OCTOBER 19-20, 2012 - YMCA University of Science & Technology

Proceedings of the National Conference on
Trends and Advances in Mechanical Engineering,
YMCA University of Science & Technology, Faridabad, Haryana, Oct 19-20, 2012
A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON WORKER ALLOCATION PROBLEM
IN FMS
Lalit Kumar, Mohit Bansal, Sanjeev Goyal
Department of Mechanical Engineering, YMCA University of Science & Technology, Faridabad, INDIA
Email: rathee.lalit.2007@gmail.com
Abstract
A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a manufacturing system in which there is some amount of flexibility that
allows the system to react in the case of changes, whether predicted or unpredicted. There are various components
which are associated with FMS; worker allocation (WA) is one amongst them. In this paper authors have reviewed
various literatures available on this topic and have tried to prepare a very concise and progressive review. Authors
have classified the papers in basically four categories, each category covers a number of publications in which all
the major related aspects of the problem are discussed. Manufacturing managers can refer this paper for the
application of various important factors relating WA problem.
Keywords: FMS, Literature, Task, Worker Allocation
1. Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to address the worker allocation problem in a stochastic environment. This provides a
thorough review of earlier papers in the field of worker allocation for a comprehensive understanding of worker
allocation problem.
Worker allocation could be defined as allocating the best worker to a process, thereby optimizing the performance of
the system. In order to optimize the performance of the system, worker allocation has to be done based on
productivity of the workers. Processing time and quality level of workers are the dominant productivity measures in
context with worker allocation.
It is worthwhile here to discuss the work of Kodituwakku and Dhayarathne (2011), which presents master worker
optimization layer. The feature of this layer is that it uses the prior knowledge and numerical data relating to the
groups of computers for discussion making process and solves the problems with the aid of computer. The work
done by Jarugumilli and Grasman (2010) is formulated in the form of the workforce planning problem using a twophase
goal programming approach for a high volume manufacturing facility with several machine groups at each
operation. Decision makers are constantly on the lookout for techniques to enable quality improvement. Worker
allocation is one such technique that has become popular in the recent times. Though worker allocation is not new, it
has now found more subscribers, and occupies a prominent place. The work on the worker allocation problem
solved by using genetic algorithm is also discussed by Zhang, Gen and Lin (2008), which is again a very useful tool
to solve the problems of WA.
But in reality this proves to be a concept that helps in innovation and the optimization of resources. Considering the
growth of publications, till today there are not any such reviews attempts have been made on the topic of worker
allocation. It is essential that the present attempt by the authors will definitely help the researchers. This paper,
besides providing a review of literature on worker allocation, covers the following objectives:
(1) Allotting the publications in a refined manner which will ease the search part
(2) Scrutiny of publications on the basis of different categories; and
(3) Finding results and aspects of future work.
An interactive methodology for classifying the literature is used. The growth and categorization of publications are
presented in a graphical form for an easy understanding. The papers have been closely examined.
2. Methodology and Scheme of Review
The classification scheme proposed in this paper includes a simultaneous parallel categorization that highlights the
growth of literature from time to time and also the coverage of worker allocation specific to different groups like:
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