A population-based algorithm for the bi-objective assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem

A multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) is presented for the solution of the bi-criteria assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem (ALWABP). This problem consists of determining the best assignment of the assembly tasks to workers as well as the workers to workstations in accordance with some desired objectives. Task times differ depending on worker skills. Two optimization criteria are considered to be minimized, the cycle time and the smoothness index of the workload of the line. The efficiency of the proposed MOEA is evaluated over a set of benchmarks test problems taken from the open literature. A suitable performance analysis is deployed concerning the quality of the Pareto solutions. The results demonstrate a very satisfactory performance in terms of solution quality.