Local order scheduling for mixed-model assembly lines in the aircraft manufacturing industry

Abstract

Multi-variant products to be assembled on mixed-model assembly lines at locations within a production network need to be scheduled locally. Scheduling is a highly complex task especially if it simultaneously covers the assignment of orders, which are product variants to be assembled within a production period, to assembly lines as well as their sequencing on the lines. However, this is required if workers can flexibly fulfill tasks across stations of several lines and, thus, capacity of workers is shared among the lines. As this is the case for final assembly of the Airbus A320 Family, this paper introduces an optimization model for local order scheduling for mixed-model assembly lines covering both assignment to lines as well as sequencing. The model integrates the planning approaches mixed-model sequencing and level scheduling in order to minimize work overload in final assembly and to level material demand with regard to suppliers. The presented model is validated in the industrial application of the final assembly of the Airbus A320 Family. The results demonstrate significant improvement in terms of less work overload and a more even material demand compared to current planning.

A Collaborative Model for Connecting Product Design and Assembly Line Design: An Aeronautical Case

“…Finally, with regards to manufacturing in particular, further work could seek to integrate elements of the value chain beyond the basic assembly objectives to consider the whole assembly system [5].…”

Flexible scheduling of diagnostic tests in automotive manufacturing

“…Nevertheless, the setting is different to our work in terms of the application and the criteria of Table 2. Buergin et al (2018) introduced an optimisation model for the local order scheduling of mixed-model aircraft assembly lines covering both assignment to lines as well as sequencing with respect to cost. Requirements R time , R pre and R res are the focus of the work of Buergin et al (2018).…”

“…Buergin et al (2018) introduced an optimisation model for the local order scheduling of mixed-model aircraft assembly lines covering both assignment to lines as well as sequencing with respect to cost. Requirements R time , R pre and R res are the focus of the work of Buergin et al (2018). Dörmer et al (2015) covered the problem of master production scheduling for high-variant, mixed-model automotive assembly lines.…”

Productivity prediction in aircraft final assembly lines: Comparisons and insights in different productivity ranges

“…As a highly customized product, aircraft products are usually made into a large number of different types, which further increases the complexity in productivity prediction [4]. In the past, based on the extrapolations of working hours for each operation, practitioners can calculate a standard mean production time to predict the productivity with no further discrimination among different aircraft types.…”