Title: Inter-cell movement minimisation in a cellular manufacturing system having stochastic parameters

Authors: Reza Salarian; Hamed Fazlollahtabar; Iraj Mahdavi

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Tabarsi Street, P.O. Box 734, Babol, Iran ' Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Hengam Street, P.O. Box 16846, Tehran, Iran; Niroogostar Energy Optimization Research Group, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Tabarsi Street, P.O. Box 734, Babol, Iran

Abstract: In this paper, a mathematical model is developed to formulate a cellular manufacturing system with uncertain parameters. In this model, the processing time is a random variable following normal probability distribution, demand is a random variable following normal probability distribution and the inter-arrival time for part is a random variable following exponential probability distribution. The objective of the proposed mathematical model is to configure machines' layout in cells so that the inter-cell movements are minimised and the bottlenecks are breakthrough. The applicability of the proposed mathematical programme is illustrated using numerical examples. Two numerical examples are shown in small and large sizes to emphasise the capability of the mathematical model for handling different problem sizes.

Keywords: cellular manufacturing systems; CMS; mathematical modelling; stochastic parameters; uncertainty; cell configuration; cell layout; inter-cell movements; bottlenecks; manufacturing cells.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2014.057996

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2014 Vol.17 No.1, pp.67 - 87

Published online: 17 Jun 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article