ASSEMBLY SYSTEM-DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND TRADEOFFS

This paper develops an analytical model to evaluate serial and paralle l designs for an assembly system. The purpose is to identify when each design is cost-effective, using minimal data. The analysis shows that the design alternatives are based on a trade-off between labour and e quipment utilization. Equations are derived for a simple system to ill ustrate this trade-off. Results indicate that the optimal trade-off de pends simply on the ratio of labour to equipment costs. The trade-off analysis provides a first step towards establishing basic principles f or assembly system design.