Review of Just-in-Time Material Distribution Scheduling for Mixed Flow Assembly Lines Considering Transfer Vehicle Handling Energy Consumption

Abstract

In recent years, the automotive industry, which uses component assembly methods for production, has grown rapidly as the demand for new energy vehicles has increased. This trend has also led to an increasing number of customers seeking individualized options, which places greater demands on traditional OEMs' vehicle production and assembly processes. In order to meet these challenges, OEMs need to improve their platform production lines by replacing traditional single-product lines with mixed-flow assembly lines. With the development of industrial standards and technology, automated production lines and unmanned vehicles are also being used in assembly line production. Decisions around the scheduling of material distribution on the side of assembly lines with material supermarkets need to be addressed in terms of the start of handling time of the AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) trolley and the number of loaded bins. This paper presents a review of the research on issues such as distribution patterns under mixed flow assembly lines, combined with the new material supermarket distribution model, and considering the energy consumption of transfer vehicles for handling.