A Receding Horizon Control For General Assembly Line Balancing Problems

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel approach to the General Assembly Line Balancing Problem (GALBP) by utilizing a receding horizon optimal control framework. The proposed discrete model for the assembly line offers a flexible representation, avoiding assumptions about specific line configurations. The control actions aim to optimize the industrial assembly line by minimizing the completion time while adhering to constraints such as task precedence, workstation capacity, and resource requirements. Control actions are represented through task assignment and resource allocation matrices, assigning tasks to specific workstations and assigning resources to workstations, respectively. The optimization problem is formulated as a Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) problem. The inherent robustness of the receding horizon approach ensures optimal solutions for the assembly line, effectively adapting to sudden changes. Numerical experiments demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed control synthesis in efficiently distributing tasks and resources, minimizing the overall completion time.