Steps of Heuristic Method

The heuristic approach involves following procedural steps:

• Identify the work ( job)
• Break down the work into elemental tasks or steps for example drilling a hole is a step or elements task.
• List the various steps as under ( an example)
• Sketch the precedence diagram and mark the task duration.

Figure: Precedence Diagram

• Assume ( for this problem) that the maximum time available at any work station is 10 minutes. In other words cycle time is given as 10 minutes. The total duration of all the tasks is 38 minutes which means the minimum number of stations required are 38/10 sat 4. The maximum number of stations may be equal to as many as the number of tasks or steps i, e, nine. It will be tried to achieve the balance with 4 stations.
• There are two basic concepts of assigning tasks to stations:
• Permutability of Tasks: It means that any number of tasks or steps of a column can be combined to make up their total time closer to cycle time provided their total time does not exceed the cycle time. I, e, available at a work station). Tasks of even different columns can be combined provided the precedence constraint is maintained. Analysis is carried out column and one can move to next column only after the tasks in the previous column have been assigned to a station.
• Lateral Transferability of the tasks: For making total time of tasks equal to cycle time tasks or steps may be shifted laterally provided the precedence relationship are maintained.