The Optimal Design of Production Line by Using Heuristic Algorithms - A Case Study in the Photovoltaic Laboratory

Abstract

The process of designing and Production Line Balancing is one of the necessary and important methods adopted by productive companies to improve their operations, and these methods (algorithms) are Heuristic and analogous. The research is an attempt to apply some of these algorithms in the photovoltaic lab. Among these algorithms are Ranked Positional Weight Algorithms, COMSOAL Algorithm, Moody-Young Algorithm, Columns Algorithm, Hoffman Algorithm, and Largest Candidate Rule Algorithm. As the research adopted the case study method to accurately determine the research problem represented by the low efficiency of workstations and the increase in excess time as well as the lack of flow. In the light of field analysis of the problems experienced by the Optical Capabilities Lab, the research aims to address and improve the problems referred to above and try to reach optimization from the comparison between the six algorithms adopted in the research as tools.. According to the context of scientific research, the results confirmed that the current method of the laboratory suffers from the weak work stations efficiency and increased idle time, as well as a lack of flow for the flow process. On the other hand it was found that algorithms in general improved the efficiency of work stations and significantly reduced idle time, which makes this algorithm superior to the company's current style. As in regard to the comparison process between the six algorithms, the column algorithm has outperformed in terms of idle time, while for flow (smoothness of the line), the largest candidate algorithm has outperformed. Hence we recommend the adoption of scientific methods, especially diligent algorithms, in the process of designing and balancing the production line to address bottlenecks which achieves the company's ability to improve the efficiency of work stations and reduce the time unemployed.