What is Line Balancing? Goals and Rules of Line Balancing?

 

Line Balancing :

A line is defined as a group of operators under the control of a production supervisor.

Balancing is the strategy of maintaining the same level of inventory in each operation to meet production targets and produce garments of acceptable quality.

It is the function of the work study office to provide management with information to assist in the efficient and productive operation of the factory, and a part of this information is the process known as line balancing.

Line balance is an important key to running a line efficiently. The objective of the process is to ensure the 'workload balance' of each operation so that work flow is smooth, no bottlenecks are created and operators are able to work at peak performance throughout the day. This process is intended to reduce waiting times to a minimum, or indeed to eliminate waiting times altogether (Seminar SCT, 2010).

• In operation breakdown we try to equalize value time.

• But still there will be differences in the standard time that takes the work to progress.

• Therefore, we try to make the flow through each operation as even as possible.

Goals for balancing :

1. Complete the production schedule

2. Avoid waiting time

3. Shorten over time

4. Protect the operator's earnings

Rules for balancing :

1. Each operation has between 3 and 5 bundles of WIP

2. Fix the problem before it gets bigger

3. Meet production targets by keeping each operator working at maximum capacity and ensuring that he has regular feeding to ensure he is at maximum capacity.

Need for balance :

1. Keep inventory costs low.

2. To enable the operator to work at optimum speed.

3. To enable the supervisor to attend to other problems.

4. To enable advanced production planning.

5. Balanced production lines ensure timely shipments, low costs and re-orders.