Cellular Production Systems: a Concurrent Cluster Analytic Framework1

In this paper an agglomerative heuristic cluster analysis framework is proposed for application to the part family and machine cell formation problems associated with Group Technology (GT). This framework addresses the notion of concurrently forming clusters of parts (families) and machines (cells) based upon natural between-part and between-machine relationships and the strength of association relating pairs of parts with pairs of machines. An illustrative model is presented in the conference session and operational aspects demonstrated using a small problem.