Optimization Model for Production Scheduling Requirements Applied on Heavy Truck Assembly Lines

Abstract

The sequencing of production issue is one of the most complex problems that arise in the automotive industry when producing various assembly line products. The objective of this article is to propose a production sequencing model for automotive components. The aim is to define the process variables that affect the number of units produced, the time of unit completion (from entering the first station until exiting the assembly lines), and the utilization rate of the workstations. Currently, computer simulation is one of the most used tools to analyze, design, and evaluate complex production processes. It is able to make decisions about the real system without affecting it. The experimental design in this research was paramount when generating the combinations of the inputs and how they affect the response variables. For this study, multivariable predictive regression models were used in order to verify the hypotheses described below and to identify which variables' main effects and interactions positively or negatively impact the assembly process.