SIMULATION-BASED METHODOLOGY FOR MACHINE CELL DESIGN

This paper presents a simulation-based methodology which uses both des ign and manufacturing attributes to form manufacturing cells. The meth odology is implemented in three phases. In phase I, parts are grouped into part families based on their design and manufacturing dissimilari ties. In phase II, machines are grouped into manufacturing cells based on relevant operational costs and various cells are assigned part fam ilies using an optimization technique. Phases I and II are based on in teger and mixed-integer mathematical models. Finally, in phase III, a simulation model of the proposed system is built and verified, and the model is run so that data on the proposed system may be gathered and evaluated. The mathematical and simulation models are used to solve a sample production problem. The results from these models are compared, and can be used to justify the final design. By the use of these mode ling tools, cellular manufacturing systems can be designed, analyzed, optimized, and finally justified. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.