A network flow model of group technology

  • Authors:

  • L. R. Foulds;K. Neumann

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Management Systems University of Waikato Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 2020, New Zealand;Institute of Economics and Operations Research University of Karlsruhe, Germany

  • Venue:
  • Mathematical and Computer Modelling: An International Journal
  • Year:
  • 2003

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Abstract

It has long been recognized that productivity in manufacturing plants can often be increased by producing similar products in cells. This involves 1.(i) assigning parts to individual machines, and 2.(ii) forming machines into cells. These two activities have traditionally been carried out separately. However, most solution procedures for (i) above utilize a solution to (ii), and vice versa. Here we present a unified approach that deals with (i) and (ii) simultaneously. The approach is based on a multicommodity circulation minimum cost network flow model with side constraints.