A simulation approach for adapting a production line balancing procedure to a probabilistic environment

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Abstract Many of the line balancing procedures at present available have several limiting characteristics. First, they often tend to be based on approaches that encompass deterministic operating parameters when, in fact, realistic production systems have probabilistic operating parameters. Secondly, they are often applicable only to small noncomplex production lines. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate how Q-GERT network modelling and simulation can be employed to ascertain the effect of these realistic operating conditions on a line balancing procedure. Once such effects have been determined it will be shown how simulation can be used to adapt the line balancing procedure to realistic operating conditions.