The sliding frame - Extending the concept to various assembly line balancing problems

This paper presents an extension and analysis of a new approach: The sliding frame (SF), based on a fledgling technique. SF could be efficiently applied for solving most line-balancing problems. The main advantage of this approach is its ability to dissect the original problem to small controllable-size sub-problems for which exact techniques can be applied. A key to the sliding is an underlying sequence of activities on which the frame slides. The paper discusses the options for activity sequencing, and some effects of frame size and step size. After illustrating the efficiency of the sliding frame on some classic examples, a more complex model - the assembly line design problem (ALDP) is introduced and solved using a sliding frame. The ALDP minimises both the costs of expansive equipment selection, and the labour cost (reflected by the number of stations).