Parallel Walking-Worker Flexible Assembly Lines for High-Mix Low-Volume Demand

Demand trends towards mass customization drive the need for increasingly productive and flexible assembly operations. Walking-worker assembly lines can present advantages over fixed-worker systems. This article presents a multiproduct parallel walking-worker assembly line with shared automated stations, and evaluates its operational performance compared to semiautomated and manual fixed-worker lines. Simulation models were used to set up increasingly challenging scenarios based on an industrial case study. The results revealed that semiautomated parallel walking-worker lines could achieve greater productivity (+30%) than fixed-worker lines under high-mix low-volume demand conditions.

Automated summary

The demand for mass customization drives the need for more productive and flexible assembly operations. Walking-worker assembly lines offer advantages over fixed-worker systems. This article presents a parallel walking-worker assembly line for multiple products and evaluates its performance compared to semiautomated and manual fixed-worker lines. Simulation models were used to create challenging scenarios based on a real industrial case study. The results reveal that semiautomated parallel walking-worker lines can achieve 30% higher productivity than fixed-worker lines under high-mix low-volume demand conditions.