Abstract:
Cellular manufacturing is considered to be an organizational approach for
manufacturing parts with similar processing requirements in machine cells.
Among the various approaches to the cell formation problem clustering
techniques based on similrity index such as, the Single Linkage Clustering
Algorithm, the Average Linkage Clustering Algorithm, the Weighted Linkage
Clustering Algorithm are widely used. In the present work, a mathematical model
has been developed for a cellular manufacturing structure. The model considers
both the machines and parts similarity together to minimize the total cost of the
system. The cost elements considered are tool cost, machine amortization cost
and processing cost. The model is a binary linear program. The model has been
solved using LP relaxation and a heuristic algorithm. The heuristic algorithm has
been developed based on similarity index and it minimizes the total cost of the
system. A few test problems are solved, using both the methods and the results
are compared. The heuristic algorithm produces a good solution and takes much
less computational time compared to LP approach
