Group Technology and Cellular Manufacturing (GT/CM) have been widely-researched areas in the past 15 years and much progress has been made in all branches of GT/CM. Resulting from this research activity has been a proliferation of techniques for part-machine grouping, engineering data bases, expert system-based design methods for identifying part families, new analytical and simulation tools for evaluating performance of cells, new types of cell incorporating robotics and flexible automation, team-based approaches for organizing the work force and much more; however, the field lacks a careful compilation of this research and its outcomes. The editors of this book have commissioned leading researchers and implementers to prepare specific treatments of topics for their special areas of expertise in this broad-based philosophy of manufacturing. The editors have sought to be global both in coverage of topic matters and contributors. Group Technology and Cellular Manufacturing addresses the needs and interests of three groups of individuals in the manufacturing field: academic researchers, industry practitioners, and students. (1) The book provides an up-to-date perspective, incorporating the advances made in GT/CM during the past 15 years. As a natural extension to this research, it synthesizes the latest industry practices and outcomes to guide research to greater real-world relevance. (2) The book makes clear the foundations of GT/CM from the core elements of new developments which are aimed at reducing developmental and manufacturing lead times, costs, and at improving business quality and performance. (3) Finally, the book can be used as a textbook for graduate students in engineering and management for studying the field of Group Technology and Cellular Manufacturing.

Mass productio!l and mass consumption, so far considered virtues in a free economic soceity, have changed. Various problems have occurred including economic stagnation, energy crisis, shortage of material resources, prolifera tion of pollution, lack of skilled labor, rapid changes of product design, technical innovation, and others. Moreover, individual manufacturing firms must take steps to adopt multi-product, small-lot-sized (batch type) produc tion as a type of production in order to adapt themselves to a market movement characterized by a diversified and specialty-oriented society and a short product life cycle. The number of manufacturing firms worldwide that use a type of multi-product, small-lot-sized production is expected to increase. This is so even in the United States, which has been said to be a country of mass production. Multi-product, small-lot-sized production has been considered to be a milestone to flow-type mass production, which has been thought to be the most effective production system. Intensive efforts have been made to investigate mass production systems from both theoretical and practical viewpoints. Few studies have been made for multi-product, small-lot-sized production (batch-type manufacturing). Considering the present business circumstances faced with various difficulties, it is strongly required to establish some theories useful for making practically effective and flexible multi-product, small-lot-sized production systems. Several effective approaches to the batch-type manufacturing systems have been developed. Group technology (GT) is one such method that has steadily obtained great interest from progressive manufacturing firms all over the world.

Group Technology (GT) as a manufacturing concept has gained steady interest within the machine building industry all over the world. Originally it was used more or less only in the so-called parts family manufacturing concept. With growing opportunities for using the computer in the design process, operating planning and layout planning, the potential advantages became more and more obvious. In order to implement GT successfully and with a view to improving the overall economic situation of a production company, it is necessary to consider all aspects of the com plete manufacturing system. Experience has shown, that in the first stage a general basis has to be formed. This is done by a clear and practical definition of three GT manufacturing systems, the devel opment of a set of classification systems for work pieces, working operations and man ufacturing equipment, and in building a data bank from which a data basis for the GT planning process can be evaluated. A second stage of implementation then considers the particular aspects of GT. These are, firstly, a concept for layout and investment planning based on a representative parts spectrum; secondly, for application of the GT-idea in the design process three similar types of parts are to be developed as a logical supplement to the standard and recurring parts practice; thirdly, a three stage process planning and work measurement system can be developed for the so defined spectrum of similar parts.

Here is an in-depth account of one of the most important strategic tools available to manufacturing analysts. The author, a nationally known expert in the field, provides much needed guidance on production flow analysis, a new technique that will help save time and money by minimizing set-up times and reducing the size of buffering stocks of components. The volume demonstrates the use of route cards to achieve a total division of made components into families and a parallel division of existing machines into groups using previously established processing methods.

Cellular manufacturing (CM) is the grouping of similar products for manufacture in discrete multi-machine cells. It has been proven to yield faster production cycles, lower in-process inventory levels, and enhanced product quality. Pioneered on a large scale by Russian, British, and German manufacturers, interest in CM methods has grown steadily over the past decade. However, there continues to be a dearth of practical guides for industrial engineers and production managers interested in implementing CM techniques in their plants. Bringing together contributions by an international team of CM experts, the Handbook of Cellular Manufacturing Systems bridges this gap in the engineering literature.

"This book presents advancements in the field of operations management, focusing specifically on topics related to layout design for manufacturing environments"--Provided by publisher.

Batch manufactcring is a dominant manufacturing activity in the world, generating a great deal of industrial output. In the coming years, we are going to witness an era of mass customization of products. The major problems in batch manufacturing are a high level of product variety and small manufacturing lot sizes. The product variations present design engineers with the problem of designing many different parts. The decisions made in the design stage significantly affect manufacturing cost, quality and delivery lead times. The impacts of these product variations in manufacturing are high investment in equipment, high tooling costs, complex scheduling and loading, lengthy setup time and costs, excessive scrap and high quality control costs. However, to compete in a global market, it is essential to improve the productivity in small batch manufacturing industries. For this purpose, some innovative methods are needed to reduce product cost, lead time and enhance product quality to help increase market share and profitability. What is also needed is a higher level of integration of the design and manufacturing activities in a company. Group technology provides such a link between design and manufacturing. The adoption of group technology concepts, which allow for small batch production to gain economic advantages similar to mass production while retaining the flexibility of job shop methods, will help address some of the problems.

From concept development to final production, this comprehensive text thoroughly examines the design, prototyping, and fabrication of engineering products and emphasizes modern developments in system modeling, analysis, and automatic control. This reference details various management strategies, design methodologies, traditional production techniqu