The trade-off between intracell and intercell moves in group technology cell formation

In cellular manufacturing, machines are organized into compact and independ ent product-based group technology (GT) cells. Production in smaller GT cel ls not only reduces travel distances but also facilitates better material a nd production control. Cell compactness and cell independence are two basic requirements of efficient GT cells. Most cell formation procedures conside r maximizing cell independence as the objective. In doing so, these procedu res impose an upper limit on cell size as a threshold value for cell compac tness. This paper views cell compactness and cell independence in terms of intercell and intracell move costs. The trade-off between intracell and int ercell move costs is explained in detail. A nonlinear mathematical model an d simulated annealing algorithm are developed that minimize the total intra cell and intercell move costs. In the calculation of move costs, production quantity, effect of cell size on intracell move, effect of sequence of ope rations, and multiple nonconsecutive visits to the same machine are conside red. The results are compared with published results.