Assembly line design principles using Six Sigma and simulation

Many variables and constraints must be taken into account when designing a manufacturing facility such as an assembly line, which often depends on common practices and experience of the manufacturing engineers. Six Sigma has shown its benefits particularly in the process improvement and product development. This paper explores the applicability of Six Sigma and simulation techniques to derive a set of principles that can be used by manufacturing engineers to design assembly lines. The idea is to use simulation models as a basis for experimentation of parameters that are critical to the productivity of the lines. The sensitivity of these parameters were analyzed and the results from the experiments were then collated into a set of design principles that can be used as part of the facility design process.