Improved dynamic programming model implementation for balancing the U-shaped production line

Abstract

U-lines have been used to implement JIT manufacturing. Manufacturers find that U-lines perform better than straight line in volume flexibility, operator flexibility, material handling and product quality. In this work, we attempt to improve dynamic programming (DP) for obtaining a balance in a U-line. In this DP implementation, we consider practical characteristics of the line. This consideration eliminates producing a balance with awkward walking pattern in the line. Computational results using well-known literature problems are also presented.