Manufacturing Cell Formation with Multiple, Functionally Identical Machines

Abstract

A comprehensive methodology for the formation of manufacturing cells in an environment consisting of unique as well as multiple, functionally identical machines is presented in this paper. The proposed method presupposes the existence of generic process plans that specify the types of machines required for the manufacture of each part, although more than one machine of the same type may be available in the shop. The production equipment is grouped into manufacturing cells and the manufactured parts are assigned to part families, based on an inter-cell traffic minimization criterion and subject to capacity constraints. Two or more functionally identical machines are included in a cell, only if necessitated by capacity considerations, or traffic minimization arguments. The method also considers both part set- up and run times for the evaluation of the capacity requirements, and uses pallet traffic as opposed to individual part traffic in the minimization criterion.