VOLUME SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS FOR MANUFACTURING CELLS: A GENETIC ALGORITHM APPROACH

The machine cell formation is the first major step in the design of Cellular Manufacturing Systems (CMS). Several production data such as production volume, operation sequences, and processing times have been found to influence machine cell formation. Of particular interest is the production volume of components, the most unpredictable of such factors. Production volume has been proven to influence the machine cells and component groups formed significantly. Machine cells designed for a particular production volume may not be appropriate for others. This paper discusses the development of a Volume Sensitivity Model (VSM) which generates the upper and the lower volume limits of production volume within which a designed cell performs satisfactorily. Knowledge about such limits is critical for decision making on layouts and process routings.