A review of production control problems in cellular manufacture

Abstract

Several benefits have been claimed from the introduction of cellular manufacture. One of these benefits is simplified Production Control. A general consensus of opinion, by exponents and users alike, is that a detailed, well defined production control system must be designed if benefits are to accrue from cellular manufacture. The performance of a manufacturing system is dependent upon many criteria and it has its own rules, conditions and limitations. Production control system in cellular manufacture is no exception. This paper attempts to define some important Production Control problems and identifies various factors and features which influence effective control of cell production. The design of a production control system within cellular manufacture is quite complex. It requires a good definition of component families to set up a balanced manufacturing cell in terms of numbers of machines and men to give optimum utilization and efficiency. The layout of the cell should be such that the flow of material can be maintained through the machines to optimize work-in-progress levels and minimize queueing problems. Sequence Technology, coupled with reduced batch size and Period Batch control, appears to achieve the desired level of throughput and maintain optimum work-in-progress in a cell. However, optimum schedules will vary according to the weight given to different criteria and savings. Several simulation studies have been carried out to understand the relative effects of such criteria and simple analysis can be used to make decisions in finding a viable and near optimum solution.