Partitioning Work Centers for Group Technology: Insights from an Analytical Model*

Abstract

This paper develops analytical approximations based on an M/M/c queuing model, for the operating characteristics of job shop work centers. The model is used to analyze the effects of partitioning a work center and introducing setup reduction into the cell components. The results using this model are shown to be consistent with the results of prior simulation-based studies of group technology under certain parameter ranges. A simulation experiment was conducted to verify the effects with multi-item, non-Markovian assumptions. and the general effects predicted by the model were found to apply.

Modeling and analysis of machine sharing in manufacturing systems

“…In particular, an increasing number of authors have been challenging the wisdom of partitioning machines into dedicated production cells and have been advocating instead a greater deal of resource sharing and cooperation between cells [18] [13]. For the most part, these challenges are based on simulation studies, except for [50] and [51], contrasting job shops, cellular systems and hybrids of these systems. The findings are generally consistent and show that rigid dedication of cells can result in unbalanced machine utilizations, higher lead times, and larger work-in-process inventories.…”

“…An expression for the multimachine case was proposed by Suresh [50]. These expressions do not however account for the difference between minor and major setup times.…”

“…Further discussion of the effect of batch sizes in the single machine case can be found in [28], [29], [30] and [32]; and in the multi-machine case, in [50] and [51]. …”

“…In fact, one of the key design issues in a CMS concerns the manner and degree to which groups of functionally equivalent machines should be partitioned into dedicated cells while still allowing for the sharing of bottleneck and expensive machines [18] [19] [50] [51] [54]. A choice between duplicating poorly utilized machines or sharing them among multiple cells must also be made to balance system cost versus performance.…”

Les cellules serielles d assemblage

“…Les auteurs consultés [Nollet, Kélada, Diorio (1986) Dans un texte portant sur l'aspect humain relié à l'implantation de la fabrication cellulaire, Huq (1992) En ce qui concerne les systèmes hybrides, Suresh (1991Suresh ( , 1992 Choi (1992) propose une méthode informelle consistant à sélectionner manuellement les familles de pièces similaires. Elle est utilisée lorsqu'une entreprise ne fabrique qu'un nombre très restreint de produits.…”