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Multi-Model Production Line Design

Updated: 03-March-97

Project Goals

To develop algorithms to aid in the design of multi-model production lines, especially those in which there is a significant cost to inter stage buffer spaces. The types of design decisions we hope to enhance are :

• the assignment of tasks to work stations
• the placement of buffer spaces between stations
• the production line configuration e.g. single serial line or parallel lines

The aim is to enable the design of low cost production lines that are robust to changes in the relative demand of the various models.

Project Progress

With GM, a design methodology has been developed that enables the identification of a low cost production line design that encompasses production line configuration and buffer placement for the case of a specified target throughput and a given model mix ratio.

This methodology starts with a given task to station assignment and does not address the issue of model mix uncertainty.

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