Clothing assembly line design using simulation and heuristic line balancing techniques

Assembly lines are production systems generated to meet the requirements of mankind that have been growing up day by day. The aims of these systems are producing products that have high production rates in the shortest time, with a most productive way, cheap and demanded quality. In this study, after giving general definitions and solution methods related to the assembly line balancing problems, a literature research was introduced. Then, a dress assembly line was selected and simulated by using Arena simulation programme. Two heuristic assembly line balancing techniques known as "Probabilistic Line Balancing Technique" developed by El- Sayed and Boucher and "Largest Set Rule Algorithm" developed by Agrawal were applied to design multi-model assembly line. The aim of the case study was to design assembly line to reach maximum line efficiency by using optimum machine and worker amount for a constant cycle time.