Question

Line Balancing in a Manufacturing Plant
1. explain the rationale to balance a production line of a manufacturing plant.
2. Explain the strategies that are used to balance a production line
3. Explain alternative strategies to balance a production line in a manufacturing plant.

Answer 1

1: Rationale is based on the production line requirements should not get affected. Minimization of the number of workstations required and maximization of the production rate are the most important goals

2:Some of the important strategies for line balancing are

• Flexible manufactruing system: This enables to utilise the same assembly line for multiple products and it also has the caoability adapt to the new requirement
• Deficinecy and optimisation approach: This will consider the cost impact and also enhance the efficiency of the system through data capturing, designing, benchmarking from the indistry level,innovation, scope of automation etc

3: Alternative methods includes innovative approaches which can actually make the system more aligned to the concurrwnt requirement, equip the assembly line with mix of automation and right trained labors who can reduce the turn around time or waiting time for the same. Line balancing can also be effectively done through time and motion studies which helps in understanding the gap and do an analysis based on value stream maping.