Balancing and scheduling tasks in assembly lines with setup times and simultaneous effects of deterioration and learning

This paper addresses the simple assembly line balancing problem of type 2 (SALBP-2) with simultaneous effects of deterioration and learning in which there are sequence-independent setup times among tasks. In many real industrial situations, although the actual task processing times are defined as a function of their starting times due to deterioration effect, workstations improve continuously as a result of repeating the same activities by worker(s) or machine(s). In this study, a mathematical model is developed for this novel problem attempting to minimize the cycle time for a given number of workstations. In addition to the balancing of assembly line, the developed model presents the scheduling of execution of tasks assigned to each workstation