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Ant colony optimization for the single model U-type assembly line balancing problem

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  • Sabuncuoglu, Ihsan
  • Erel, Erdal
  • Alp, Arda

Abstract

An assembly line is a production line in which units move continuously through a sequence of stations. The assembly line balancing problem is defined as the allocation of tasks to an ordered sequence of stations subject to precedence constraints with the objective of optimizing a performance measure. In this paper, we propose ant colony algorithms to solve the single-model U-type assembly line balancing problem. We conduct an extensive experimental study in which the performance of the proposed algorithm is compared against best known algorithms reported in the literature. The results indicate that the proposed algorithms display very competitive performance against them.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabuncuoglu, Ihsan & Erel, Erdal & Alp, Arda, 2009. "Ant colony optimization for the single model U-type assembly line balancing problem," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 287-300, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:120:y:2009:i:2:p:287-300
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    1. Boysen, Nils & Schulze, Philipp & Scholl, Armin, 2022. "Assembly line balancing: What happened in the last fifteen years?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(3), pages 797-814.
    2. Delorme, Xavier & Dolgui, Alexandre & Kovalyov, Mikhail Y., 2012. "Combinatorial design of a minimum cost transfer line," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 31-41, January.
    3. M. H. Alavidoost & M. H. Fazel Zarandi & Mosahar Tarimoradi & Yaser Nemati, 2017. "Modified genetic algorithm for simple straight and U-shaped assembly line balancing with fuzzy processing times," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 313-336, February.
    4. Battaïa, Olga & Dolgui, Alexandre, 2013. "A taxonomy of line balancing problems and their solutionapproaches," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 259-277.
    5. Ibrahim Kucukkoc & David Z. Zhang, 2017. "Balancing of mixed-model parallel U-shaped assembly lines considering model sequences," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(20), pages 5958-5975, October.
    6. Masood Fathi & María Jesús à lvarez & Victoria Rodríguez, 2016. "A new heuristic-based bi-objective simulated annealing method for U-shaped assembly line balancing," European Journal of Industrial Engineering, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(2), pages 145-169.

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