The goal of this paper was to identify the main characteristics of assembly line research to propose avenues for future work. We reviewed 226 relevant publications written on the topic in the last 50 years (1960 to 2010) and analyzed the main issues, methods and content of these works. As a result, we found a large number of publications concerned with the balancing and sequencing of assembly lines through modeling and computational experimental methods. We also identified a trend in mixed models line studies, justified by the growing demand for product variety and customization. However, a major challenge in this type of research involves representing the complexity and practical aspects of existing assembly line operation and settings in the developed models. Several authors have emphasized the difficulty of obtaining models that can be applied to several cases and specific real situations. The authors noted that major strategic decisions for assembly line configurations have preceded the use of available models and should be studied further. We conclude by identifying avenues for scientific research on practical and applied cases involving real problems, in addition to a broader approach on the subject that could consider the multidisciplinary aspects of assembly lines and their relationship with the production strategies adopted by companies.
Assembly line; Assembly processes; Literature review; Bibliometrics
