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Evaluation of mixed‐model U‐line operational designs
Author(s) -
Hong Yunsook,
Visich John K.,
Pinto Peter A.,
Khumawala Basheer M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international transactions in operational research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.032
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1475-3995
pISSN - 0969-6016
DOI - 10.1111/itor.12029
Subject(s) - crossover , computer science , variety (cybernetics) , flow (mathematics) , flow line , throughput , work (physics) , product (mathematics) , production line , line (geometry) , industrial engineering , operations research , mathematics , business , engineering , artificial intelligence , mechanical engineering , telecommunications , geometry , marketing , petroleum engineering , wireless
Often in lean manufacturing, multiple products are produced in U‐shaped manufacturing cells to simultaneously achieve product variety and production efficiency. We examine two design issues for mixed‐model U‐lines: work rules (a first‐come‐first‐serve rule and a crossover‐and‐return rule) and inventory flow choices (direct flow and buffered flow). Simulation results indicated that throughput and labor utilization can be improved by implementing a “buffer” with the first‐come‐first‐serve rule. Interestingly, the effectiveness of an inventory flow choice was dependent on the work rule (interaction effect), and relationships among performance dimensions differed across the designs.