Which of the following statements are true about line balancing?

A. The total amount of work on a line is divided into different tasks
B. Line balancing mainly ensures that each workstation gets approximately equal amount of time
C. Cycle time is determined by the minimum time required at any workstation
D. Line balancing is not useful for the process industry
E. Tasks are assigned to workstations that allow the work to be performed in a feasible sequence

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is B

Line balancing is a technique used in production and operations management to assign tasks to workstations in such a way that each workstation has roughly equal time loads to minimize idle time and increase efficiency. The true statements are:

A. The total work is divided into different tasks which are then assigned to various workstations.

E. Tasks are assigned to workstations respecting the sequence in which the work must be performed, ensuring feasibility.

Information Booster:

• Line balancing improves efficiency by minimizing idle time and ensuring smooth workflow.

• The cycle time is the maximum time allowed at any workstation to meet production targets.

• Tasks must be assigned considering technological or process constraints to maintain the correct sequence.

• It is useful not only in discrete manufacturing but also in process industries wherever operations are sequential.

Additional Knowledge:

• ​Statement B is partly true but somewhat simplified — line balancing aims for balanced workload but not always exactly equal time.
• Statement C is false because cycle time is determined by the maximum time required at any workstation, not the minimum.
• Statement D is false as line balancing can be useful in process industries too, though it is mostly applied in assembly lines.