Recently, some researchers studied the impact of various factors of a heterogeneous workforce on the performance of assembly line systems (see, e.g. Finco et al, 2019Finco et al, , 2020Al-Araidah et al, 2020). Finco et al (2019) studied the impact of physical effort on worker's availability to provide ground for assigning activities to workers based on their characteristics.…”

“…Finco et al (2019) studied the impact of physical effort on worker's availability to provide ground for assigning activities to workers based on their characteristics. Later, Finco et al (2020) studied ergonomics and its impact on productivity and human safety in manual assembly lines. The authors presented a computational model for line balancing that accounts for the human factor in addition to classical cost variables.…”