Performance evaluation of cellular layouts: Extension to DRC system contexts

Abstract

This study involves a comparison of the performance of functional layouts (FL) and cellular manufacturing (CM) systems in a dual-resource-constrained (DRC) system context. Past studies of FL and CM have been based mostly on single-resource-constrained (SRC) systems. Recent studies have included labour-related factors, but have assumed high labour flexibility levels, and shown the superiority of CM. In this study we assume more realistic levels of labour flexibility, and factors such as lot size, set-up reduction, labour assignment and transfer rule, and scheduling rules. The parameter range in which CM can outperform efficiently operated FL, in a DRC context, are indicated.