Resequencing of mixed-model assembly lines: Survey and research agenda

Nowadays, mixed-model assembly lines are applied in a wide range of industries to mass-produce customized products to order, e.g., in automobile industry. An important decision problem in this context receiving a lot of attention from researchers and practitioners is the sequencing problem, which decides on the succession of workpieces launched down the line. However, if multiple departments with diverging sequencing objectives are to be passed or unforeseen disturbances like machine breakdowns or material shortages occur, a resequencing of a given production sequence often becomes equally essential. This paper reviews existing research on resequencing in a mixed-model assembly line context. Important problem settings, alternative buffer configurations, and resulting decision problems are described. Finally, future research needs are identified as some relevant real-world resequencing settings have not been dealt with in literature up to now. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.