A classification of tactical assembly line feeding problems

Abstract

Trends like mass-customisation and the increasing number of models produced and parts used on a single assembly line promote interest in the field of assembly line feeding. The assembly line feeding problem (ALFP) deals with the assignment of parts to line feeding policies such as line stocking, boxed-supply, sequencing and kitting (stationary and travelling), and emerged as a research field two and a half decades ago. In order to structure the increasing effort in this field, we provide an extensive review of the literature and organise it from various perspectives. Furthermore, we propose a classification for the ALFP and classify existing literature. The goal of this classification is threefold. Firstly, it should help the reader to get an overview of the problem and most of its related aspects. Secondly, the classification reveals blind spots in academic research. Finally, it enables practitioners to match real-world problems with existing research results. In order to encourage researchers to close the existing gaps, we finalise this paper by pointing out the most important open research fields.