Fuzzy scheduling of a flexible assembly line through evolutionary algorithms

The human resource management in a mixed model assembly U-line is considered. It deals with product sequencing in mixed model assembly lines, approaching the problem from a unique point of view: the minimization of the line stoppage time. Very often in a real production environment, the input data, i.e. the processing times, are vague, imprecise or uncertain. When such an uncertainty is primarily due to vagueness, it can be usefully formalized by using fuzzy math tools. In this context, different human resource management policies are introduced to cope with the particular layout of the proposed line. Several examples optimised through different heuristics have been proposed and furthermore two defuzzification methods have been implemented. The obtained results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed model on the performances of the line.