1. Line Balancing in Operations Management
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2. 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.
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3. Line Balancing Problem
The 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 time
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4. Line Balancing Problem
Unfortunately 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
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5. Line Balancing Problem
Work 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.
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6. Example of Line Balancing
You’ve just been assigned the job a setting up an electric fan assembly line with the following tasks:
Task
Time (Mins)
Description
Predecessors A 2
Assemble frame
None B 1
Mount switch A C
3.25
Assemble motor housing
None D
1.2
Mount motor housing in frame
A, C E
0.5
Attach blade D F 1
Assemble and attach safety grill E G 1
Attach cord B H
1.4
Test
F, G
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7. Example of Line Balancing: Structuring the Precedence Diagram
Task Predecessors
Task Predecessors
A None
E D
B A
F E
C None
G B
D A, C
H E, G 2 1 1 A B G
1.4 H
3.25
1.2
0.5 1 E C D F
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8. Kilbridge and Webstor Method
Step 1- draw a precedence diagram and arrange them into different zones so that the average time is equal or nearly equal.
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9. Line Balancing Problem
3.4 mins B
2.2 mins E
2.7 mins A C
4.1mins D
1.7mins F
3.3 mins G
2.6 mins
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10. Here idle time=16.8 idle time %age=(16.8/9.2)X100=182.60%
This is not acceptable
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11. 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
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12. Line Balancing Problem
3.4 mins B
2.2 mins E
2.7 mins A C
4.1mins D
1.7mins F
3.3 mins G
2.6 mins
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13. here idle time=4 min idle time %age=(4/6)X100=66.6%
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14. Thank You
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