Deploying NSBA algorithm for bi-objective manufacturing cells considering percentage utilisation of machines

Abstract

Percentage utilisation of machines is considered as an important production factor for manufacturing cell formation problem (CFP) in cellular manufacturing (CM). This recently developed concept correctly emphasises ratio data in context of CM. In this paper, an utilisation-based bi-objective mathematical model is developed, which minimises the total machine utilisation induced by bottleneck machines and number of voids. Thereafter, a new data-generating algorithm is introduced. The abovementioned bi-objective CFP is solved using a non-dominated sorting bat algorithm (NSBA), which is compared with published multi-objective bat algorithm (MOBA) successfully. Statistical tests are conducted and data consistency is confirmed on obtained results. The computational experiments depict that the Pareto solutions of NSBA are 35.7% improved. The contribution of this research is threefold. First, an accurate bi-objective mathematical expression is developed for utilisation-based CFPs. Second, a novel data-generating algorithm is stated. Third, NSBA technique is successfully tested.