ABSTRACT
A workload balancing exercise helps ensure a smooth-running work cell or assembly process. Workload balancing is an evaluation of the work content in the time study sheet to distribute work among the required number of workers. This chapter discusses certain calculations that are needed to conduct workload balancing: takt time; available time; and workload balancing. Takt time is defined as the product completion time of a work cell or assembly process. Takt time is used to properly balance the workloads between operators in the work cell. Available time is the time available to work in the work cell minus startup time, break times, and cleanup time each day. Three basic rules followed when performing the workload balancing portion of work cell design are remove non-value-added work; balance by Takt time; and balance by work.
