Designing flexibility into cellular manufacturing systems

The formation of cells for cellular manufacturing is often driven by many desirable but conflicting goals. The minimization of intercell moves and the maximization of cell flexibility are examples of such goals. Two models are proposed for this problem. A 0-1 integer program minimizes intercell moves subject to machine capacity and cell size constraints. A multiobjective model is then used to form cells which are both flexible and have minimum interactions. Both models group parts and machines simultaneously into the number of cells selected by the cell designer. Computer solutions to a numerical example are obtained and discussed.