Application of Genetic Algorithm ( GA ) Approach in the Formation of Manufacturing Cells for Group Technology

This paper is about minimizing intercellular movements of parts for the formation of manufacturing cells using GA approach. GA is a search technique based on the process of biological evolution and has been applied as an optimization method for the formation of manufacturing cells. Different GA operators and their importance in the optimization of cellular manufacturing have been discussed. A MAT LAB code has been developed for the calculation of different matrices and fitness values of chromosomes. The initial population of possible solutions (chromosomes) is generated randomly and the fitness value of each chromosome is calculated using code developed for the purpose. The next population is generated by the application of genetic operators process is repeated till stopping criteria is satisfied. Total ten populations are generated by the GA procedure and fitness values of different generations have compared graphically with detailed analysis. It is evident that using GA has minimized the intercellular movements of parts which indirectly improves productivity, profitability and provide competitive edge to the manufacturing enterprise in global environment. [Mirza Jahanzaib, Syed Athar Masood , Shahid Nadeem, Khalid Akhtar. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) Approach for the Formation of Manufacturing Cells in Group Technology. Life Sci J 2013;9(4):799-809] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 125