A MATHEMATICAL-PROGRAMMING APPROACH TO JOINT CELL-FORMATION AND OPERATION ALLOCATION IN CELLULAR MANUFACTURING

We introduce a zero-one integer programming model for the simultaneous solution of the cell formation and operation allocation problem in ce llular manufacturing. We assume that there is a set of existing machin es in a manufacturing shop and that there is a set of part types to be processed on these machines. Each part type is assumed to have more t han one process plan, and each operation of a part type may be perform ed on more than one machine. The objective of the model is to simultan eously form machine groups (cells) and allocate operations of the part types to the regrouped machines in such a way as to minimize the sum of operation costs, refixturing costs and transportation costs. Comput ational results are provided to demonstrate the viability of the model .