In three pages this report discusses the delicate balance between assembly line productivity and the welfare of assembly line workers. Five sources are cited in the bibliography.
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a relatively simple and common-sense approach. Balance is always the key in any production process and that is particularly evident in the process-oriented world of assembly line production. The simple
fact is that in order to perform at predetermined and optimal production rates, careful balance control of assembly line operations is very important. Looking for Balance Ben-Gal and Bukchin
(2002) look at the challenges associated with "balancing" an assembly line and its production processes from the perspective of industrial engineering. Therefore, they explain that: "The design and planning of
manual workstations and the determination of proper work methods to be employed are challenging tasks. In order to achieve optimal economic and ergonomic results, a comprehensive study of the task
at hand must be conducted" (pp. 375). What this should tell the student researching the issue is that there are certain basic considerations in any unique set of circumstances. Ben-Gal
and Bukchin go on to explain that: "Motion and time study is at the heart of methods engineering" (pp. 375). What movements, what sequences, and what basic steps can best
serve the greatest measure of productivity while still assuring that the individual workers on the assembly line are no more likely to burn out than the mechanical components of production.
Ben-Gal and Bukchin make particular mention of the frameworks in which "balance" or "success" are measured and note that there are: "economic measures based on completion time and productivity" and
that those factors must then be compared to "ergonomic measures such as energy exertion, posture analysis and physical loads" (pp. 375). The point that must be made is that "balance"
requires an understanding of the connections that exists between production, mechanics, and the human considerations. Carnahan, Norman, and Redfern (2001) explain that: "Many assembly line balancing algorithms consider only task