ASSEMBLY LINE BALANCING

Assembly Line
The assembly line has a mechanized
moving platform or conveyor, which moves
at regular intervals of time.

The basic structures of the products to be

manufactured are placed on the conveyor
at equal distances from each other.
The conveyor passes a series of
workstations in a uniform time interval
called the workstation cycle time.

Cycle time is also the time between

successive units coming off the line.

The total work to be performed at a

workstation is equal to the sum of the tasks
assigned to that workstation.
Assembly Line Balancing

Assembly line balancing involves

assigning all tasks to the workstations such
that each workstation has no work more
than can be done in the workstation cycle
time and so that the idle time across all
workstations is minimized
A pen manufacturer experiences a sudden
increase in demand. They must produce
4800 pens per day to meet demand. The
work elements must be grouped so that
enough pens can be produced. The number
of workstations and workers will be
determined by these requirements. Work
elements are broken down as shown:
 Draw and label the precedence diagram.
Calculate the desired cycle time required for the line.
Calculate the theoretical minimum number of
workstations.
Group elements into workstations, recognizing cycle
time and precedence constraints
Calculate the efficiency of the line
Determine if the theoretical minimum number of
workstations or an acceptable efficiency level has
been reached. If not, go back to step 4.