A novel machine grouping and knowledge-based approach for cellular manufacturing

In this paper, three general approaches used to form machine cells and part families in a cellular manufacturing system are addressed. The principle that underlines the machine chaining problem when using a machine grouping approach to derive a CM solution is discussed. A model to improve it is developed and its results compared with existing algorithms are analyzed. In order to consider some practical constraints in a CM environment, a prototype of a knowledge-based system (KBS) is presented. The proposed KBS has the flexibility for users to consider CM problems by including three types of practical constraints: maximum size of machine cells, technological constraints, and desired total number of machine cells. The KBS system is coded in PASCAL and can be used on a PC. The proposed model and KBS system are illustrated by numerical examples.