A multi-stage methodology for virtual cell formation oriented agile manufacturing

Abstract

In recent years, as an emerging concept in industry, agile manufacturing has attracted considerable attention, combining virtual manufacturing cells to construct new manufacturing systems to respond to the changing market needs, especially in nonlinear processes. In this paper, a multi-stage cell formation methodology, which can help select appropriate resources and form the VCs, is presented. First, appropriate resources for completing production tasks are selected by a LP model considering the available capacity and the costs. In order to form VC in a logical mode, parts having alternative product process routings as multi-functional machines are analyzed by a resource element approach. Furthermore, some routing-based heuristic rules are introduced to optimize the candidate VCs in the form of resource elements. Finally a case study is used to illustrate the detailed formation methodology. © 2006 Springer-Verlag London Limited.