Scheduling and Control in Cellular Manufacturing

This section discusses some issues related to scheduling and control in cellular manufacturing. In cellular manufacturing systems, scheduling problems different from those in traditional production systems because of certain uniqueness like

A. Machines are more flexible in performing various operations.

B. Use of group tooling considerably reduces setup time.

C. Low demands & large variety of products.

D. Fewer machines than part types.

These characteristics change the nature of scheduling problems in GT-cellular manufacturing systems and permit us to take advantage of similarities of setups and operations by integrating GT concept along with material requirement planning (MRP). A hierarchical approach to cell control and planning, integrating the concepts of GT and MRP, is specified here. We discuss by using appropriate examples how the concepts of GT and MRP can be utilized together to provide an efficient tool for scheduling & control of a cellular manufacturing system.

We know that GT is one of the useful approaches to small-lot, multiproduct production system, and MRP is an effectual scheduling & control system for a batch type of production system. Optimal lot sizes are resolute for various parts needed for products in an MRP system. Though, similarities among the parts requiring similar setups and operations shall reduce setup time. Alternatively, the time-phased requirement scheduling aspect is not considered in GT. This means, all of the parts in a group are supposed to be available at the beginning of the period. Evidently, a better scheduling and control system shall be achieved by integration of GT and MRP. For scheduling & control in cellular manufacturing systems an integrated GT & MRP framework are defined in the next subsection.