Title: Genetic algorithm approach for integrating cell formation with machine layout and cell layout

Authors: K. Chandrasekar; P. Venkumar

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sardar Raja College of Engineering, Alangulam, Tamilnadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: Cellular manufacturing system (CMS) is based on the principle of similar things should be done similarly. Cell formation (CF), within cell machine layout design and cell layout design are important steps in design of CMS. The existing models for solving CMS problems are focused mainly on CF. The design of machine layout and cell layout are considered in few research papers. The most of existing research papers have used binary data for CFs. They do not focus on production volume, operational sequences, production cost, inventory and other production data. In this research work, hierarchical genetic algorithm (HGA) approach is used to solve the CF, within cell machine layout design and cell layout design. The input data for this design of CMS is machine-part incidence matrix with operational sequence. The grouping efficiency and the grouping efficacy are used to measure the effectiveness of the CMS design. The results and consistency of the HGA are compared with earlier approaches and the results are presented. The proposed algorithm gives best results when compared to the earlier approaches.

Keywords: CMS; cellular manufacturing systems; exceptional elements; hierarchical GAs; genetic algorithms; cell formation; cell layout; manufacturing cells; machine layout; layout design; operational sequences; grouping efficiency; grouping efficacy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2013.051787

International Journal of Operational Research, 2013 Vol.16 No.2, pp.155 - 171

Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

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