Title: Combining axiomatic design and designed experiments for cellular manufacturing systems design framework

Authors: Wafik Hachicha, Faouzi Masmoudi, Mohamed Haddar

Addresses: Unit of Mechanic, Modelling and Production (U2MP), B.P. 1173, Sfax 3038, Tunisia; Department of Industrial Management, Higher Institute of Industrial Management of Sfax, B.P. 954, Sfax 3018, Tunisia. ' Unit of Mechanic, Modelling and Production (U2MP), B.P. W, Sfax 3038, Tunisia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering School of Sfax, B.P.W, Sfax 3038, Tunisia. ' Unit of Mechanic, Modelling and Production (U2MP), B.P. W, Sfax 3038, Tunisia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering School of Sfax, B.P.W, Sfax 3038, Tunisia

Abstract: Cellular Manufacturing (CM) system has been recognised as an efficient and effective way to improve productivity in a factory. In recent years, there have been continuous research efforts to study different facet of CM system. They are developed to satisfy only one or limited Functional Requirements (FRs) of the CM system design. The literature does not contain much published research on CM design which includes all design aspects. In this paper we provide a framework for the complete CM system design. It combines Axiomatic Design (AD) and Experimental Design (ED) to generate several feasible and potentially profitable designs. The AD approach is used as the basis for establishing a systematic CM systems design structure. ED has been a very useful tool to design and analyse complicated industrial design problems. AD helps secure valid input-factors to the ED. An element of the proposed framework is demonstrated through a numerical example for a cell formation problem with alternative process.

Keywords: axiomatic design; cellular manufacturing; CMS design; manufacturing cells; design methodology; experimental design; cell formation; alternatives process; agile manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2008.021215

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2008 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.306 - 319

Published online: 11 Nov 2008 *

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