An Optimal Layout Design in an Apparel Industry by Appropriate Line Balancing: A case study
The layout design problem is a strategic issue and has a significant impact on the efficiency of a manufacturing system. Much of the existing layout design literature that uses a surrogate function for flow distance or for simplified objectives may be entrapped into local optimum; and subsequently lead to a poor layout design. The present study explores the use of appropriate line balancing to facilitate a good layout design. Construction of a quality garment requires a great deal of know-how, a lot of coordination and schedule management. Clothing manufacturing consists of a variety of product categories, materials and styling. Dealing with constantly changing styles and consumer demands is so difficult. Furthermore, to adapt automation for the clothing system is also so hard because, beside the complex structure also it is labour intensive. Overall, the important criteria in garment production is whether assembly work will be finished on time for delivery, how machines and employees are being utilized, whether any station in the assembly line is lagging behind the schedule and how the assembly line is doing overall. To achieve this approach, work-time study, assembly line balancing and simulation can be applied to apparel production line to find alternative solutions to increase the efficiency of the sewing line. In this paper we showed how a good layout can be designed and productivity can be increased by appropriate assembly line balancing.
