A manufacturing cell formation problem with a maximum cell workload constraint. (14th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caramia, Massimiliano; Mari, Renato
• Is Part Of: IMA journal of management mathematics. Volume 28:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 279
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2015-10-14
• Subjects: cell formation -- workload balancing -- system efficiency -- bilevel programming -- valid inequalities; Management -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Management science -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Business mathematics -- Periodicals; 650.01513
• DOI: 10.1093/imaman/dpv027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-678X

Abstract

Abstract : We address a manufacturing cell formation problem (CFP) in which one of the constraints limits the maximum cell workload to a given threshold. To meet such a requirement, it is possible to allocate copies of existing machines in different cells. Additional machines, however, increase costs and may also increase inter-cell flow. The proposed CFP is first modelled in terms of bilevel optimization and then reformulated as a single-level optimization problem. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study addressing the CFP with a cell workload constraint as a bilevel optimization problem. The results of this paper have direct implications for real-world decision-making for at least two reasons. One is related to the methodology used that allows one to model the actual dynamic of the decision-making process more accurately. The second reason is that the proposed model enables better system efficiency when both machine and inter-cell material handling costs are minimized. Experimental results are presented and discussed.