Machine-Part Family Formation by Using ART-1 Simulator and FLEXY

Abstract

Group technology based manufacturing systems offer the advantages of flow production as well as the production flexibility of batch manufacturing. In this paper, by employing new clustering techniques, the part-machine spectrum of the manufacturing system and the relevant manufacturing process are analyzed according to design, similarity of machining and product flow. This leads to an organization of the production system into self-contained and self-regulating groups of machines called machine cells. Each machine cell undertakes a maximal production of a family of parts having similar manufacturing characteristics. This paper carried out the ART-1 neural network approach in the analysis of the manufacturing similarity, and modified the basic approach to increase the efficiency of the classification procedure. Developed program packages ART-1 Simulator and FLEXY are used to create part families and machine cells within the group technology design.