A line management policy for a multi-product assembly line

A production schedule is derived from product demand, finished goods inventory, line/tooling capacity, and material supply (i.e. parts' and components' availability), by solution of a linear programming model to minimize the sum of inventory/backlog, subject to a set of resource constraints, over a predetermined planning horizon. For a given production schedule, a real-time dispatcher is invoked to select the right product type for assembly by looking at the overall line performance behavior. Information about line performance is collected by a line monitor. A product type has a high (low) dispatching priority if its actual output rate is less (greater) than its scheduled production rate. Selection of a product type is based on its priority and its level of work-in-process. Also implemented is a flow control policy which consists of job assignment, in-process storage sizing, detection of yield problems, and a parts feeding scheme.<>