Group Technology and Cellular Manufacturing

Group technology and cellular manufacturing (GT/CM) have been widely-researched areas in recent years, as a result of which there has been a proliferation of techniques for part-machine grouping, engineering databases, 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. The editors of this book have commissioned researchers and implementers to prepare specific treatments of topics for their special areas of expertise in this broadly-based philosophy of manufacturing. The editors have sought to be global both in coverage of topic matters and contributors. Addressing the needs and interests of academic researchers, industry practitioners and students, the book incorporates advances made in GT/CM during the past 15 years, and synthesizes the latest industry practices and outcomes. It explains the foundations of GT/CM from the core elements of new developments which are aimed at reducing developmental and manufacturing lead times and costs, and at improving business quality and performance. It is also suitable for use as a textbook for graduate students in engineering and management for studying the field of group technology and cellular manufacturing.