Consideration of workforce differences in assembly line balancing and worker assignment problem. Issue 1 (2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katiraee, Niloofar; Calzavara, Martina; Finco, Serena; Battini, Daria
• Is Part Of: IFAC-PapersOnLine. Volume 54:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 13
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2021
• Subjects: Workforce difference -- Assembly line -- balancing -- Production system -- Ergonomic assessment; Automatic control -- Periodicals; 629.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.08.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8963

Abstract

Abstract: Workforce differences in terms of skill, age, gender and physical measures have a large impact on production systems performance. Moreover, the role of differences between workers can be particularly seen in assembly lines, where a vast range of tasks are performed manually, and workers are involved widely. In this work, we introduce a new assembly line balancing and worker assignment model with consideration of workers' diversity in terms of both workers' expertise and perceived physical effort to implement an age-inclusive workforce. Here, a new Worker Task Categorization Matrix is introduced to assure the complete involvement of the individual during the balancing process. Following, a bi-objective linear programming model is proposed and solved by using the ϵ -constraint approach. Finally, we test and validate the model through a real-case application.