Resequencing of mixed-model assembly lines: Survey and research agenda

Nowadays, mixed-model assembly lines are applied in a wide range of industries to mass-produce customized products to order, e.g., in automobile industry. An important decision problem in this context receiving a lot of attention from researchers and practitioners is the sequencing problem, which decides on the succession of workpieces launched down the line. However, if multiple departments with diverging sequencing objectives are to be passed or unforeseen disturbances like machine breakdowns or material shortages occur, a resequencing of a given production sequence often becomes equally essential. This paper reviews existing research on resequencing in a mixed-model assembly line context. Important problem settings, alternative buffer configurations, and resulting decision problems are described. Finally, future research needs are identified as some relevant real-world resequencing settings have not been dealt with in literature up to now.

Highlight► This broad and disarranged field of research is structured with a novel research framework. ► With the help of this framework the relevant literature is precisely classified and described in detail. ► By mirroring existing research with our framework important future research needs are identified and described. ► Finally, a complexity proof for a widely discussed and very relevant resequencing setting is given.