Line Balancing - Yamazumi Chart Method

Abstract:

Line balancing (LB) is a resource optimisation strategy that aims to optimise and/or shorten the project schedule duration model based on the supply and demand of project resources. The LB technique is classified under Control Schedule (CS), which monitors activities and implements both corrective and preventative actions to minimise deviation and risks to scheduled plans.

The LB strategy involves assessing project scopes, decomposing project deliverables into smaller manageable parts, creating activity lists, highlighting activities that are delayed/constrained/overburdened or free/waiting and rebalances, reallocates or adds extra resources to smooth out the project schedule. The Yamazumi Chart (YC) is an analytical tool and technique that is used to visualise this time management strategy.

A project manager should use the LB YC strategy when performing a schedule network analysis, as it will enable the calculation of ealy and late start and finish times of particular activities and ensure the timely completion of a project or the delivery of products.

The YC requires activities to be propoerly defined and sequenced, and their resources and durations to be accurately estimated. This method enables project managers to appropriately adjust a schedule management plan as it manages the supply and demand resources across multiple activities. Project managers are also able to identify risks and perform quantitiative risk analyses from the YC output data at it will identiofy procsses that not value-adding, non-critical or waste. Once the YC is established, it can easily be updated with new data and can then then be used to optimise the project continuously or at multiple points during the project life.

A project manager will be able to use this tool to both manage, execute and control the project schedule, as early/late start/finish dates of projects/activities are easily identifiable based on the outputs from the tool and other resource levelling, smoothing, crashing and fast tracking techniques can be applied if necessary.

References:

Project Management: A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK guide), Section 6: Project Time Management; 6.2.2 Define Activities: Tools and Techniques; 6.2.2.1 Decomposition; 6.2.3.1 Activity List; 6.6 Develop Schedule; 6.7 Control Schedule; 6.6.2.4 Resource Optimization Techniques; 6.6.2.7 Schedule Compression

IMPROVEMENT OF OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTION LINE BY USING LINE BALANCING [1]

Lean Manufacturing Implementation Using Value Stream Mapping: A Case study of Pumps Manufacturing Company [2]

Optimization Assembly Process base on Motion Time Study in Manufacturing Industry: Study Case and Implementation [3]

Ohno, Taiichi. The Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production. Portland, Oregon: Productivity Press, 1988.

Notes:

Link APPPM textbooks and sources to Line Balancing and efficient manufacturing.

Plan:

Overview

Methodology

Uses

Example

Downloadable Template

Referénces

Backup idea:

Edward De Bono's 6 Thinking Hats